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Ravi Ramamoorthi

Today, computer graphics is a central part of our lives, in movies, games, computer-aided design, virtual simulators, visualization and even imaging products and cameras. This course teaches the basics of computer graphics rendering, that is of great recent relevance in industry, and that apply to all of these domains.

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Today, computer graphics is a central part of our lives, in movies, games, computer-aided design, virtual simulators, visualization and even imaging products and cameras. This course teaches the basics of computer graphics rendering, that is of great recent relevance in industry, and that apply to all of these domains.

Students will learn to create very realistic computer-generated images of 3D scenes, with ray and path tracing. The course follows on from CSE 167, Foundations of computer graphics, to delve into the details of high-quality physically-based rendering, creating the most realistic and beautiful computer-generated images, culminating in a state-of-the-art path tracer with multiple importance sampling. The projects will be as follows (each counting for 25% of the grade, a passing score will be 60%)

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Raytracing (homework 1)
  • Direct lighting (homework 2)
  • Path tracing (homework 3)
  • Importance sampling (homework 4)

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Computer Graphics II: Rendering with these activities:
Review Linear Algebra Fundamentals
Solidify your understanding of linear algebra concepts, which are fundamental to 3D transformations and rendering calculations.
Browse courses on Linear Transformations
Show steps
  • Review vector and matrix operations.
  • Practice solving linear systems of equations.
  • Study transformations in 2D and 3D space.
Review Foundations of Computer Graphics
Revisit the concepts covered in the prerequisite course to ensure a strong foundation for advanced rendering techniques.
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  • Review the graphics pipeline stages.
  • Study basic shading models like Phong shading.
  • Practice implementing simple 3D transformations.
Physically Based Rendering: From Theory to Implementation
Study this book to gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of physically based rendering.
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  • Read the chapters related to ray tracing and path tracing.
  • Study the mathematical derivations of rendering equations.
  • Examine the code examples provided in the book.
Four other activities
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Show all seven activities
Implement Basic Ray-Object Intersections
Practice implementing ray-object intersection tests for spheres, triangles, and other primitives to solidify your understanding of ray tracing.
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  • Implement ray-sphere intersection.
  • Implement ray-triangle intersection.
  • Test your implementations thoroughly.
Extend Your Path Tracer with New Features
Enhance your path tracer by adding features such as support for different materials, textures, and light sources to improve its realism and versatility.
Show steps
  • Implement support for different BRDFs.
  • Add texture mapping capabilities.
  • Implement area light sources.
Create a Rendering Portfolio
Showcase your rendering skills by creating a portfolio of images generated with your path tracer, demonstrating your mastery of the techniques learned in the course.
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  • Render a variety of scenes with different lighting and materials.
  • Document the rendering settings and techniques used for each image.
  • Present your portfolio online or in a physical format.
Real-Time Rendering
Read this book to understand the differences between real-time and offline rendering techniques.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on shading and texturing.
  • Compare real-time techniques with path tracing.

Career center

Learners who complete Computer Graphics II: Rendering will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Computer Graphics II: Rendering.
Is considered the bible of physically based rendering. It provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and implementation of rendering algorithms. It is an invaluable resource for understanding the mathematical foundations and practical considerations of creating realistic images. This book will add significant depth to the course.
While this course focuses on offline rendering, understanding real-time rendering techniques can provide valuable context. covers the algorithms and techniques used in real-time rendering, such as those used in video games. It can help you appreciate the trade-offs between quality and performance in different rendering scenarios. This book is more valuable as additional reading.

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