19ME315T

Computer Aided Design

Graphics Standard
 Graphics Standard
• CAD/CAM software may be perceived as an application
program supported by a graphics system.
Application data Application Graphics Input/ Output
structure/model Program system device

• In the actual program, graphics system is embedded in

the program, becoming device dependent.
• If I/O device change, its software becomes obsolete.
• This approach is costly to vendors and users.
• Hence the need of graphics standards are in need for the
following reasons:
– Application program portability: avoiding hardware portability
 – Picture data portability: description and storage of pictures
should be independent of different graphics devices.
– Text portability: text associated with graphics can be presented
in an independent form of hardware
– Object database portability: transporting design and
manufacturing (product specifications) from one system to
another.
• Evolution of GSPC (Graphics Standard Planning
Committee ) was formed in 1974 to address these
issues.
Application data Application Kernel (core) Device Input/
structure/model Program system Handler/driver Output
device
Graphics System
• The kernel (core) system is hardware independent, while
device handler/driver is naturally hardware dependent.
• Kernel acts like a buffer between application program
and specific hardware to ensure the independence and
portability of the program.
• At the interface application program calls the standard
functions and subroutines provided by the kernel.
• These in-turn call the device handler/driver functions
and subroutines at the other interface to complete the
task required.
• It is now portable from one graphics systems to another.
• If new device is to be supported, device handler/driver
has to be written or modified.
• After many efforts world wide, various standard
functioning at various levels of graphics system are:
• GKS (Graphics Kernel System) is an ANSI and ISO
standard, device dependent, host system independent
and application independent. It supports both 2-D and
3-D data and viewing. It interfaces the application
program with the graphics support package.
• PHIGS (Programmer’s Hierarchical Interactive Graphics
System) intended to support high function workstations
and their CAD/CAM related applications.
• VDM (Virtual Device Metafile) defines the functions
needed to describe a picture, can be stored or
transmitted from system to another also called CGM
(Common Graphics Metafile), above device drivers.
• VDI (Virtual Device Interface) lies between GKS and the
device/driver code. VDI is the lowest device
independent interface in graphics, also called CGI.
• IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) enables an
exchange model data bases among CAD/CAM systems.
• NAPLPS (North American Presentation-Level Protocol
system) describes text and graphics in the form of
sequences of bytes in ASCII code.
• The graphics software must:
– Simplicity
– Consistency
– Completeness
– Robustness
– Performance
– Economy
Functions of Graphics Package
– Generation of graphic elements
– Transformations
– Display control
– Segmenting functions
– User input functions
• Reference Text:
• Chapter 3 of CAD/CAM Theory & Practice by Ibrahim
Zeid, 2nd Edition, Tata Mc Graw Hill, New Delhi

• Having learnt about the fundamentals of computer

graphics, its standards, its evolution, we will go ahead
and learn the geometric transformations.