OpenGL(R) Programming Guide: The Official Guide to Learning OpenGL(R), Version 2.1 (6th Edition) (Paperback)

by OpenGL Architecture Review Board (Author), Dave Shreiner (Author), Mason Woo (Author), Jackie Neider (Author), Tom Davis (Author)

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Product Description

OpenGL^® Programming Guide, Sixth Edition

OpenGL is a powerful software interface used to produce high-quality, computergenerated images and interactive applications using 2D and 3D objects, bitmaps, and color images.

The OpenGL^® Programming Guide, Sixth Edition, provides definitive and comprehensive information on OpenGL and the OpenGL Utility Library. The previous edition covered OpenGL through Version 2.0. This sixth edition of the best-selling "red book" describes the latest features of OpenGL Version 2.1. You will find clear explanations of OpenGL functionality and many basic computer graphics techniques, such as building and rendering 3D models; interactively viewing objects from different perspective points; and using shading, lighting, and texturing effects for greater realism. In addition, this book provides in-depth coverage of advanced techniques, including texture mapping, antialiasing, fog and atmospheric effects, NURBS, image processing, and more. The text also explores other key topics such as enhancing performance, OpenGL extensions, and cross-platform techniques.

This sixth edition has been updated to include the newest features of OpenGL Version 2.1, including:

• Using server-side pixel buffer objects for fast pixel rectangle download and retrieval
• Discussion of the sRGB texture format
• Expanded discussion of the OpenGL Shading Language

This edition continues the discussion of the OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) and explains the mechanics of using this language to create complex graphics effects and boost the computational power of OpenGL.

The OpenGL Technical Library provides tutorial and reference books for OpenGL. The Library enables programmers to gain a practical understanding of OpenGL and shows them how to unlock its full potential. Originally developed by SGI, the Library continues to evolve under the auspices of the OpenGL Architecture Review Board (ARB) Steering Group (now part of the Khronos Group), an industry consortium responsible for guiding the evolution of OpenGL and related technologies.

About the Author

Dave Shreiner, a computer graphics specialist at ARM, Inc., was a longtime member of the core OpenGL team at SGI. He authored the first commercial OpenGL training course, and has been developing computer graphics applications for more than two decades. Dave regularly presents at SIGGRAPH and other conferences worldwide, and is coauthor of the OpenGL^® Reference Manual (Addison-Wesley).

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Product Details

• Paperback: 928 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 6 edition (August 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321481003
• ISBN-13: 978-0321481009
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,249 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This item is part of The OpenGL Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference, October 8, 2008

By	T. Walton - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Though you can probably find most of the content in this book on the internet, the OpenGL Programmer's Guide is a great reference when programming using opengl. It has easily understandable explanations for every function, as well as many great examples. When I need to use a refernce to see if there are any functions that suit my needs, I can usually find them faster in this book than through google.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars an Historical text, October 26, 2008

By	Clive McCarthy (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Don't buy this book. It is simply an accumulation and rehash of all the previous versions lacking the grace of somebody editing out things that have become, to all practical purposes, obsolete.

It will have you believe that certain features of OpenGL are alive and well, when in fact they are archaic, and have been replaced by new facilities in the language. This is not a book that will assist a beginner, it may be of use to a technical historian.

As an example, extensive sample code is provided to illustrate gluBuild2DMipmaps() but no code is provided for the more uptodate GL_GENERATE_MIPMAPS and there is no explanation of it's use with borders...

If you are beginning OpenGL look elsewhere.

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Untrustworthy, August 20, 2008

By	Eli - See all my reviews

Well written in simple English, but I found a couple of typos / bugs in example 15-2. "glProgramGetInfoLog" should read "glGetProgramInfoLog". The compiler catches this error, so it isn't too bad.

The other error is more difficult because the program will compile and link: "glShaderSource(shader, 1, shaderSrc, NULL);" should read "glShaderSource(shader, 4, shaderSrc, NULL);". Took me a while to find this. Did the authors not test their own code? This seems inexcusable.