Introduction to Computer Graphics
Lecture, four hours; discussion, two hours; outside study, six hours. Enforced requisite: course 32. Basic principles behind modern two- and three-dimensional computer graphics systems, including complete set of steps that modern graphics pipelines use to create realistic images in real time. How to position and manipulate objects in scene using geometric and camera transformations. How to create final image using perspective and orthographic transformations. Basics of modeling primitives such as polygonal models and implicit and parametric surfaces. Basic ideas behind color spaces, illumination models, shading, and texture mapping. Letter grading.
Review Summary
- Clarity
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8.3 / 10
- Organization
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8.3 / 10
- Time
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5-10 hrs/week
- Overall
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8.3 / 10
Reviews
I felt that Law was a solid professor, and the material was interesting. The lecture slides were pretty useful and professor Law would also write out notes re-iterating the content on the slides. Learned about the graphics rendering pipeline and some linear algebra (review from math 33a). There were several WebGL mini projects and a final group project (3-4 people), in addition to the midterm and final. Would recommend this class to anyone with some interest in the subject.
I would not recommend this class. Overall, the lectures were very boring and it was hard to pay attention to, and the tests were on obscure equations that I instantly forgot after taking the exams. It felt like 2 separate classes: one part was coding in WebGL to create cool graphics, and the other part was random math equations for the exams.
Exams: There was a midterm and a final that are closed notes. He doesn't release the test questions or solutions because he reuses questions from previous exams. I found the exams extremely stupid because we had to memorize random equations and procedures on how to answer certain types of questions. If you want to do well, find previous exams.
Assignments: We had 4 assignments (the first was worth 0 points and just setting up your environment). They're coding assignments where you modify their starter code. They're reused every year and aren't too challenging. Some parts are confusing, but the TAs were very helpful during discussions and gave tips.
Group project: You code a graphics project with WebGL which is graded by the TAs (they're great). My group got 100% which definitely carried my grade. It's the best part of the class if you choose a good team and a fun project.
Law is a dry lecturer but he does a good job of getting the point across. Projects are not too difficult and can be done in one sitting. There is a group project but grading is pretty lenient as long as you meet the basic criteria. The course is quite outdated in terms of the tools it teaches but you get good exposure to the fundamentals of Computer Graphics
Didn't go to any lectures all quarter, and they weren't recorded. The homeworks were pretty easy, with a lot of the code coming straight from discussion. They homework and project had nothing to do with the content discussed in the class. The final and midterm involved a bunch of mathematical formulas that were only briefly mentioned in the slides
Boring content, don't recommend this class
Displaying all 5 reviews
Course
Grading Information
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Has a group project
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Attendance not required
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1 midterm
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Finals week final
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0% recommend the textbook