Staff
Instructor:
Dr. Marc Olano
<olano@umbc.edu>; discord: @marcolano
Office Hours: MoWe 2:30-3:30 (ITE 354)
TA:
Duo Zhong
<duoz1@umbc.edu>
Office Hours: Th 2:00-4:00 (ITE 340)
Overview
Course Description
An introduction to the fundamentals of interactive computer graphics. Topics include graphics hardware, line drawing, area filling, clipping, two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometrical transforms, three-dimensional perspective viewing, hidden surface removal, illumination, color and shading models.
Objectives
- Apply knowledge of mathematics (e.g. linear algebra and signal processing) and computer science (e.g. data structures, algorithms, and computer organization) to understand core computer graphics concepts including transformations and rendering.
- Implement complex computer graphics algorithms covering rendering and a variety of additional computer graphics topics such as geometric modeling, animation, and image processing.
- Become familiar with a breadth of advanced computer graphics topics, problems, and algorithms in enough depth to be able to understand and potentially implement methods published in leading computer graphics conferences or journals.
Prerequisites
MATH 221 (vectors & matrices, dot and cross products), CMSC 313 (binary representations, cache), CMSC 341 (data structures, C++)
(Yes, we will make heavy use of the prerequisites)
Resources:
We will not be using blackboard in this class. This page will provide the schedule, links to lecture slides, and links to assignment descriptions. Github will be used for submission and to communicate your grades back to you. We will be using the #435 channel in the UMBC CMSC discord for help and discussion. Join through the Discord UMBC Student Hub, or ask for an invitation to the server. Ask and answer other students questions there. The instructor will also be monitoring this channel and may chime in with answers as well. Be sure not to post actual code or personal information like grades received that should not be shared with everyone.
Texts
Recommended
- Fundamentals of Computer Graphics, Peter Shirley, A K Peters/CRC Press (Any edition).
Other useful resources
- The Graphics Codex (Free!)
- OpenGL Programming Guide, 9th edition, Dave Shreiner, Graham Sellers, John M. Kessenich, Bill M. Licea-Kane, Addison Wesley.
- Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, 3rd edition, Hughes, van Dam, McGuire, Sklar, Foley, Feiner, and Akeley, Addison-Wesley Professional.
- Some refresher slides on linear algebra
Grades:
These are the weights for graded elements of this class:
| Weight | When | What |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | Feb 1 | Assn 0 / Setup |
| 10% | Feb 15 | Assn 1 / Ray Cast |
| 10% | Mar 1 | Assn 2 / Ray Trace |
| 10% | Mar 22 | Assn 3 / GL model |
| 15% | Mar 25–29 | Midterm Exam |
| 10% | Apr 12 | Assn 4 / GL view |
| 10% | Apr 26 | Assn 5 / Rasterize |
| 10% | May 10 | Assn 6 / Texture |
| 20% | May 14–19 | Final Exam |
Programming assignments:
Programming assignments require the use of the C/C++ programming language. These assignments will be time-consuming. START EARLY! Students taking the course for graduate credit (as CMSC 634) will be expected to do additional parts on each assignment.
You may discuss concepts and algorithms involved in the programming assignments, but must write the code yourself. You may make limited use of external sources (stack exchange, AI, other online sources or books) for help on aspects of C++ or data structure implementation, but all of the actual graphics code must be your own. The goal is for you to develop skills to solve more complex problems that AI could not do alone by having you write code for smaller and more well-defined problems that you can feasibly still tackle in a couple of weeks. Each programming assignment submission includes a text file describing the project. You must include a reference to any external sources and how you used them. Code that is determined to have come from an external source that was not noted in your submission text file will be considered a violation of the class academic integrity policy. If, at any point during the semester (even after a project has been graded), it is determined that you violated this policy, it will be treated as an academic integrity violation, with penalties up to a zero on the assignment and reporting to the appropriate undergraduate or graduate administration.
Assignments are to be submitted electronically as a tagged git "release" by 11:59 PM on the day they are due. Assignments may be submitted up to two days late for a penalty of 5 percent of the possible score per day. Some assignments will have extra credit, which will only be available if submitted on time. Assignment solutions will be discussed in class on the Wednesday after their due date, so any assignment submitted after 11:59 PM on Tuesday receive a score of 0. If you have any questions or concerns about your assignment grades, you must raise those by email no later than one week after the grades for that assignment have been released.
Exams:
Exams will be take-home. The expectation is the midterm exam should take you about 75 minutes to complete, and the final exam should take about 120 minutes. Both exams will be pushed to your GitHub repository at the beginning of the exam period, and due on the date listed in the exam by committing and pushing your answers back to GitHub. It is up to you when and where you will complete them.
Though the exams are take-home, all exam work must be your own. You may not discuss any exam question with anyone other than the instructor until after the final exam submission deadline.
Tentative Schedule
I'll update the online version of this schedule as we go. Check for updates throughout the semester.
- Sun
- Mon
- Tue
- Wed
- Thu
- Fri
- Sat
- SNOW
About 435/634 (vid) - SNOW
Overview (vid) - Assn 0
Setup (vid) - Class
Ray Casting - Class
Ray Casting (cont)
Barycentrics (slides only) - Class
Ray Tracing - Class
Ray Tracing - Assn 1
Ray Cast - Class
Acceleration - Class
Assn 1 Walkthrough - Class
Modeling - Class
Modeling - Assn 2
Ray Trace - Class
GL Code Walkthrough - Class
Assn 2 Walkthrough - Class
Transform - Class
Transform - Spring Break
- Assn 3
GL model - Class
Clipping - Class
Assn 3 W'thru
Midterm → - ← Midterm
- Class
Rasterization - Class
Rasterization - Class
Visibility - Class
Clipping - Assn 4
GL view - Class
Antialiasing - Class
Assn 4 Walkthrough - Class
Texture - Class
Texture - Assn 5
Rasterize - Class
Texture Synthesis - Class
Assn 5 Walkthrough - Class
Animation - Class
Animation - Assn 6
Texture - Class
Light & Color - Assn 6 Walkthrough
(optional) - Final Exam →
- ← Final Exam
UMBC Policies
Academic Integrity
Accessibility and Disability Accommodations
Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Gender Based Violence and Discrimination
Pregnant and Parenting Students
Additional Policies
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is an important value at UMBC. By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC’s scholarly community in which everyone’s academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they are wrong. Academic misconduct could result in disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, suspension or dismissal.
The purposes of higher education are the learning students and faculty undertake, the knowledge and thinking skills developed, and the enhancement of personal qualities that enable students to be strong contributing members of society. In a competitive world, it is essential that all members of the UMBC community uphold a standard that places integrity of each student’s honestly earned achievements above higher grades or easier work dishonestly sought.
Resources for students about academic integrity at UMBC are available at academicconduct.umbc.edu/resources-for-students.
Accessibility and Disability Accommodations, Guidance and Resources
Accommodations for students with disabilities are provided for all students with a qualified disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA & ADAAA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act who request and are eligible for accommodations. The Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) is the UMBC department designated to coordinate accommodations that creates equal access for students when barriers to participation exist in University courses, programs, or activities.
If you have a documented disability and need to request academic accommodations in your courses, please refer to the SDS website at sds.umbc.edu for registration information and office procedures.
SDS email: disAbility@umbc.edu
SDS phone: 410-455-2459
Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and Gender Based Violence and Discrimination
UMBC Policy in addition to federal and state law (to include Title IX) prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in University programs and activities. Any student who is impacted by sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, gender-based harassment, or related retaliation should contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator to make a report and/or access support and resources. The Title IX Coordinator can be reached at ecr@umbc.edu or 410-455-1717.
You can access support and resources even if you do not want to take any further action. You will not be forced to file a formal complaint or police report. Please be aware that the University may take action on its own if essential to protect the safety of the community.
If you are interested in making a report, please use the Online Reporting/Referral Form. Please note that, if you report anonymously, the University’s ability to respond will be limited.
Notice that Faculty and Teaching Assistants are Mandated Reporters with Mandatory Reporting Obligations
All faculty members and teaching assistants are considered Mandated Reporters, per UMBC’s Interim Policy on Sex Discrimination, Sex-Based Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct. Faculty and teaching assistants therefore required to report all known information regarding alleged conduct that may be a violation of the Policy to the Title IX Coordinator, even if a student discloses an experience that occurred before attending UMBC and/or an incident that only involves people not affiliated with UMBC. Reports are required regardless of the amount of detail provided and even in instances where support has already been offered or received.
While faculty members want to encourage you to share information related to your life experiences through discussion and written work, students should understand that faculty are required to report past and present sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, and gender discrimination that is shared with them to the Title IX Coordinator so that the University can inform students of their rights, resources, and support. While you are encouraged to do so, you are not obligated to respond to outreach conducted as a result of a report to the Title IX Coordinator.
If you need to speak with someone in confidence, who does not have an obligation to report to the Title IX Coordinator, UMBC has a number of Confidential Resources available to support you:
- Retriever Integrated Health (Main Campus): 410-455-2472; Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; For After-Hours Support, Call 988.
- Center for Counseling and Well-Being (Shady Grove Campus): 301-738-6273; Monday-Thursday 10:00a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (virtual) Online Appointment Request Form
- Pastoral Counseling via The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being: 410-455-6795; i3b@umbc.edu; Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Women, Gender, and Equity Center (open to students of all genders): 410-455-2714; womenscenter@umbc.edu; Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Other Resources:
Please note that Maryland law and UMBC policy require that faculty report all disclosures or suspicions of child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services and/or the police even if the person who experienced the abuse or neglect is now over 18.
Pregnant and Parenting Students
UMBC’s Interim Policy on Sex Discrimination, Sex-Based Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct expressly prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, including pregnancy. Resources for pregnant, parenting and breastfeeding students are available through the University’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights. Pregnant and parenting students are encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator to discuss plans and ensure ongoing access to their academic program with respect to a leave of absence – returning following leave, or any other accommodation that may be needed related to pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, breastfeeding, and/or the early months of parenting.
In addition, students who are pregnant and have an impairment related to their pregnancy that qualifies as disability under the ADA may be entitled to accommodations through the Office of Student Disability Services.
Additional Policies
Additional policies on religious observances and accommodation; and hate, bias, discrimination and harrassment can be found on the Office of Equity and Inclusion site