Computer Graphics(CG)

Instructor : Dr. Abdul Razzaq

Email: abdul.razzaq@mnsuam.edu.pk
Lecture 02
Graphics System(I)

Please be on time
(better: before time)
 The focus of the last lecture was on the
Introduction to Computer Graphics
During that lecture we also learnt
• Course contents and outcomes
• History of computer graphics
• Areas of Applications(CAD, Art & Design, Medical,
History and culture, Entertainment ,Education and training
etc.)
• Interdisciplinary ( Correlation of Computer
Graphics with other fields)
 Learning Goals for Today
• Introduction of graphics systems
• Describe various Video display devices
• Describe how color CRT works..
• Describe and distinguish raster and random scan
displays
 Overview of graphics systems
With the massive development in the field of computer
graphics a broad range of graphics Hardware and
software systems.
• There is usage of a variety of interactive input
devices and graphics software packages;
 Video Display Devices
 Random-Scan Display
 Raster Scan Display
 Input Devices
 Hard Copy Devices
 Graphics Software
The Primary Output Device of the Graphic System

??

How does this Operate ?

The primary output device in a graphics system is a

Video Monitor
The operation of most video monitors is based
on the standard cathode-ray-tube (CRT) design
 Video Display Devices

• Cathode-ray tube (CRT) Monitor

• Raster-Scan Displays
• Random-Scan Displays
• Color CRT Monitors
• Flat-Panel Displays
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Following figure illustrate the basic operation of a CRT

An electron gun emits

a beam of electrons,
which passes through
focusing and deflection
systems and hits on the
phosphor-coated
screen.
CRT
 Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Beam passing
Anode Connection through mask

Shadow mask
Electron Beam

Electron Gun Deflection Coils

 Electron Gun
• Heat is supplied to the cathode by the filament.
 Electron Gun

• The free electrons are then accelerated

toward the phosphor coating by a high
positive voltage.
 High Positive Voltage
• A positively charged metal coating on the
inside of the CRT envelope near the phosphor
screen.

A positively charged metal

 Focusing System
• The focusing system is needed to force
the electron beam to converge into a small
spot as it strikes the phosphor.

• Electrostatic focusing is commonly used

in computer graphics monitor.
 Focusing System
• Similar lens focusing effects can be accomplished
with a magnetic field set up by a coil mounted
around the outside of the CRT envelope.
• The electron beam will be focused properly only
at the center of the screen.
• As the beam moves to the outer edges of the
screen, displayed images become blurred.
 Deflection Systems
• Deflection of the electron beam can be controlled either
with electric fields or with magnetic fields.
• The magnetic deflection coils mounted on the outside
of the CRT envelope.
 Deflection Systems
• Horizontal deflection is accomplished with one
pair of coils, and vertical deflection by the other
pairs.

• The proper deflection amounts are attained by

adjusting the current through the coil.
 Refresh rate, Resolution and Aspect Ratio

Refresh Rate
The frequency at which a picture is redrawn on the screen is
referred to as the “refresh rate”
Resolution
• The maximum number of points (that can be uniquely identified) on a
CRT is referred as the resolution.

• A more precise definition of resolution is the number of points per

centimeter that can be plotted horizontally and vertically, although it
is often simply stated as the total number of points in each direction.
Aspect Ratio:
is the ratio of vertical points to horizontal points necessary to
produce equal-length lines in both directions on the screen.
•

© 2005 Pearson Education

• Most common method
• Beam is swept across the screen one line at a
time, pixel by pixel
• Each row is referred to as a scan line.
• Picture definition is stored in a memory area
Called the refresh buffer or frame buffer, where the
term frame refers to the total screen area.

• Screen is refreshed 60 times/sec –Interlacing (Odd

numbered and Even numbered lines)
•
•In random-scan display unit, a CRT has the electron
beam directed only to those parts of the screen
where a picture is to be displayed.

•Also called Vector/Stroke/Calligraphic Displays

•Beam is swept across the screen one line at a time,

only intended point

•Only area where picture is drawn is refreshed

 It has Poor or Less Resolution
 It has High Resolution
Electron beam is directed from top to
Electron beam is directed only to that
bottom at a time on screen , but
part of screen is required to be drawn.
electron beam is directed to whole
screen.
It is expensive
It is less expensive
Refresh Rate depends on no.of lines
to be displayed ,30 to 60 times/ second
Refresh Rate is 60 to 80 frames /
second
Stores Picture Definition in Display
files
Stores Picture Definition in Frame
Buffer
Smooth line is produced
Zig Zag line is produced
It uses various mathematical
It uses Pixels along Scan lines for functions
drawing an image
 Color CRT Monitors
• A CRT monitor displays color pictures
by using a combination of phosphors that

emit different color lights.

• There are two techniques for producing
color displays on CRT. They are :
1. Beam Penetration Method
2. Shadow Mask Method
 Beam Penetration Method
Similar to simple CRT but contains different colored Phosphor layers(Red
and Green) coated onto inside of the screen.

The displayed color depends on how far the electron beam penetrates
into the layers.

The speed of electrons – beam acceleration voltage.

Slow Electrons  Red color
Fast Electrons  Green color
Intermediate Speed Electrons  Yellow and orange colors

Quality of Picture is not so good and is inexpensive.

 Shadow Mask Method
The color CRT has:
• Three color phosphor dots (red,
green and blue) at each point on the
screen

• Three electron guns, each

controlling the display of red, green and
blue light.
 Shadow Mask Method
Delta Method:

In-line Method:
 Shadow Mask Method
The delta-delta method:
 Shadow Mask Method
The in-line method:
 Shadow Mask Method
• We obtain color variations by varying
the intensity levels of the three electron
beam.
 Shadow Mask Method
When the beam passes through the mask they form
a dot triangle.

Another configuration is inline arrangement of

electron guns and RGB dots on screen are aligned
on one scan line.

By varying intensity , we get different colors

(White,Grey,Yellow,Cyan)
Beam Penetration Vs Shadow Mask
Beam Penetration method Shadow Mask method

Where Used It is used with Random Scan It is Used With Raster Scan
System to display color. System to display color.

Colors It can displays Only four colors i.e.

it can display Millions of colors.
Red , Green, Orange and Yellow.

Less colors are available because the Millions of colors are available
Color Dependency
colors in Beam Penetration depends because the colors in Shadow
on the speed of the electron beam. Mask depends on the type of the ray.

It is Less Expensive as compared to It is More Expensive than other

Cost
Shadow Mask. methods.
Shadow Mask gives realism in picture
Quality of picture is not so good i.e.
Picture Quality with shadow effect and millions of
Poor with Beam Penetration Method.
color.
Resolution It gives Low Resolution. It gives High Resolution.

In Beam Penetration method, Color

In Shadow Mask Method, there are no
display depends on how far electron
Criteria such criteria for producing colors. It is
excites outer Red layer and then
used in computers, in color TV etc.
Green layer.
 Flat Panel Displays
• A class of video devices that have reduce
volume and weight compared to a CRT.

• A significant feature of flat panel

displays is that they are thinner than
CRTs.
 Flat Panel Displays

Current uses for flat panel displays:

• Small TV monitors
• Calculators
• Pocket video games
• Laptop computers
 Flat Panel Displays

Flat panel displays:

• Emissive or Emitters Displays
• Non-emissive or Non-emitters Displays
 Emissive (or Emitters) Displays
• Emissive displays convert electrical
energy into light.

• Examples: Plasma panel, thin-film

electroluminescent displays, Light-
Emitting Diodes (LED) and flat
CRT.
 Non-Emissive (or Non-Emitters)
Displays
• Use optical effects to convert sunlight or light
from some other source into graphics pattern.

• Example: Liquid-Crystal Device

(LCD)
Liquid Crystal Displays
(LCD)
 Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD)
• Used in small systems, such as calculators,
laptop computers.

• Produce a picture by passing polarized light

(from the surrounding or from an internal light
source) through a liquid-crystal material that
can be aligned to either block or transmit the
light.
 Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD)
• Polarized light passing through the
material is twisted so that it will pass
through the opposite polarizer.
• The light is then reflected back t the
viewer.
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD)

On State

Off State
 Input Devices
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Trackball & Spaceball
4. Joystick
5. Data Glove
6. Digitizers
7. Image Scanners
8. Touch Panels
9. Light Pens
10.Voice Systems
 Hard Copy Devices

The quality of the picture obtained from the device depends on dot
size and no of dots/inch.
Hard Copy Devices
Three-Dimensional
Viewing Devices ?
 Graphics Software
• Classifications
– Special purpose package
• Designed for non-programmers
• No graphics procedures involved
• Communicate with a set of menus
– General programming package
• Designed for programmers
• Provide library of graphics functions used in
programming language