This class is over. It was taught in a previous semester.

CSCI 420 Computer Graphics, Spring 2022

Lecture: Monday and Wednesday, 10:00-11:50, SLH 102 (first 2 weeks online on Zoom)
Instructor: Jernej Barbic, jnb@usc.edu
Office: SAL 240
Office hours: Monday 4:00 - 5:00   
TA: Jiahao Wen, jiahaow@usc.edu
Producer: Jingtao Huang, jingtaoh@usc.edu
TA Office hours: Tuesday and Friday 4pm-5pm (online on Zoom)

Introduction and Purpose

This course is an introduction to three-dimensional computer graphics. Students will learn both the theory of 3D computer graphics, and how to program it efficiently using OpenGL. The course primarily teaches the "modern" shader-based OpenGL (core profile), but also introduces the "classic" fixed-function OpenGL (compatibility profile). Topics include 2D and 3D transformations, Bézier and B-Spline curves for geometric modeling, interactive 3D graphics programming, computer animation and kinematics, and computer graphics rendering including ray tracing, shading and lighting. There will be an emphasis on the mathematical and geometric aspects of computer graphics. This course is regularly offered every semester (the instructor may vary from offering to offering, as may the content somewhat).

Schedule | Prerequisites | Textbooks | Assignments | Grading | Resources and Supplementary Reading | Academic Integrity

Date Topic Reading (Angel) Reference Assignments
Mon Jan 10 2022 What is Computer Graphics Ch 1 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Wed Jan 12 Introduction to OpenGL Ch 2 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Mon Jan 17 No class (Martin Luther King Day)
Wed Jan 19 Graphics Pipeline Ch 2 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Mon Jan 24 Color and Hidden Surface Removal Ch 2 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Wed Jan 26 Transformations Ch 3 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Mon Jan 31 Viewing and Projection Ch 4 PDF  PDF-6X-BW Assign1-Tips
Wed Feb 2 Shaders Ch 1, 2, App A PDF  PDF-6X-BW Assignment 1 out
Mon Feb 7 Shaders (continuation)
Wed Feb 9 Hierarchical Modeling Ch 8 PDF  PDF-6X-BW 
Mon Feb 14 Polygonal Meshes, Curves and Surfaces Ch 10 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Wed Feb 16 Splines Ch 10 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Mon Feb 21 No class (President's Day)
Wed Feb 23 Lighting and Shading Ch 5 PDF  PDF-6X-BW Assignment 1 due
Mon Feb 28 Catch-up day Assignment 2 out
Wed Mar 2 Texture Mapping Ch 7 PDF  PDF-6X-BW Assign2-Tips
Mon Mar 7 Review for midterm Assignment 2 milestone due
Wed Mar 9 Midterm exam (in-class)
Mon Mar 21 Rasterization Ch 6 PDF  PDF-6X-BW 
Wed Mar 23 Ray Tracing Ch 11 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Mon Mar 28 Ray Tracing: Geometric Queries Ch 11 PDF  PDF-6X-BW  Assign3-Tips
Wed Mar 30 Spatial Data Structures Ch 8 PDF  PDF-6X-BW Assignment 2 due
Assignment 3 out
Mon Apr 4 Global Illumination Ch 11 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Wed Apr 6 Keyframe Animation Ch 9 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Mon Apr 11 Image Processing Ch 6, 7 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Wed Apr 13 Physically Based Simulation Ch 9 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Mon Apr 18 Wildcard lecture: TBA
Wed Apr 20 Non-Photorealistic Rendering PDF  PDF-6X-BW Assignment 3 due
Mon Apr 25 Virtual Reality PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Wed Apr 27 Visualization Ch 11 PDF  PDF-6X-BW
Mon May 9 Final exam 8a.m.-10a.m., in class

Prerequisites

Textbooks (both strongly recommended)

Assignments

There will be three programming homework assignments, teaching students OpenGL and how to program 3D computer graphics. Please see the schedule for links to assignments and due dates. All assignments must be done individually.

Grading

All assignments must be completed before the final exam to pass the course. Students must take the mid-term and final exams to pass the course. The assignments will have a small amount of extra credit.

Late policy: Programming assignments should be turned in by midnight on the day they are due. A total of three late days may be taken during the semester on programming assignments. For example, you can use one late day on the second assignment, and two on the third assignment. All days are counted, including any weekends and holidays, as follows:
Less than 24 hours late = 1 late day, 24-48 hours late = 2 late days, 48-72 hours late = 3 late days, and so on.
The flexibility provided by the late days is intended to get you through the time where all your classes just happen to have assignments due on the same day. Beyond the three late days, there will be a penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment / day. Exceptions will be granted only under most dire circumstances and must be discussed with and approved by the instructor at least one week in advance. Assignment and exam grading may be discussed within three weeks of them being returned to the students.

Forum

There is a forum on Piazza where students can ask questions.

Resources and Supplementary Readings

Computer Graphics References

Prerequisite-related Resources

Academic integrity

All students are expected to maintain the utmost level of academic integrity. Do not copy any parts of any of the assignments from anyone. Do not look at other students' code, papers, assignments or exams. The university policies on academic conduct will be applied rigorously, and the USC Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards will be notified.

Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems

Academic Conduct
Plagiarism - presenting someone else's ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words, is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Section 11, Behavior Violating University Standards, https://scampus.usc.edu/1100-behavior-violating-university-standards-and-appropriate-sanctions/. Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct, http://policy.usc.edu/scientific-misconduct/.

Discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment are not tolerated by the university. You are encouraged to report any incidents to the Office of Equity and Diversity http://equity.usc.edu/ or to the Department of Public Safety http://capsnet.usc.edu/department/department-public-safety/online-forms/contact-us. This is important for the safety whole USC community. Another member of the university community -- such as a friend, classmate, advisor, or faculty member -- can help initiate the report, or can initiate the report on behalf of another person. The Center for Women and Men http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/cwm/ provides 24/7 confidential support, and the sexual assault resource center webpage sarc@usc.edu describes reporting options and other resources.

Support Systems
A number of USC's schools provide support for students who need help with scholarly writing. Check with your advisor or program staff to find out more. Students whose primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute http://dornsife.usc.edu/ali, which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for international graduate students. The Office of Disability Services and Programs http://sait.usc.edu/academicsupport/centerprograms/dsp/home_index.html provides certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations. If an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency Information http://emergency.usc.edu/will provide safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technology.

Statement for Students with Disabilities

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

Credits

I wish to thank Prof. Frank Pfenning and Prof. Jessica Hodgins from Carnegie Mellon University for generously providing materials from their computer graphics courses at CMU. This course has also been influenced by computer graphics courses at Cornell, MIT and UC Berkeley.