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From: jhl@tty3b.UUCP ("Jonathon Luers" 97320)
Newsgroups: net.graphics
Subject: Is GKS useful for 3D shaded graphics?
Message-ID: <562@tty3b.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Dec-84 12:49:53 EST
Article-I.D.: tty3b.562
Posted: Thu Dec 20 12:49:53 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Dec-84 02:31:06 EST
Organization: Teletype Corp., Skokie, Ill
Lines: 21



I have a basic question about how high-quality shaded color
graphics, like you see on a SIGGRAPH poster, are generated.
I assume the programmer starts with a 3D mathematical model
of the object, and then calculates the reflections from a
light source off the surface of the object to whatever viewing
position is selected.  Now it seems to me that a package like
GKS or CORE is ideal for describing the object and the viewing
angle, but how are reflection, shading, anti-aliasing, etc. handled?
Aren't those calculated pixel by pixel?  But that doesn't fit
in the GKS model, since the user program doesn't know anything
about the device, such as resolution, etc.

Any GKS or 3D rendering experts out there care to comment?

Thanks.

Jon Luers
AT&T Teletype Corporation
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