What’s 3D computer graphics?

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3D computer graphics are created using software to make objects in virtual 3D space, using wireframes and polygons that are textured and illuminated before being rendered. They are made using software with a graphical user interface and are time-consuming to render.

A 3D computer graphic is an image that computer software uses to create objects in virtual three-dimensional (3D) space. This is in contrast to two-dimensional (2D) images which exist only as flat images that can use visual tricks, such as perspective, to create the illusion of three-dimensionality. A 3D computer graphic is typically created by artists through the creation of a 3D model, consisting of a wireframe and polygons, which is then usually textured and illuminated before being rendered.

Often referred to simply as computer graphics (CG) or computer generated imagery (CGI), 3D computer graphics are created using computer software developed specifically for creating 3D graphics. This type of images was originally created solely through algorithms and mathematical equations. Modern 3D images, however, are made through the use of software that presents a graphical user interface (GUI) to the artist, which allows 3D computer graphics to be made without direct interaction between the artist and the mathematical properties of the image. ‘image.

Creating 3D computer graphics typically begins with modeling the object that will appear in the final image. A cube, for example, can be created quite simply and, like all 3D images, consists of a wireframe and polygons. The wireframe is the basic shape of the object made up of various points and the lines connecting these points. This can easily be imagined what the item would look like if it was made of chicken wire.

Polygons are the shapes, also called faces, that fill the wireframe to create solid 3D computer graphics. Using the example of a cube, the corners would be the wireframe points and lines, while the actual sides of the cube would be polygons or faces. This shape is then textured, meaning that images are applied to the polygons to give it a look beyond a single color. Such textures may include: simple graphics, such as an illustration of wood grain; bump mapping, which would give a sense of depth to the folds in the grain; and reflection maps, which provide sheen to textures like glass and metal.

Once the object is shaped and textured, lighting can be added to give the object shadows and highlights. This scene is then rendered to create a 3D computer graphic. During rendering, the various elements of the scene are composited and compiled to create an image file that can be used to share and view the scene in 3D computer graphics. Many professional studios have clusters of computers used only for rendering, as this process can be time consuming and often requires a lot of processing power.




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