Computer Graphics from Scratch
Computer Graphics from Scratch demystifies the algorithms used in modern graphics software and guides beginners through building photorealistic 3D renders. Computer graphics programming books are often math-heavy and intimidating for newcomers. Not this one. Computer Graphics from Scratch takes a simpler approach by keeping the math to a minimum and focusing on only one aspect of computer graphics, 3D rendering. You’ll build two complete, fully functional renderers: a raytracer, which simulates rays of light as they bounce off objects, and a rasterizer, which converts 3D models into 2D pixels. As you progress you’ll learn how to create realistic reflections and shadows, and how to render a scene from any point of view. Pseudocode examples throughout make it easy to write your renderers in any language, and links to live JavaScript demos of each algorithm invite you to explore further on your own.
Stats for nerds
12recommend
27mentions
12people
2018–2026years
96% recommend4% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- It's not just because of that. Everything is steeped in OpenGL API. All the "fundamentals" are about OpenGL.
Another link floated to the top of HN discussion just now, and every sibgle link there is better than these "fundamentals": https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49022038 E.g. "Computer Graphics from Scratch" https://gabrielgambetta.com/computer-graphics-from-scratch/ or Mathematics for Computer Graphics https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics-Computer-Graphics-John-...
- I really enjoyed this one as an introduction: https://www.gabrielgambetta.com/computer-graphics-from-scrat...
It touches on both ray traced and raster graphics. It lets you use whatever language and graphics library you want as long as you can create a canvas/buffer and put pixels on it so you can target whatever platform you want. It includes links to JavaScript for that if you want. (I didn’t want to use a new-to-me language so I used python and Pygame at the expense of speed.)
- May I add Computer Graphics From Scratch, which covers both rasterization and raytracing? https://gabrielgambetta.com/computer-graphics-from-scratch/i...
I have to admit I'm quite surprised by how eerily similar this website feels to my book. The chapter structure, the sequencing of the concepts, the examples and diagrams, even the "why" section (mine https://gabrielgambetta.com/computer-graphics-from-scratch/0... - theirs https://lisyarus.github.io/blog/posts/implementing-a-tiny-cp...)
I don't know what to make of this. Maybe there's nothing to it. But I feel uneasy :(
- OP's link is a good one, but if you want a different perspective (heh), there's https://gabrielgambetta.com/computer-graphics-from-scratch/i..., also from scratch, also for free. The name clash is unfortunate, I don't really know who started using it earlier :(
- If you're interested in understanding the graphics algorithms and implementing them yourself, as opposed to using an engine or a library, check out https://gabrielgambetta.com/computer-graphics-from-scratch It guides you through writing a software rasterizer and a raytracer, and most of what you learn can be applied to GPU programming.
- Here's a free book:
https://www.gabrielgambetta.com/computer-graphics-from-scrat...
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