Computer Graphics I

The course is a free continuation of the introductory bachelor's course Basics of Computer Graphics and covers the main principles of photorealistic image synthesis. The following topics are discussed: ray tracing method, illumination models, light reflection models from the surface (BRDF), rendering equation, basics of Monte Carlo method for simulating light transport, ensuring physical correctness of results, accelerating calculation, image smoothing and description of basic optical material models. The course includes exercises, during which the topics discussed in lectures are practically implemented in the form of implementation of credit programs. Theoretical knowledge gained during discussion of partial tasks serve as a basis for practical implementation of specific examples during exercises. Exercises closely correspond to the lectures and the implementation of the aforementioned topics in the C++ language environment is assumed.

The aim of the course is to deepen the basic knowledge of computer graphics, with which the student could get acquainted in the bachelor's study. After completing the course, the student will understand the basic principles of modern methods of photorealistic scene rendering. Selected methods will be able to describe, implement and create applications for rendering images based on the physical principles of world propagation, with emphasis on global methods.

The graduate of the course will able to:

- define the basic structures and operations used in computer graphics with a focus on image synthesis using ray tracing techniques,
- orientate in algorithms for recursive ray tracing,
- formulate the difference between local and global methods of lighting calculation,
- solve the rendering equation by Monte Carlo method,
- propose techniques to accelerate the convergence of stochastic methods,
- design acceleration structures to accelerate the passage of the beam through the scene,
- specify the main optical properties of selected types of materials,
- create powerful parallelized applications for photorealistic image synthesis.