Practical Algorithms for 3D Computer Graphics, 2nd Edition

7

Real-time 3D: OpenGL

With the insatiable demand for mor e and more realistic computer games, atten-

tion has focused on hardware acceleration of the render in g pipeline. To derive

maximum benefit from hardware implementations of such things as geometric

transformations, rasterization and shading, application programmers are n ow

commonly using standard libraries such as OpenGL and Direct 3D for their 3D

programming.

The capabilities of the graphics hardware are rapidly increasing, and to keep

pace with this, the software APIs are evolving at an alarming rate. Thus, one

of the major challenges in writing programs is to be aware of these changes and

how they affect your existing and future software creations.

For many years, workstations have had access ...