Introduction to Computer Graphics (CG)

Computer Graphics is a field of computer science that deals with creating, storing,
manipulating, and displaying visual images using computers.
Definition
Computer Graphics is the technology of producing pictures and animations using a computer.
Main Goals of CG
 To generate images
 To modify existing images
 To display visual information clearly
Basic Components of a Graphics System
1. Input Devices
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
3. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
4. Frame Buffer (Video Memory)
5. Output Devices (Display/Printer)
Block Diagram of a Graphics System
Input Devices → CPU → GPU → Frame Buffer → Display Device

Applications of Computer Graphics

Computer Graphics is used in many real-world areas:
1. Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
 Designing buildings, machines, circuits
 Used by engineers and architects
2. Entertainment
 Movies, animation, cartoons
 Video games and virtual worlds
3. Education & Training
 Simulations for pilot training
 Virtual labs and models
4. Medical Field
 X-ray, MRI, CT scan image visualization
 Surgical planning
5. Business & Presentation
 Graphs, charts, reports
 Advertising and marketing
6. Scientific Visualization
 Weather forecasting
 Space research
 Molecular modeling

VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICES

1) Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor

A CRT monitor is a type of display device that uses a cathode-ray tube to create images on a
phosphor-coated screen. The key components of a CRT monitor include:
Working:
 Uses an electron gun inside a vacuum tube.
 The electron beam hits a phosphor-coated screen.
 When electrons strike the screen, it glows and forms images.
 Magnetic coils control the beam movement.
Features:
 Bulky and heavy
 Consumes more power
 Good color quality
 Generates more heat
Advantages:
✔ Cheap
✔ Good response time
✔ Wide viewing angle
Disadvantages:
✘ Large size
✘ High power consumption
✘ Emits radiation

2) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Monitor

Working:
 Uses liquid crystals placed between two glass plates.
 Needs a backlight (usually fluorescent).
 Crystals control light to form images.
Features:
 Thin and lightweight
 Uses less electricity than CRT
 Flat panel display
Advantages:
✔ Slim design
✔ Energy efficient
✔ Less heat
Disadvantages:
✘ Limited viewing angle (in older models)
✘ Slightly slower response time

3) Light Emitting Diode Display (LED) Monitor

Working:
 Actually a type of LCD.
 Uses LED lights instead of fluorescent backlight.
 Brighter and more energy efficient.
Features:
 Very thin
 Better brightness and contrast
 Low power consumption
Advantages:
✔ Brighter display
✔ Long life
✔ Energy saving
Disadvantages:
✘ Costlier than LCD

4) Light Emitting Diode Display (OLED) Monitor

Working:
 Each pixel produces its own light.
 No backlight required.
 Organic materials glow when electricity passes.
Features:
 Very thin and flexible
 Deep black colors
 Excellent contrast
Advantages:
✔ Best picture quality
✔ Very fast response time
✔ Wide viewing angle
Disadvantages:
✘ Expensive
✘ Risk of screen burn-in

5) Plasma display Monitor

Working:
 Uses small cells filled with gas (plasma).
 Gas glows when electricity passes.
 Each cell works like a tiny fluorescent lamp.
Features:
 Good color reproduction
 Large screen sizes
 Heavy
🔹 Advantages:
✔ Excellent contrast
✔ Good for large TVs
Disadvantages:
✘ High power consumption
✘ Heavier
✘ Screen burn-in possible

Comparison Table
Type Size Power Use Picture Quality Thickness
CRT Bulky High Good Thick
LCD Thin Low Good Thin
LED Very Thin Very Low Better Very Thin
OLED Ultra Thin Very Low Excellent Ultra Thin
Plasma Heavy High Very Good Thick

In Computer Graphics, the screen can be drawn using two main display methods:
1. Raster Scan
2. Random Scan (Vector Scan)
These methods describe how the picture is drawn on the screen.

1) Raster Scan System

Definition
A Raster Scan System displays an image by scanning the screen line by line from top to
bottom.
What it can display:
 Points (pixels)
 Lines
 Characters
 Shapes (circles, rectangles, polygons)
 Images
 Photographs
 2D and 3D graphics
 Videos
 Animations
Raster scan is used in:
 Microsoft Windows systems
 Apple macOS systems
 Modern monitors (LCD, LED, OLED)
Since raster scan stores images in pixel format, it can display complex colored images and
realistic graphics.
Working Principle
 The screen is divided into a grid of small dots called pixels.
 The electron beam (in CRT) or digital controller (in modern displays) moves:
o Left → Right (one line)
o Then moves slightly down
 o Again Left → Right
 This continues until the whole screen is covered.
 The process repeats many times per second (refreshing).
This process is called refreshing.
Important Terms
1. Pixel
Smallest picture element of a display.
2. Resolution
Number of pixels on screen.
Example: 1920 × 1080
3. Frame Buffer
Memory that stores pixel color values.
Diagram

Advantages
✔ Realistic images
✔ Supports color and shading
✔ Good for photos and videos
Disadvantages
✘ Requires more memory
✘ Slightly slower for drawing lines
Used In
 TVs
 Computer monitors
 Smartphones
 Modern graphics systems
In a Raster Scan Display, the screen is drawn line by line from top to bottom.
There are two main types of scanning:
1. Interlaced Scanning
2. Non-Interlaced Scanning (Progressive Scanning)

1 Interlaced Scanning
Meaning:
In interlaced scanning, the screen is divided into two parts called fields.
 First field → draws odd-numbered lines (1, 3, 5, 7…)
 Second field → draws even-numbered lines (2, 4, 6, 8…)
Both fields together form one complete frame.

How It Works:
 The electron beam first scans odd lines.
 Then it goes back and scans even lines.
 This happens very fast, so our eyes see it as a complete image.

Example:
Used in older TV systems like:
 NTSC
 PAL

Diagram (Conceptual):
Field 1: 1 3 5 7 9
Field 2: 2 4 6 8 10

Advantages:
✔ Requires less bandwidth
✔ Reduces flicker compared to low frame-rate systems

Disadvantages:
✖ Can cause flickering
✖ Motion may appear blurry
✖ “Combing effect” in fast-moving scenes

2 Non-Interlaced Scanning (Progressive Scanning)

Meaning:
In non-interlaced scanning, the screen is scanned completely in one continuous sequence.
 1→2→3→4→5→6→…
Each frame is drawn completely in one pass.

How It Works:
 The beam scans from top to bottom.
 All lines are refreshed in order.
 Then the next frame is drawn.
Example:
Used in:
 1080p
 720p
 Modern LCD, LED, OLED monitors

Diagram (Conceptual):
1
2
3
4
5
6

Advantages:
✔ Better image quality
✔ No flickering
✔ Smooth motion
✔ Best for computer graphics and gaming

Disadvantages:
✖ Requires more bandwidth
✖ Higher memory requirement

Key Differences
Feature Interlaced Non-Interlaced
Line Drawing Odd & even separately All lines sequentially
Frame Creation Two fields = 1 frame One pass = 1 frame
Picture Quality Lower Higher
Flicker More Less
Used In Old TVs Modern monitors

2) Random Scan System (Vector Display)

Definition
A Random Scan System draws only the lines and shapes required, instead of scanning the
entire screen.
It is also called a Vector Display System.

What it can display:

 Points
 Straight lines
 Characters (made from lines)
 Simple shapes (polygon outlines)
It is not good for:
 Shaded images
 Photographs
 Complex colored graphics
  Videos
Random scan was used in early vector display systems and some older graphics terminals.

Working Principle
 The electron beam directly moves from one point to another.
 It draws only the required lines.
 Does NOT scan the full screen line by line.
 Works like drawing with a pencil.

Diagram

Beam directly moves:

Point A → Point B
Point B → Point C
(No line-by-line scanning)

How It Stores Image

 Stores commands like:
o Draw line from (x1, y1) to (x2, y2)
 No pixel grid used.

Advantages
✔ Very smooth lines
✔ Less memory required
✔ High resolution for line drawings

Disadvantages
✘ Cannot display realistic images easily
✘ Not good for shading
✘ Limited color support
Used In
 Early computer graphics systems
 Engineering design systems
 Oscilloscopes

Difference between Random Scan and Raster Scan

Base of
Difference Random Scan Raster Scan

While the resolution of raster

The resolution of random scan is
Resolution scan is lesser or lower than
higher than raster scan.
random scan.

It is costlier than raster scan because

it requires more sophisticated While the cost of raster scan is
Cost
hardware to control the electron lesser than random scan.
beam directly

In random scan, any alteration is easy While in raster scan, any

Modification
in comparison of raster scan. alteration is not so easy .

In random scan, interlacing is not While in raster scan, interlacing

Interlacing
used. is used.

In random scan, mathematical

While in which, for image or
function is used for image or picture
picture rendering, raster scan
Line Drawings rendering. It is suitable for
uses pixels. It is suitable for
applications requiring polygon
creating realistic scenes.
drawings.

Electron Beam is directed to only that Electron Beam is directed from

Motion of part of screen where picture is top to bottom and one row at a
Electron Beam required to be drawn, one line at a time on screen. It is directed to
time. whole screen.

It stores picture definition as a

Picture It stores picture definition as a set of
set of intensity values of the
Definition line commands in the Refresh buffer.
pixels in the frame buffer.
 Base of
Difference Random Scan Raster Scan

Refresh rate depends on the number Refresh rate is 60 to 80 frames

Refresh Rate of lines to be displayed i.e. 30 to 60 per second and is independent
times per second. of picture complexity.

In random scan, Solid Pattern is In raster scan, Solid Pattern is

Solid Pattern
tough to fill. easy to fill.

Example Pen Plotter TV Sets

Color CRT Monitors

A Color CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor is an advanced version of a simple CRT that can
display colored images instead of just black and white.

Basic Idea
Color CRT works on the principle of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color combination.
Every color on the screen is produced by mixing:
 Red
 Green
 Blue

Main Components
1. Three Electron Guns
o One for Red
o One for Green
o One for Blue
2. Phosphor-Coated Screen
o Screen is coated with tiny dots arranged in groups of 3:
 Red phosphor dot
 Green phosphor dot
 Blue phosphor dot
3. Color Generation Methods: There are two primary methods for generating col
ors in CRTs:

 Shadow Mask: This method uses a mask to ensure that each electron beam only hits
its corresponding color phosphor, allowing for millions of colors to be displayed.
Working Principle
1. Three electron guns fire beams.
2. Beams pass through shadow mask.
3. They hit corresponding RGB phosphor dots.
4. Dots glow when struck.
5. Different intensities of RGB produce different colors.
Example:
 Red + Green = Yellow
 All three full intensity = White
 No intensity = Black

Beam Penetration: This method uses varying speeds of the electron beams to mix co
lors, producing a limited palette.
Advantages
 Good color reproduction
 High contrast
 Less motion blur
Disadvantages
 Very bulky and heavy
 High power consumption
 Generates heat

Flat-Panel Displays
From the name itself, we can understand the idea of flat panel displays. A flat panel
display is a type of video display that is lighter, thinner, and more efficient compared to
traditional cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors. These are useful for their slim structure, which
makes it more convenient. Unlike bulky CRTs, flat panel displays do not rely on vacuum tubes
and electron guns. Instead, they use advanced technologies such as liquid crystals, plasma, and
light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to display images.
Flat panel displays are used in several devices including: Televisions, Computer
monitors, Smartphones, Digital cameras, Industrial displays, and many more. Let us now look at
the different types of flat panel displays

Types of Flat Panel Displays

Flat panel displays can be categorized into two main types −

1. Emissive Displays
2. Non-Emissive Displays

1. Emissive Displays
Emissive displays generate light directly from the pixels. They do not require a backlight as the
image is produced by the pixel elements themselves.

Common examples of emissive displays include the following −

Plasma Displays − These use small cells containing electrically charged ionized gases (plasma) to
produce images. Plasma displays are known for producing contrasting colors and deep blacks.
This makes them suitable for high-quality television displays.
Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) − OLED screens are composed of organic compounds that
emit light when an electric current is applied. They offer vibrant color reproduction and high
contrast. OLED displays are thinner, more flexible, and provide better picture quality than other
display types.

2. Non-Emissive Displays
Non-emissive displays rely on external light sources, usually a backlight, to illuminate the
screen. Examples include −

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) − LCD is perhaps the most commonly used flat panel technology. It
consists of liquid crystals in between two layers of glass. These crystals do not emit light but
rather manipulate light from a backlight to create images. LCD displays are energy-efficient and
widely used in smartphones, computer monitors, and TVs.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) − While LEDs are used to create backlighting in modern LCD displays,
they can also act as the source of light in certain designs. LED displays are brighter and more
energy-efficient compared to traditional LCDs. These displays are common in outdoor digital
displays and newer flat-screen televisions.

Advantages of Flat Panel Displays

Flat Panel Displays have several applications including −

1. Space-Saving − Their slim structure takes up less space compared to older CRT models.
2. Energy Efficiency − Flat panel displays, particularly LCD and LED models, consume
significantly less power than CRTs. Which makes them cost savings and environmentally
sustainable.
3. High-Resolution Imaging − These displays offer high-definition picture quality, providing
sharp and clear images.
4. Wide Viewing Angles − Modern flat panel displays provide wider viewing angles, making it
easier to see content clearly from different perspectives.
5. Lightweight − They are much lighter compared to traditional monitors, making
transportation and mounting easier.

Applications of Flat Panel Displays

Flat panel displays are used in a variety of applications; some everyday uses are listed below.

[Link] and Monitors − A flat panel display is the mainstream for both TV and computer
monitors. Be it multiple options, including an OLED, LED or LCD display, with such a beautiful
HD picture and slim design, they are just right for home entertainment and professional use.
2. Smartphones and Tablets − Flat panel displays are a must-have technology for mobile
devices. Now, OLED and LCD screens are the most widely used technologies in the making of
most of the smartphones and tablets, respectively, because they are thin and have a good
picture quality. Further, with the trend of bezel-less displays, it has been tilting more towards
using OLED displays because there is more space for screen when made smaller in devices.
3. Digital Signage − LED flat panel displays find wide use in digital signage. These display units
are found in indoor malls and on outdoor billboards where screens of the flat panel displays can
be changed to present dynamic visual content like advertising, video or public service
announcements. Being bright and having good clarity.
4. Industrial Use − Flat panel displays are also installed at industrial companies. For instance,
they are mounted on machines used in factories and control systems for overseeing particular
processes. LCD displays are preferred for such environments over others due to their durability
and clarity in bright light.
5. Automotive Displays − Today's cars have flat-panel displays and infotainment systems with
digital dashboards. In such cases, the information that is being displayed has to include
navigational details like speed and other diagnostics of the vehicle. For an automotive
application, either OLED or LED is used by considering very high brightness and high response
time aspects.

Challenges in Flat Panel Display Technology

Despite their advantages, flat panel displays do have some challenges −

1. Cost − Advanced display technologies like OLED and MicroLED are more expensive to
produce compared to traditional LCD displays, which can increase the overall cost of devices.
2. Durability − Some flat panel displays, particularly OLED screens, are more susceptible to
burn-in, where static images leave a permanent mark on the screen.
3. Limited Lifespan − The lifespan of certain flat panel technologies, especially OLED, can be
shorter than that of LCDs due to organic compounds degrading over time.

3 Three-Dimensional Viewing Devices

These devices allow users to see 3D images (depth effect).
Used in:
 Virtual Reality
 Medical Imaging
 Simulation
 Gaming
 CAD systems

(A) Stereoscopic Displays

Basic Idea
Stereoscopic displays create 3D vision by presenting two slightly different images, one to each
eye. Since our eyes are about 6–7 cm apart, each eye naturally sees a slightly different view of
an object. The brain combines these two images and creates a sense of depth (binocular
disparity).

How It Works
1. Two cameras (or two virtual cameras in computer graphics) capture the scene from
slightly different angles.
2. The display sends:
o Left image → Left eye
o Right image → Right eye
3. The brain fuses both images → 3D perception.

Types of Glasses
✅ Active Shutter Glasses
 Battery-powered glasses.
 LCD shutters alternately block left and right eyes.
 The screen rapidly switches images (60–120 Hz).
 High-quality 3D but more expensive.

✅ Passive Polarized Glasses

 Uses polarized light filters.
 Each eye receives differently polarized light.
 Lightweight and cheaper than active glasses.
 Common in 3D cinemas.
Example: 3D movie projection systems.

Advantages
✔ Realistic depth perception
✔ Good for movies and gaming

Disadvantages
❌ Requires glasses
❌ May cause eye strain

(B) Head Mounted Display (HMD)

Head-Mounted Display (HMD) is a wearable 3D display device that provides separate images to
each eye and tracks head movement to create an immersive virtual environment.

Used in:
 Flight simulation
 Virtual labs
 Gaming

Imagine This Real-Life Situation
Imagine you are standing inside a video game.
When you:
 Turn your head left → You see left side of the world
 Look up → You see the sky
 Look down → You see the ground
It feels like you are inside the environment, not just watching a screen.
That is what an HMD does.

How Does It Work?

1. Two Small Screens

Inside the headset:
Left Eye → Screen 1
Right Eye → Screen 2
Each screen shows a slightly different image.
This creates depth (3D effect).

2. Motion Sensors
The headset contains sensors like:
 Gyroscope → detects rotation
 Accelerometer → detects movement
 Sometimes magnetometer → detects direction

Simple Real-Life Example

Think of your smartphone.
When you rotate your phone:
 The screen automatically rotates.
That happens because of gyroscope and accelerometer.
HMD works the same way!

3. Head Tracking
If you move your head:
You turn left → View changes to left
You turn right → View changes to right
You look up → View shows sky

The system tracks your head movement in real time.

So it feels natural — like real life.

Normal TV Watching
You → Watching screen
Screen → Outside of you
HMD
You → Inside the virtual world
World surrounds you

Where Is It Used?
✔ VR gaming
✔ Pilot training
✔ Medical surgery practice
✔ Architecture walkthrough
✔ Military simulations

(C) Volumetric Display

Volumetric display is a 3D display technology that creates images inside a physical volume using
voxels, allowing viewing from multiple angles without special glasses.
Normally:
 TV → shows image on a flat screen (2D surface)
 Phone → flat screen
 Computer → flat screen
But a Volumetric Display creates an image inside space, not just on a surface.
The image actually exists in a 3D area.
Simple Real-Life Example
Imagine a hologram in a science fiction movie.
For example, in Iron Man, when Tony Stark rotates a floating 3D model in the air.
That floating image is similar to how a volumetric display works.

Easy Comparison

Normal Display
[ IMAGE ]
on a flat surface
You can only see front view.

Volumetric Display
(3D object)
inside
transparent space
You can:
 Move around it
 See it from different sides
 No glasses needed

How Does It Work? (Very Simple)

There are different technologies, but basic idea is:
Instead of lighting up flat pixels,
it lights up tiny points in 3D space.

What is a Voxel?
You know:
Pixel = Picture Element (2D dot on screen), it has height & width
Voxel = Volume Element (3D dot in space), it has height, width & depth
Many voxels together form a 3D object.

Different Methods Used

1 Rotating Screen Method
 A screen rotates very fast.
 Images are projected at different angles.
 Due to fast rotation, it appears as a full 3D object.
Like:
Fan spinning fast → looks like a circle.
2 LED Layer Method
 Many transparent LED layers stacked.
 Different layers light up at different depths.
 Forms 3D shape.
3 Laser-Based Method
 Laser excites particles in air or special material.
 Light appears at specific 3D points.
  Forms floating image.

Why No Glasses Needed?

Because:
Each point exists physically in space.
Your eyes naturally see:
 Left eye → left angle
 Right eye → right angle
Just like seeing a real object.
No need to separate images artificially.

Where Is It Used?
✔ Medical imaging (3D heart model from CT scan)
✔ Scientific research
✔ Air traffic control
✔ Military visualization

Example
Imagine a transparent cube filled with tiny LED bulbs.
If you turn on certain bulbs:
 You can form a 3D ball
 Or a 3D human heart
 Or a 3D car
That is the basic idea of volumetric display.

(D) Autostereoscopic display

An autostereoscopic display is a 3D display that:
✔ Does NOT require glasses
✔ Separates left and right images using screen technology
✔ Sends different images directly to each eye
The main goal is:
Deliver Image A to left eye
Deliver Image B to right eye
Without using glasses.
To achieve this, the screen controls the direction of light.

Important Concept: Direction of Light

In normal screens:
 Light goes in all directions.
 Both eyes see the same pixels.
In autostereoscopic screens:
 Light is controlled carefully.
 Some light rays go only to the left eye.
 Some light rays go only to the right eye.
This is called Directional Light Control.
Method 1: Lenticular Lens
Structure
On top of the LCD screen, there is a sheet of:
 Tiny cylindrical lenses
 Arranged vertically
 Each lens covers a few pixel columns
Imagine each lens like a very small magnifying glass.

How It Separates Images

Behind one lenticular lens:
 Some pixels are meant for left eye.
 Some pixels are meant for right eye.
The curved lens bends light:
Pixel L → bent toward left eye
Pixel R → bent toward right eye
So:
 Left eye sees only left image.
 Right eye sees only right image.

Why Does 3D Change When You Move?

Because:
 Light is sent at fixed angles.
 If you move your head too much,
o Your eye may enter wrong light zone.
o Image may flip or blur.
This is called a Viewing Zone Limitation.

Advantages of Lenticular
✔ Brighter image
✔ Can support multiple viewing angles (in advanced versions)
✔ Used in advertising boards, 3D prints

Method 2: Parallax Barrier

Structure
A parallax barrier is:
 A thin layer placed in front of the screen.
 Contains microscopic vertical slits.
 Blocks certain light rays.
Think of it like a fence in front of the display.

How It Works
The screen shows interlaced images:
Example pattern:
Column 1 → Left image
Column 2 → Right image
Column 3 → Left image
Column 4 → Right image
Now the barrier allows:
  Odd columns → Left eye
 Even columns → Right eye
It works by physically blocking some light.

Why Is It Slightly Darker?

Because:
 Some light is blocked.
 Only part of screen brightness reaches each eye.
So image brightness reduces.

Real Example
 Nintendo 3DS
It used parallax barrier technology.
It even had a slider to adjust 3D strength!

Advanced Concept
Modern autostereoscopic displays may use:
 Eye tracking cameras
 Adaptive barriers
 Multiple view zones
So even if you move, the screen adjusts light direction.
This is used in advanced research displays and some premium devices.
Comparison
Feature Lenticular Lens Parallax Barrier
Works by Bending light Blocking light
Brightness Higher Lower
Viewing angles More flexible Limited
Cost Higher Slightly cheaper
 Feature Lenticular Lens Parallax Barrier
Image sharpness Good Slightly reduced
Summerized Understanding
Normal 3D:
Glasses separate images.
Autostereoscopic:
Screen separates images.
Volumetric:
Image exists physically in space.
Simple Explanation
CRT = Old TV technology
LCD/LED = Modern TV and computer monitors
OLED = Premium mobile screens
3D devices = Used in VR, movies, and simulation