|
| Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach with OpenGL (3rd Edition) | 
 enlarge | Author: Edward Angel
Publisher: Addison Wesley
Category: Book
List Price: $106.20
Buy New: $15.00
You Save: $91.20 (86%)
New (5) Used (25) from $9.28
Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 562664
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 3
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 719
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.2
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 8.1 x 1.3
ISBN: 0201773430
Dewey Decimal Number: 006.66
EAN: 9780201773439
ASIN: 0201773430
Publication Date: July 16, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
This book teaches beginners how to create interesting computer graphics. It takes a top-down approach that starts readers creating interesting computer graphics from the start using OpenGL. Interactive Computer Graphics, 3/e features a top-down, programming-oriented approach to computer graphics. Capitalizing upon this top-down and hands-on approach, the text quickly gets readers writing interesting 3D graphics programs. Angel uses OpenGL, a graphics library supported by most workstations, as well as the C and C++ programming languages, allowing readers to be aware of what is happening at the lowest levels of computer-graphics programming. This revision includes extensive 2-color art and graphics to bring important concepts to life. This book is ideal for programmers looking for a hands-on introduction to computer-graphics programming that allows them to start writing 3D graphics programs early on.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
 Not a good book March 12, 2005
5 out of 10 found this review helpful
This is a very jargon-based book. The author likes to use symbols or what so called algebra representation for many of the mathematic terming particularly in matrix representation. This make the book not worthy to buy. Author should use number in mathematic representations rather algebra so that readers can have quick grasp over the topics, but the author didn't. Most often time you have to imagine yourself what are the 'pictures' that the author tries to tell you.
To me, a good book must not to be too jargon-based, no long story, straight forward, and use simple example but still can let one apply it to complex situation later. For example, why should use a + b = c by right it is best to explain it with 1 + 1 = 2? Because using numeric number as example is easier and faster to understand, once the reader understand, then automatically they can apply it using a + b = c. Unfortunately, this book does not fulfil this requirement. This is why I am not very happy with the book because what normally the readers wish from the book is to have as fast possible in grasping the knowledge and apply it as soon possible, but not to sit around to think and analyze things for long time.
Further, author assumes you know quite number of things(especially programming using OpenGL API) before you can start programming following the guide of the book. The book is not as comprehensible even for some of the advance graphic students as the examples given is really difficult to understand (particularly graphics algorithm). Again, without simple and comprehensible examples, you have to use your own imagination to figure it out and most often time you may not able to do so due to the complex nature of the theories.
Many computer science students have claimed that the computer graphics is a 'killer subject'. From the feedbacks I have gathered so far, I found that all they are using this book as a core text book. To be fair, this book may suitable for computer graphic students with one condition, that a good instructor who are really expert in this area is with you, as warned by the other reviewer before.
So, buy this book only if you are not learning computer graphic yourself, and you must have a very good instructor/teacher/lecturer in this area. Otherwise, do not buy this book!
A terrible textbook! March 6, 2005
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
This is a very terrible text book. Don't ever look at this book if you are a newbie in OpenGL, trigonometry, calculus, linear algebra and the mathematic's dot product. I think this book is suitable only for the University which the author is lecturing in. My university is using this book as the core text book of the computer graphic course, the end result is that almost 95% of the student cannot code well using OpenGL by following guidance of this book, where everyone is looking for coding and references from Internet just for the assignment, how annoy it is. Further, the lecturer also cannot understand the book's content, they lecture only by using the powerpoint slaid which is from the author himself, which make the situation worst.
If I am not mistaken, the author has claimed that the book is to help the student to program graphics as soon possible using OpenGL. It is absolutely not the true. This book will lead you to hell if you don't prepare yourself well in C/C++ and of course, OpenGL API. And if your lecturer does not know well in OpenGL API or C/C++ as mentioned, may God bless you. Another thing, if you look at the exercises of each chapter, I wonder if anyone who is beginner in computer graphics and by solely depend on the book can solve the problems.
Anyhow, I rate the book one star do not mean that this book is not a good book. To my opinion, this is absolutely a good book for those who have very strong computer graphic background together with mathematic skills or those who are advance learner in this field.
In fourth edition, I really hope that the author will come out something such as 'International Edition' of this book which the content may vary from the original version. This is because the computer science syllabus may vary from country to country. Bear in mind that the Top-down approach is suitable well in author's University or country does not mean that it is suitable to other University or country. This is what I mean the book is suitable only for the university or college that the author is lecturing in.
Remember, buy this book only if you already well-prepared yourself in C/C++, OpenGL API, trigonometry, linear algebra, geometry and some calculus basic.
 Why this book is used for an Intro Class is beyond me. January 5, 2004
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Dont buy this book if you are wanting to lern how to program openGL. Buy it if you know openGL and want to learn how it works.
It is not a book for the openGL newbie. So why many teachers use it for an intro to Graphics Programing class boggles the mind. Angel explantions of theories are hard to follow at best. In one chapter he spends an whole large section explaning the theory behind a lighting model then states that openGL doesn't use this method for lighting. So why even cover it in an openGL book?? This is less a book about openGL and more about 3D modeling and lighting theory in general.
 decent starting point to 3d graphics programming March 22, 2003
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
having read many books and articles on 3d graphics, as well as general programming, i believe this book is certainly better than most.
while this books is aimed most certainly at an academic audience, it covers the fundamentals clearly and solidly. and while i still think foley is the standard, this book covers a lot more of the modern issues as well as providing a practical grounding using opengl. (the lack of which was the *major* downside of foley)there are also some good introductions to more advanced issues in the latter third of the book, which makes for interesting reading. perhaps my only concern with this book is the obsessive use of mathematics to explain simple concepts. often, the mathematical formulae provided offer no further explanation to the text, and simply serves to distract readers without strong mathematical backgrounds.
to quote one of my 3rd year math profs : "mathematics should be used as mathematicians intended - succinctly!"
(i can only imagine that the authors believed the formulae would "lend credibility" to the text.) overall, i would recommend!
Ideal for me July 23, 2002
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
For an amateur UNIX/Linux C programmer like me, this book is a
very good introduction to OpenGL. I have bought several graphics books,
but Angel is the only author I have come across who has
taken the trouble to provide a makefile to ensure his readers
can actually compile any program. Once you can do that, you
should be able to teach yourself with the guidance from the book.
If you have trouble understanding dot products then you cannot
blame this book if you find it hard. Ultimately you will only
learn OpenGL (or any programming) by experimentation. Don't
expect to read any single book and become an expert overnight.
|
|
|
Proud member of the JimmyKat Network. Make sure you check out these other great JimmyKat network sites:
Lyrics Database
Celebrity Blog
Celebrity Thing
Celebrity PC
Celebrity Latest
Celebrity Pro
Travel Photos
Quotes
Flash Games
|
Is there a better
price available?
Find out:
|
|
|
|
