Instructor

Michael Gleicher
Office: 6385 CS
Office Hours: TBD, or by appointment

TA

It doesn't look like there will be a TA, students will need to be pretty self-sufficient.

Lectures

MWF 2:30-3:45, 3359 Engineering Hall

Note: while the class will only meet for an average of 150 minutes per week (since it is a 3 credit class). Sometimes class meetings will be 50 minutes, and some class meetings will be cancelled (for example, during project season).

Attendance and participation is mandatory. If you are going to miss a lecture, let the instructor know.

Course Requirements and Grading

Your grade will be based on:

• Two projects
• Class participation and presentations
• What you write in the course web (reading logs and summaries, online discussions, online presentations, writing assignments, ...)

There will be no in-class exams. You may be asked to do writing assignments to assess how much you've learned.

See the Main.Expectations? page for a discussion of what the expectations for the class will be (they will vary based on whether you're enrolled in 638 or 838).

Policies

1. Students are responsible to be aware of announcements on the course web. This will be the primary way for making announcements.
2. Class attendance is mandatory, and participation is an essential component. If you need to miss class, tell the instructor.
3. Late assignments (and work) are discouraged. Most deadlines are there for a reason (for example, read something to be ready to discuss it in class, or finish one project before the next one starts). Please make arrangements if you need extra time for something.
4. Students are to use the course web (Wiki) in a responsible manner. You should not exploit the lack of security. For example, do not damage another person's work, or look at someone else's writing before you complete your own. Do not do anything that prevents the instructor from being able to read or edit anything.
5. Students must give proper attribution for any pieces used as part of their work.
6. Any projects must run on some computer (either the CSL Windows or Linux machines) within the department.

Books

There are no required textbooks. Most readings will be provided online.

Many of the reading options (particularly for 638) will come from these recommended textbooks (both are also on reserve at Wendt library):

Tomas Akenine-Möller, Eric Haines and Naty Hoffman. Real Time Rendering, 3e.
This book is specifically about real-time rendering, and is very useful if you're interested in interactive stuff like games. It has great discussions of a lot of the basic topics. The new edition just came out (don't settle for an old edition), and is quite encyclopedic. Its an awesome reference book, so I highly recommend it if you are serious about graphics. If you're in class check here for other availability info.
Real Time Rendering at Amazon.

Peter Shirley. Fundamentals of Computer Graphics, 2ed
note: the new 2nd edition is considerably different than the first - it is green (not orange). If you've taken CS559, you should already have a copy. If you have taken a different undergrad graphics class, and have some other textbook, it might be a substitute.

Be sure to check the errata page.

Shirley, Foundations of Computer Graphics at Amazon.