Prospectus

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Computer Graphics

Course
2025-2026

Admission requirements

Not applicable.

Description

Important Notes: (putting these notes up front was at the request of the previous year students for clarity)

  • The student must be fluent in C/C++ programming. All the assignments and the final project must be written in C/C++. No other programming languages are allowed.

  • Students will be expect to present and analyze scientific graphics papers

  • There is a penalty for late submissions.

  • Attendance is mandatory. If there are some sessions that you can not attend, then you should not take this course. (e.g. other conflicting courses, meetings, teaching duties, etc.),

  • Students should always put CG: into the subject line of emails

The goal of this course is to create a foundation (theory and programming) for understanding computer graphics. The first part of the class begins with introductory lectures into the mathematical fundamentals and workshops in programming 3D graphics. In the second half of the semester, the class moves to the scientific literature methods which are presented by the students. Examples of typical subjects which will be covered are:

Table of contents

  • Introduction to computer graphics and OpenGL

  • Matrix and other mathematical fundamentals

  • Transformations: Translation, Rotation, Scaling

  • Homogeneous transformations

  • Viewports

  • Parallel, oblique, and perspective Projections

  • Diffuse and Specular Shading

  • Ray Tracing

  • Radiosity

  • Particle systems

  • Important research directions (e.g. ACM SIGGRAPH, ACM TOG)

Course objectives

At the end of the Computer Graphics course, the student should be able to

  • summarize and discuss the fundamentals in theoretical/mathematical graphics

  • summarize and analyze the fundamentals of programming in graphics

  • explain and analyze the current strengths and weaknesses of graphics

  • explain and analyze modern challenges in graphics

  • analyze and evaluate graphics software systems

  • analyze and discuss theoretical and practical problems in graphics

  • create a computer graphics program

Timetable

The most updated version of the timetables can be found on the students' website and the main course website (link at the bottom of this webpage below):

In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.

Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.

Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.

Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.

Mode of instruction

  • Lectures

  • Seminar

  • Student discussions

  • Presentations

  • Software assignments

Assessment method

The final grade will be assessed based on

  • Assignments (20%),

  • Presentations/discussions (20%)

  • Final project (60%).

Resits: At the beginning of January, the student should consult with the lecturer on the requirements and limits of the resit for the course which has a duedate near the end of January (see time schedule)

Reading List

  • All necessary educational materials are supplied digitally.

  • Optional reading: Computer Graphics Using Open GL by F. S. Hill, Jr. (Prentice-Hall, 2001 or later, ISBN: 0-02-354856-8) 2006 – 3rd Edition: ISBN-13: 978-0131496705

  • Research papers from recent ACM conferences and journals on computer graphics

Registration

As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.

In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.

There are two enrolment periods per year:

  • Enrolment for the fall opens in July

  • Enrolment for the spring opens in December

See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.

Note:

  • It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.

  • Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.

  • Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.

Contact

Onderwijscoördinator Informatica, Education coordinator LIACS bachelors

Remarks

Computer Graphics Main Website

Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.