[Andrew_S._Glassner]Principles of Digital Image Synthesis(pdf){Zzzzz}

Image synthesis, or rendering, is a field of transformation: it changes
geometry and physics into meaningful images. Because the most popular
algorithms frequently change, it is increasingly important for researchers
and implementors to have a basic understanding of the principles of image
synthesis. Focusing on theory, Andrew Glassner provides a comprehensive
explanation of the three core fields of study that come together to form
digital image synthesis: the human visual system, digital signal
processing, and the interaction of matter and light. Assuming no more than
a basic background in calculus, Glassner transforms his passion and
expertise into a thorough presentation of each of these disciplines, and
their elegant orchestration into modern rendering techniques such as
radiosity and ray tracing.

Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1st edition (March 15, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1558602763
ISBN-13: 978-1558602762

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Image synthesis, or rendering, is a field of transformation: it changes
geometry and physics into meaningful images. Because the most popular
algorithms frequently change, it is increasingly important for researchers
and implementors to have a basic understanding of the principles of image
synthesis. Focusing on theory, Andrew Glassner provides a comprehensive
explanation of the three core fields of study that come together to form
digital image synthesis: the human visual system, digital signal
processing, and the interaction of matter and light. Assuming no more than
a basic background in calculus, Glassner transforms his passion and
expertise into a thorough presentation of each of these disciplines, and
their elegant orchestration into modern rendering techniques such as
radiosity and ray tracing.

About the Author
Andrew Glassner's contributions to computer graphics span 20 years. His work at Microsoft Research, Xerox PARC, the IBM Watson Research Labs, Bell Communications Research, and the Delft University of Technology has produced numerous technical articles on rendering theory and practice, animation, modeling, and new media. He currently creates new computer graphics tools at Microsoft Research. Among his recent work is Chicken Crossing, a 3D animated short film that has been shown internationally at film festivals and on television, and Dead Air, an interactive game for play over the Internet. Dr. Glassner is the author of the two volume bible, Principles of Digital Image Synthesis and 3D Computer Graphics: A Handbook for Artists and Designers. He has also edited An Introduction to Ray Tracing, and created the Graphics Gems series for programmers.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Graphics is Math, Physics, Perception, & Computation
By A Customer on November 10, 2000
Back in the old days, Computer Graphics was a big bag of tricks for making cool images. To make the pictures look better and better, the research community stumbled into areas we didn't originally know were important. We now see that clipping, viewports, line-drawing, and specular lights are not so fundamental. Instead, we're understanding that items in the bag of graphics tricks were often shortcuts to solving an integral equation for heat transfer. Who would have thought it?
This textbook is the first comprehensive treatment of Computer Graphics to convey the deeper understanding that researchers have finally begun to make peace with. It's not always easy. That marginal lecture on de-aliasing in your graphics class? It turns out to be hugely significant. Sampling and reconstruction pervade graphics algorithms, and the first 10 chapters cover the topic extensively. That reflectance distribution function you saw at the end of the semester? It's not an advanced topic. It's what realistic rendering is built from. How to represent it, evaluate it, and integrate it are the concerns of the next 10 chapters.
The hypothetical Ideal Graphics Professional has majored in Math, Computer Science, Physics, Perceptual Psychology, and Mechanical Engineering. No one has that background, but if you majored in any of these subjects and then patiently read this book, you will appreciate how the themes combine in a remarkable way whenever a pixel is drawn.

Excellent
By Dr. Lee D. Carlson HALL OF FAMEVINE VOICE on October 14, 2001
Format: Hardcover
This book is comprehensive in scope and one of the most well-written technical books in existence. In the preface the author states 'I love to write', and considering the exceptional quality of this book, this indeed shows through.
The first part of the book covers the human visual system, the understanding of which is fundamental to designing effective computer graphics. Several interesting topics are discussed, including Mach bands, color opponency, perceptual color matching, MacAdam ellipses, RGB color space, and gamut mapping.
The second part covers more technical matters, namely that of signal processing. The mathematical background assumed of the reader increases dramatically in this part; some exposure to elementary calculus and differential equations would suffice. The author does a good job of explaining such concepts as linear operators and the Dirac bracket notation. The pictorial representation he gives of the convolution operation is very helpful. In addition, Fourier analysis is presented at a level that makes it very clear exactly what is happening to signals, both discrete and continuous, when taking the Fourier transform. The Fast Fourier transform is not discussed however, dissapointingly. Suprisingly, a whole chapter is devoted to wavelet transforms, a topic usually not included at this level. Wavelets are used as a tool to deal with nonstationary signals. Usually discussed at a very abstract level, the presentation here is crystal clear and vey intutive, and the reader will take away a deeper appreciation of these objects than what could have been obtained from the usual presentations.
Chapter 7 is one of the most important in the book for it covers Monte Carlo techniques for evaluating the integrals that arise in image processing


A unique resource
By A Customer on July 10, 2000
This is the one really fundamental book on rendering computer images. Watt's book is an excellent introduction to many basic principles, but Glassner's volumes are an advanced text suitable even for experienced graphics professionals. Here you can find a description of fourier analysis and wavelets using the same notation, a survey of appearance science, and a good description of the physics underlying rendering algorithms. It really has everything. There are some typos in some of the equations, but the errata are available online. I find myself using these volumes all the time.