P3D Re: flash-back

[Peter Davis <pd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 03:10 PM 12/12/1999 -0700, you wrote:
>Peter Davis wrote:
> > Sentences like:
> >
> >  > While today's graphics cards have 3D features, PC
> >  > Magazine points out the data is trapped inside the card and once
> >  > it travels to the monitor, it is squeezed onto a 2D surface.
> >
> > only convince me that this was written by some clueless journalist who
> > hasn't the foggiest idea what this is about.
> >
>
>While a bit overly simplified, I don't find anything wrong with the
>quote above.  A 3D graphics card is a specialized computer that
>accepts a list of 3D objects from the main computer and renders them
>to 2D before displaying on a monitor.
>
>In the computer graphics field the term "3D" has a specific meaning.
>A 3 dimensional object is represented by data (points, polygons,
>patches, etc.) that uses 3 coordinate values to specify the object.
>(Actually 4 values since the math is easier with a 4x4 transformation
>matrix.)  Usually such an object is transformed to a 2D representation
>before display, but it can also be displayed stereoscopically, or even
>used to produce a physical object, if the proper output device is
>available.

I understand all this quite well.  I've been earning a living from computer 
graphics for the past 20 years.  I still say the idea of data being 
"trapped" in a card and "squeezed" onto a surface is journalistic 
hogwash.  In fact, it is the card which is doing most of the 3D to 2D 
projection.

-pd


--------
                                 Peter Davis
                  Funny stuff at http://www.pfdstudio.com

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