Computer graphics is the art of creating virtual reality by manipulating the shapes and light of objects we see with our eyes. It’s used in games and films, as well as in medicine, architecture, and other fields, and is expected to be further developed in the future with holograms and three-dimensional imaging technology.
The Gods of Virtual Reality: Computer Graphics
Have you ever seen pandas performing martial arts, or machines transforming into robots and fighting each other? Chances are, most of us have. In films, of course. But in real life, there are no machines that transform into robots, no martial arts pandas, and only lazy pandas that eat bamboo. So how do they make these films? The art of creating images of things that don’t exist in the real world or are difficult to create is called computer graphics. It’s also commonly referred to as CG.
When you hear the term computer graphics, you might think that something has to be very realistic, highly specialised, and expensive to produce. However, computer graphics are often used in our everyday lives. The subtitles you see on TV, or as we call them, the ‘polishing’ that goes on behind the scenes, are all examples of computer graphics. From simple printouts to fancy games, computer graphics are all around us.
The basic elements of computer graphics
So, what are the key elements of computer graphics? This question can be easily answered by thinking about the process of seeing things with our eyes. To see things with our eyes, we need three essential elements. The eye (or camera), the object, and the light that allows the eye to see the object. These three things make up the important building blocks of computer graphics. Let’s briefly explain how these elements make up computer graphics.
It’s easy to understand if you think back to your art class in middle school or high school. When we do a plaster cast, we first place the plaster where it looks good. In computer graphics, the process of creating and positioning objects is called modelling. Next, we draw the shape of the plaster on a two-dimensional piece of paper, which is a projection of the object as it looks from a particular point of view onto a two-dimensional screen. This process is called rendering. Finally, to give the plaster a three-dimensional appearance, light and dark areas are painted with pencil to add dimension, a process known as shading. In the process of shading, we can express in detail the colours and even the material of the surface.
Through this process, we can easily create virtual worlds, and the technology of computer graphics gives us the freedom to use our imagination in virtual space. It is no exaggeration to say that computer graphics is ‘God’s technology for creating virtual reality’ because it allows us to manipulate time and space freely.
Advances and applications of computer graphics
Computer graphics technology has come a long way since the 1980s, especially with the development of parallel processing hardware such as the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). GPUs are capable of handling many calculations simultaneously, allowing complex, large-scale 3D graphics tasks to be performed quickly. As a result, we can now produce graphics that are so sophisticated that they are indistinguishable from reality.
In modern games, we see ultra-realistic graphics running at 60 frames per second (fps), and these high-speed rendered screens look unobtrusive and natural. Because people respond so effectively to visual stimuli, computer graphics technology is heavily utilised in entertainment. However, computer graphics has gone beyond entertainment, such as games and films, and is now being used in a variety of industries, including medicine, architecture, and education. For example, in the medical field, it’s used to simulate surgeries and create virtual anatomical diagrams, while in architecture, virtual building modelling can be used to identify structural problems before construction.
Future technologies and prospects for computer graphics
As science and technology advance further, computer graphics will take us in even more amazing directions. Instead of being limited to two-dimensional displays, computer graphics will be able to create more realistic virtual reality when three-dimensional imaging technologies such as holograms become commercially available. This will usher in an era where sci-fi scenes that are only seen in films and games can be experienced in everyday life.
These technological advances are closely linked to the development of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Already, equipment such as virtual reality headsets are becoming commercially available, making it increasingly possible to experience virtual worlds, and as these technologies advance, computer graphics will become more sophisticated and realistic.
