Addison-Wesley / Prentice Hall
Computer Science
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Cg Tutorial, The: The Definitive Guide to Programmable Real-Time Graphics
ISBN-10: 0321194969
ISBN-13: 9780321194961
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Copyright: 2003
Format: Paper Bound w/CD-ROM; 384 pp
Published: 02/26/2003
Status: Instock
This book introduces the features and benefits of the Cg language and methodically shows how to use it for a variety of applications. The instruction is progressive, starting with simple examples and building up to more advanced techniques. The explanations are beautifully illustrated, including 16 pages of 4-color plates.
You will find that Cg allows students to focus on graphics algorithms rather than just state management and it allows the GPU to be used for more than just graphics. For instance, the GPU could be used for collision detection, chemical simulation, or animation.
And, as an aide for teaching, the application framework that accompanies the book (which is also available online) allows students to run and modify the examples in the book, without any knowledge whatsoever of C/C++, OpenGL, or DirectX. It is a set of standalone applications, one for each example, that works out of the box allowing you to introduce Cg to students earlier in the curriculum.
Figures and Plates.
Examples.
Tables.
Equations.
Foreword.
Preface.
1. Introduction.
2. The Simplest Programs.
3. Parameters, Textures, and Expressions.
4. Transformations.
5. Lighting.
6. Animation.
7. Environment Mapping Techniques.
8. Bump Mapping.
9. Advanced Topics.
10. Profiles and Performance.
Appendix A. Getting Started with Cg.
Appendix B. The Cg Runtime.
Appendix C. The CgFX File Format.
Appendix D. Cg Keywords.
Appendix E. Cg Standard Library Functions.
Index. 0321194969T02192003
View a Sample Chapter PDF:/samplechapter/0321194969.pdf
Randima (Randy) Fernando is Manager of Developer Education at NVIDIA.
Mark J. Kilgard is a Senior Software Engineer at NVIDIA."Cg is the key to unlocking the power of a new generation of programmable graphics hardware. This book is the definitive introduction to Cg, and will be essential for anyone programming high-quality real-time graphics. The Cg Tutorial will teach you to use Cg to create effects never before available for real-time applications."
--Larry Gritz, Author of Advanced RenderMan (Morgan Kaufmann, 2000)
"An important and timely book: Pixel-level procedural textures--animated clouds, fire, water, the whole bag of procedural tricks--finally go from the movie screen to the desktop. Access to computation of this power through a C-like language will usher in an exciting new era for the graphics community."
--Ken Perlin, Professor, New York University
Cg (C for graphics) is a complete programming environment for the fast creation of special effects and real-time cinematic quality experiences on multiple platforms. By providing a new level of abstraction, Cg lets developers more directly target OpenGL®, DirectX®, Windows®, Linux, Mac OS X®, and console platforms, such as the Xbox™, without having to program directly to the graphics hardware assembly language. Cg was developed by NVIDIA® Corporation in close collaboration with Microsoft® Corporation, and is compatible with both the OpenGL API and Microsoft's HLSL for DirectX 9.0.
The Cg Tutorial explains how to implement both basic and advanced techniques for today's programmable GPU architectures.
Major topics covered include:
The accompanying CD-ROM includes the tools needed to run the sample programs in the book.
Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students contact your Pearson Higher Education representative.
