3D Graphics = 2D Graphics + Third Axis + Many Techniques

Going beyond flatland (2D graphics) is more of a challenge than merely adding another axis. Many techniques are applied together to map the high expectations of mind onto the 2D displays. To render a 3D scene, techniques such as shaping, shading, textures, lighting, reflections, hidden-surface removal, perspective projections are employed.

Shaping is the first step in 3D technology. A 3D shape can be constructed using basic geometry (polygon, simplest being triangle), mathematical modeling (equations), or graphics techniques like lofting, lathing and extrusion where a 2D object is moved over a well-defined path in 3D space. A warping technique, deformation grid, is also used. The result is usually a wire-frame model.

Shading is then used to provide skin to wire-frame model. Flat shading model is the crudest technique that does no smoothing. Gouraud shading, a smooth-shading technique, creates color gradients based on the location of an object's face with respect to a light source. But the technique lacks, sharp highlights and shadow casting. This problem is solved using another smooth-shading technique called Phong shading which is based on how we perceive the colors. It uses ambient, diffuse and specular optical properties of the material of which the 3D object is made up of.

Texturing is next step towards achieving realism of 3D object. While the ray-traced rendering use optical properties of the material, the non ray-traced rendering use mapping i.e. overlaying bitmaps over surfaces of object to create a realistic texture. Texture maps, bump maps and reflections maps are fundamental map types.

Hidden-surface removal algorithms like Z-Buffer algorithm and perspective projections are employed to create the real effect of relative positioning of objects in the 3D world.

3D visualization is different 3D graphics as the former provides interactivity as well. A user can navigate through the virtual world by changing the scene viewpoint or maneuver objects by applying operations like translation, rotation and scaling.

A 3D animation is another buzz which is basically a sequence of frames rendered at rate greater then Perception of Vision (20 frames/second).

The 3D world specified as vertices, after various transformations, is rasterized and display. This process constitutes the graphics pipeline. The graphics pipeline has following stages:

• World Transformation
• View Transformation
• Projection Transformation
• Clipping and Viewport Scaling

Syed Feroz Zainvi has obtained M.Tech. (Comp Sc & Engg) degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (INDIA). His areas of interests are distributed computing, computer graphics and Internet Technologies. Currently, he is involved in Software Project Planning, Development and Management. His other interests include writing for magazines and contributing utility softwares on Magazine's CDs. He also have flair for teaching computer science with new teaching methodologies. He maintains his computer science notes at http://computer-science-notes.blogspot.com

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How to Share a Digital Photo Album

Photographs become so much more enjoyable when they are shared with friends and family. You will want to share the pictures of your children's achievements, the special events that you've hosted, and any other great time in your life. There are many ways that you can share the contents of your digital album. Consider all of your options and select the one that will be suit your needs, or that will best show off the photographs that you've included.

Sharing Opportunity #1: Password Protected, by Invitation Only

If the photographs that you have loaded into your album could be sensitive in nature, or if you want to protect your family's identity by not floating their pictures randomly around the internet, you may want to share your digital photo album by invitation only, or use a password to protect admittance to the album.

Sharing Opportunity #2: Emailing Links

If you want to send your own links to your digital album, you should be away that people who receive those links may then share them with additional people. If it would be okay for your photos to be seen by a larger group of viewers, emailing links to your digital photo album can be a great way to get the word out that there are new photos to be seen.

Sharing Opportunity #3: Posted to a Blog or Website

If you have your own blog or website, or participate as a user of other blogs or websites, you can post photographs that are linked back to your album. Instead of uploading photos directly to your blog or website, you can have those platforms pull directly from your album. This may allow others to access it directly, however, so ensure that if you link photos back, you are prepared for anyone in cyberspace to view your entire album.

Sharing Opportunity #4: Print Your Own Photos

One great option that various sites offer is the ability to select photos from albums to print. Instead of you printing and sending photos to loved ones around the world, you can let them choose just those photographs that they are interested in buying and they can purchase them on their own. The prices for printing and shipping photos from albums is comparable to the prices offered by retail locations, and twice as convenient because people can order photographs from the comfort of their own homes.

Sharing Opportunity #5: Gifts and Gadgets

In addition to guests to your album being able to select prints to purchase, they can also choose to have a variety of gifts and gadgets printed with their favorite photos, including mugs, calendars, cards and more. By creating a digital photo album and allowing your loved ones to view your favorite shots, you're opening up a whole world of photo printing opportunities for them.

MJ Johnston writes for a variety of websites, including Hoorray, a photo sharing site that offers the quickest and easiest way to create a free online photo album.

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How to Take Wedding Photos - Digital Camera Basics

If you want to take great wedding photographs with your digital camera then there are few things that you need to consider. Below we will look at producing great wedding photographs when using a digital camera.

The first element in order to take great wedding photographs is to prepare. If you are being asked to take some photographs at a wedding then start preparing at least 2 months before the big day arrives. Spend time getting to know the bride and groom so you understand what they want and what they need. Some great questions to ask them are as follows:-

1. How many photographers will be there as well as you?

2. What kind of photographs are they looking for you to take for them on their big day? Do they want formal or more casual and candid shots of both themselves and their guests?

3. How many guests are actually attending the wedding and how many are guests of the bride and guests of the groom? Also how many are family members and how many of the guests are just friends of theirs?

4. Where would they like the photographs you take to be shot? Do they want you at the church or the reception or at both locations?

By asking these questions you will be able to gain a better understanding of the bride and grooms requirements for their wedding photographs and in turn you will be able to produce betters shots of the big day. Unfortunately there are many happy couples who have had their big day ruined because the photographer who took their wedding photographs didn't take time to find out what they wanted and needed and just did as he pleased.

The next step is organizing your equipment. This is probably the most critical step of all as you don't want to turn up at such a major event only to find that you haven't got something or that you run out of memory sticks. Below is a list of equipment you will need for any wedding photography shoot.

1. Your digital camera. But if you can afford to bring a back up camera with you just in case.

2. Lenses and Filters. It is important that you include these in your camera case just in case you want to use them.

3. Tripod. Another essential piece of wedding photography equipment as this can be extremely useful when taking indoor shots in poor lighting conditions.

4. Memory Cards. Another essential piece of wedding photography equipment as you don't want to find yourself unable to take any more photographs because you have no memory left on your cards. Remember taking wedding photographs can mean you will end up taking hundreds for the happy couple then to use only a few of them.

Learn to take better digital pictures, get tips on wedding photos secrets, making money with your digital camera and more. Visit us on the web at http://ez-photo-tips.com

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Field Hockey

The game of field hockey dates back to 4000 years. It is basically a ball and stick game, and there are historical records of this game in Ireland, Scotland, Egypt, and South America.

A field hockey stick is usually 31 to 38 inches long, and has a round handle. It also has a bent end that is curved on one side and plane on the other. It is used for pushing, dribbling, and striking a ball. A hockey stick is conventionally carved of wood, covered with fiberglass, but contemporary sticks are also made of Kevlar and composite plastics. It is available in three weight categories namely light, medium, and heavy. It is advisable for a player to choose weight and length according to his or her own comfort. Hockey sticks are available for right-handed players, and left-handed players, as they have to rotate a stick hook by 180. Grips of sticks may be made of porous suede, or rubber, and a stick may cost $30 and above, depending on its quality. A hockey ball is made of toughened plastic, and may cost $5 on an average.

Mostly, synthetic nylon is used for making goal-nets that are of size 3.66 meter by 2.1 meter. Nets have galvanized steel rods that can be folded for storage. Goal-frames have prices of about $400, excluding nets.

Field hockey players generally wear hockey jerseys, shorts, and socks, all made of a synthetic substance such as nylon. Their safety gear includes leg, shin, knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, mouth guards, jockstraps, and turf shoes. It is mandatory for a goalkeeper to wear full-body safety gear, including helmet with face net, mouth guard, throat protector, chest protector with elbow pads, wrist guards, leg pads with knee guards, shin guards, and turf shoes. These all things are generally made of plastic, rubber, or fiberglass.

Field hockey is one of the most admired games in the world. Many countries have their own teams that play various matches worldwide.

Hockey provides detailed information on Hockey, Hockey Jerseys, Hockey Tickets, Hockey Equipment and more. Hockey is affiliated with Ice Hockey Goalie Equipment.

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Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editing program developed and marketed by Adobe Systems Incorporated. The very first version of Adobe Illustrator was developed during 1986, released to public in January 1987, and was only available for the Apple Macintosh. Today, current versions of the program are available for PCs using the Microsoft Windows operating system, and for Apple Macintosh computers, but in the past, older versions of software, were once released (admittedly on a somewhat sporadic basis) for Solaris and some other UNIX operating systems.

From its inception, Adobe Illustrator has been based around the concept of Bzier curves as the main element of documents - in fact degenerate Bzier curves are used to represent lines, and the curves are even used to emulate circles and arcs. Additionally, Adobe Illustrator has incorporated technologies derived from PostScript and Adobe's font technology. However, despite the sophisticated technology behind the product, Adobe Illustrator has always been relatively ease to learn and use, making it accessible and suitable for graphics and design professionals who are not necessarily technical wizards.

Over time, successive versions of Adobe Illustrator have gradually been enhanced with more and more features. For example, Internet-orientated features to support web publishing have been added, as have advanced rasterization and PDF features. Recent versions of Adobe Illustrator have even added capabilities for extrude and revolving shades in 3D, thus allow you to use the program to create simple 3D objects. Additionally, a relatively new feature known as "Live Trace" provides a powerful method of converting bitmap images into vector art ("vectorization").

By S. Tanna. This article about Adobe Illustrator first published at http://www.graphicsacademy.com/software_adobe_illustrator.php - Visit now to get the software, books, tutorials and more!

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