3D Graphics: A Visual Approach

Richly illustrated, 3D Graphics: A Visual Approach presents a visual introduction to the exciting world of computer graphics and covers important rendering techniques including bump, texture, and environment mapping. Through a technique called Visual Analysis, a reader learns to identify graphics effects visually by looking for a few cues. Cues and concepts are presented in an easy-to-advanced order, with more complex cues building from simpler ones. After finishing the book, a person will have a good feel for the range and visual effect of rendering algorithms.
Accompanying 3D Graphics: A Visual Approach is a CD containing the TERA software. TERA (Tool for Exploring Rendering Algorithms) provides visual examples illustrating chapter topics and helps reinforce key concepts in an enjoyable way. With over 500,000 available image combinations, TERA provides a far richer resource of visual examples than could be contained in any conventional text.
Features
* Supported by CD-ROM containing TERA (Tool for Exploring Rendered Algorithms) software which is capable of generating 500,000 images for study
* Uses Visual Analysis to help students understand the rendered algorithms
* "Doing It Yourself" sections provide a guide to learning POV-Ray, a ray tracing package freely available via the Internet. Beginning with simple shapes and lighting, these sections introduce successively more advanced techniques, including CSG and radiosity.
* Serves well as a main text in a survey course in computer science or as a useful supplement in a programming or 3D design course

R. J. Wolfe is currently an Associate Professor of Computer Science at DePaul University and is the Director of DePaul's Division of Human-Computer Interaction.