OpenGL Programming Part 1

What is OpenGL®
• graphic rendering Application Programming Interface
• high quality color images composed of geometric and image primitives
• window and operating system independent
• a library for 3D graphic and modelling
• portable and fast

The OpenGL Pipeline

The OpenGL® Standard

• an API not a language

• some graphic package include

• Renderman
• Renderware
• DirectX

What can OpenGL® do?

• display primitives
• coordinate transform
• anti-aliasing
• pixel update operation
• display list


OpenGL® Primitives
• All geometric object in OpenGL are created from a set of basic primitives
• certain primitives are provided to allow optimization of geometry for improved rendering speed.

Line Based Primitives

Polygon Primitives

OpenGL Supports:

• phong illumination model

    -diffuse reflection

     -phong specular highlight

     -ambient illumination

• shading models

    -flat shading

    -gourand shading

    -phong shading

Relevent Library

• the GL library : core function of OpenGL; modelling, viewing, clipping, lighting

• The GL Utility (GLU) : create common object; sphere quadrics : special of standard views; perspective, orthographic

• The GL Utility Toolkit (GLUT) : provides the interface with the windowing system.

• window management, menus, mouse interaction

OpenGL Command Format