How Computer Graphics Builds an Image

Beginner / Python 3 / 10 lessons

A game object is stored as coordinates and connections. Computer graphics transforms that information into a camera’s view, then assigns colors to the screen’s pixels.

• Who it is for: You know coordinates and basic arithmetic and can read short Python examples.
• Topics: Vectors, transformations, cameras and projection, rasterization, lighting, surfaces, and textures.
• Examples: Small calculations using standard Python and diagrams. Every lesson is free to read.
• Goal: Explain whether an image problem comes from coordinates, the camera, visibility, or color calculations.

Start with the overall process, then follow each stage. When a formula appears, predict how changing one number affects the picture.

Lessons

1. 01 Store an Image in PixelsDistinguish vector descriptions, raster images, and frame buffers.
2. 02 Points, Vectors, and Surface DirectionSeparate positions from displacements and compare directions with a dot product.
3. 03 The Order of TransformationsSee why applying the same transformations in a different order changes the result.
4. 04 See Through Camera CoordinatesDistinguish object, world, and camera coordinates.
5. 05 Project Distant Objects SmallerLearn perspective, orthographic projection, and clipping.
6. 06 Turn Triangles into Screen SamplesUse rasterization and depth testing to determine visible surfaces.
7. 07 Compute Color from Light and SurfaceDistinguish diffuse and specular reflection and compute a simple light response.
8. 08 Shade Faces, Vertices, or PixelsCompare what flat, Gouraud, and Phong shading interpolate.
9. 09 Textures and AliasingConnect surface UV coordinates with sampling and filtering.
10. 10 From Scene to ImageConnect the stages and place ray tracing and stereo images in context.