HA7 Task 2 - Displaying 3D Polygon Animations

Task 2 - Displaying 3D Polygon Animations

API

An Application Program Interface is a set of functions that allow the user to create different types of programs which access the features or data of an operating system, application, or other service. A good API can make it easier to create and develop a program because it basically sets the whole thing up ready for a programmer to configure. The API allows different people to write code for the programs so that they can be used for different sorts of operations which is important because it basically puts all of the game you've created together into one. For example, Direct3D is an API used within different software as it manipulates and displays the 3D objects.

Graphics Pipeline

A graphics pipeline is the process of having a 3D scene that has been build on a 3D modelling software get rendered so that a 2D raster version of a 3D scene. This is important because it it makes the computer display the 3D model on the screen. Without this, you would be able to see the graphics within a video game and this is essential because we need to see the graphics. If the graphics is improved, then the in game graphics are most likely to improve as well.




Here is a diagram showing the steps of how the stages of the Graphics Pipeline progresses.

Rendering Process

In the rendering process, the CPU commands the GPU to render specific things so that everything comes out in high quality without any visual glitches. Things rendered in the process are things such as textures, shadows, lighting, luminosity and radiosity. The image generates is from a 2D or 3D model using application software as things like models which are obviously used within video games. Rendering can take a long time to completely finish but it all comes down to what is in your project, as if your file size is reasonably low, then it probably won't take a long time to finish but if you have different materials and assets within your renders views, then the chances are that the project will take a longer time to finish rendering.


https://clara.io/library?query=sportscar

As you can see, this is a fully rendered model of a car, that has been smoothed out to an extent and it has been fully coloured and textured. You can see how much detail is in this render as the model itself would of had a lot of detail and polygonal count within it in order to get the model looking so realistic and generally amazing as it almost looks like a real car.