Eurographics Tutorials '83

This book is the first issue of a EUROGRAPHICS publication series in the field of computer graphics, an important field of research and a versatile tool for various application areas. The availability of powerful hardware at an affordable price and the evolution of high standard software have led to a rapidly increas­ ing expansion of computer graphics and the penetration of compu­ ter graphics techniques and systems into a wide range of applica­ tion areas. This book series will cover state-of-the-art surveys as well as scientific contributions on specific areas of research and develop­ ment. The first book in the series contains the Tutorial Notes of the EUROGRAPHICS '83 conference, held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, in September 1983. It covers four major aspects of computer graphics today: - The first part contains a detailed introduction into computer graphics, its concepts, its methods, its tools, and its devices. It gives an easy access for the newcomer to the field and it offers an overview of the state of the art in computer graphics. - The second part is devoted to interactive techniques. This is currently one of the most important fields of research in computer graphics. Important aspects of this research and its current state are reported. From the developments described here, in the near future powerful generally applicable user interface management systems are likely to evolve.

I. Introduction to Computer Graphics (Part I).- 1. Acknowledgement.- 2. General Introduction.- 3. Digitising.- 3.1 Manual Digitisers.- 3.2 Semi-Automatic Digitisers.- 3.3 Scanners and TV Cameras.- 4. Graphical Displays.- 4.1 Direct View Storage Tube Display (DVST).- 4.2 Refresh Displays.- 4.3 Raster Displays.- 4.4 Display System Architectures and More Advanced Features.- 4.5 Bit-Mapped Raster Displays.- 5. Input Tools.- 6. Hard Copy Devices.- 6.1 Flat-Bed Plotter.- 6.2 Drum Plotter.- 6.3 Electrostatic Plotter.- 6.4 Matrix Printer.- 6.5 Ink-Jet Plotter.- 6.6 Camera.- 6.7 Camera-Systems.- 6.8 Computer Output on Microfilm (COM).- 6.9 Recommended Reading.- II. Introduction to Computer Graphics (Part II).- 1. Projections and Viewing.- 1.1 Planar Geometric Transformations.- 1.2 Specifying Projections in a Graphics System.- 1.3 Clipping in 3-D.- 1.4 Representing Solid Objects.- 1.5 Half-Toning Techniques.- 2. Colour.- Recommended Reading and References.- III. Introduction to Computer Graphics (Part III).- 1. Graphics Concepts.- 1.1 Graphics Software Overview.- 1.2 Device Independent Graphics Standards.- 1.3 Graphical Output.- 1.4 Graphics-Based Input.- 1.5 Human Factors in Interactive Programming.- 1.6 Interaction Techniques.- 2. Modelling Concepts.- 2.1 Object Definition.- 2.2 Two-Dimensional Transformations.- 2.3 Three-Dimensional Transformations.- References.- IV. Interactive Techniques.- 1. Introduction.- 2. User Interface.- 3. Interaction and Graphics.- 4. Dialogues.- 4.1 The Separation of Algorithm and Dialogue.- 4.2 Dialogue Cells.- 4.3 The Basic Cycle of a Dialogue Cell.- 4.4 Input Parsing.- 4.5 The Input Pool.- 5. The Interface to the Graphics System.- 5.1 A Symmetric I/O Layer on Top of GKS.- Appendix A: Complete Syntax for Dialogue Cells.- Appendix B: Examples for Dialogue Cells.- V. Specification Tools and Implementation Techniques.- 1. Introduction.- 1.1 Overview.- 1.2 Notions.- 2. Models and Design Strategy.- 2.1 Models.- 2.2 Design Strategy.- 3. Guidelines and Observations.- 3.1 Theoretical Aspects.- 3.2 Practical Aspects.- 3.3 Problems Arising.- 4. Tools and Techniques.- 4.1 System Model.- 4.2 Describing a Dialogue System.- 4.3 Dialogue Cells.- 5. Conclusion.- 6. Literature.- VI. The Graphical Kernel System.- 1. Introduction.- 2. GKS Overview.- 3. Concepts and Programming of GKS.- 3.1 Graphical Output.- 3.2 Workstation Concepts.- 3.3 Coordinate Systems and Transformations.- 3.4 Segment Concept.- 3.5 Graphical Input.- 3.6 GKS Metafile Interface.- 3.7 GKS Level Structure.- 3.8 State of GKS.- 3.9 Error Handling.- 3.10 Special Interfaces.- 4. GKS Interfaces.- 4.1 Language Interfaces.- 5. Acknowledgement.- 6. References.- Annex 1: GKS FORTRAN SUBROUTINE names.- Annex 2: Correspondence of GKS data types and FORTRAN data types.- Annex 3: GKS FORTRAN enumeration type mnemonics.- VII. Case Study of GKS Development.- 1. Introduction.- 1.1 Our Requirements.- 1.2 Objectives of GKS.- 1.3 Design Phases.- 1.4 Overall Structure of our GKS System.- 2. Output and Attributes.- 2.1 The Workstation Interface.- 2.2 Handling of Attributes.- 2.3 Handling of Transformations.- 2.4 Organization of ‘Pipelines’.- 2.5 Design of Output Utilities.- 2.6 Problems with Error Handling.- 2.7 General Utilities.- 3. Input System.- 3.1 Problems with Level ‘c’ Input.- 3.2 Organization of Input System.- 3.3 Input Data Records.- 3.4 Two Problems with Input.- 4. Segments.- 4.1 Different Possible Design Structures.- 4.2 Communication with Central Segment Store.- 4.3 Design of Workstation-Independent Segment Storage.- 5. Metafiles.- 5.1 Developments in Metafile Standards.- 5.2 Requirements of GKS Metafile Interface.- 5.3 Some Problems with Metafiles.- 5.4 Future Developments in Metafile Support.- 6. Conclusions.- 6.1 Survey of Problems.- 6.2 Survey of Targets Achieved.- 6.3 Future Developments.- Reference.- VIII. Surface Design Foundations.- 1. Local Coordinates.- 2. Polynomial Curves.- 3. B-Spline Curves.- 4. Rational Curves.- 5. Tensor Product Polynomial Surfaces.- 6. B-Spline Surfaces.- 7. Triangular Polynomial Patches.- 8. Scattered Data Interpolation.- 9. Transfinite Methods.- References.- IX. Geometric Modelling ― Fundamentals.- 1. The Objectives of Geometric Modelling.- 2. Early Models.- 3. Geometrically Complete Models.- 4. Conversions between Models.- Appendix 1: 2D Construction.- Appendix 2: 3D Constructions.- Appendix 3: Profile Constructions.- Appendix 4: Sculptured Surface Sectioning Algorithms.- X. Solid Modeling: Theory and Applications.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Role of Solid Modeling in CAD.- 2.1 Design Cycle.- 2.2 Models for CAD.- 2.3 System Architecture Aspects.- 3. Solid Modeling Techniques.- 3.1 Taxonomy of Modeling Schemes.- 3.2 Wire Frames.- 3.3 Boundary Representations.- 3.4 Constructive Solid Geometry.- 3.5 Other Representations.- 4. Solid Modeling Applications.- 4.1 Visualization.- 4.2 Integral Properties.- 4.3 Kinematic Analysis.- 4.4 NC Verification.- 5. Concluding Remarks.- References.