OpenGL(R) SuperBible: Comprehensive Tutorial and Reference (4th Edition) (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: texture mapping, programmable pipeline, shading language, The Basics, Geometric Transformations, Faster Geometry Throughput (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

OpenGL ® SuperBible, Fourth Edition, begins by illuminating the core techniques of “classic” OpenGL graphics programming, from drawing in space to geometric transformations, from lighting to texture mapping. The authors cover newer OpenGL capabilities, including OpenGL 2.1’s powerful programmable pipeline, vertex and fragment shaders, and advanced buffers. They also present thorough, up-to-date introductions to OpenGL implementations on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, UNIX, and embedded systems.

 

Coverage includes

 

·         An entirely new chapter on OpenGL ES programming for handhelds

·         Completely rewritten chapters on OpenGL for Mac OS X and GNU/Linux

·         Up-to-the-minute coverage of OpenGL on Windows Vista

·         New material on floating-point color buffers and off-screen rendering

·         In-depth introductions to 3D modeling and object composition

·         Expert techniques for utilizing OpenGL’s programmable shading language

·         Thorough coverage of curves, surfaces, interactive graphics, textures, shadows, and much more

·         A fully updated API reference, and an all-new section of full-color images

 

You’ll rely on this book constantly–whether you’re learning OpenGL for the first time, deepening your graphics programming expertise, upgrading from older versions of OpenGL, or porting applications from other environments.

 

Now part of the OpenGL Technical Library–The official knowledge resource for OpenGL developers

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.

 

Contents

Preface  xxvii

About the Authors  xxxv

Introduction  1

 

Part I: The Old Testament

Chapter 1     Introduction to 3D Graphics and OpenGL  9

Chapter 2     Using OpenGL  33

Chapter 3     Drawing in Space: Geometric Primitives and Buffers  73

Chapter 4     Geometric Transformations: The Pipeline  127

Chapter 5     Color, Materials, and Lighting: The Basics 173

Chapter 6     More on Colors and Materials  229

Chapter 7     Imaging with OpenGL  251

Chapter 8     Texture Mapping: The Basics  303

Chapter 9     Texture Mapping: Beyond the Basics  341

Chapter 10   Curves and Surfaces  377

Chapter 11   It’s All About the Pipeline: Faster Geometry Throughput  421

Chapter 12   Interactive Graphics  457

Chapter 13   Occlusion Queries: Why Do More Work Than You Need To? 481

Chapter 14   Depth Textures and Shadows  495

 

Part II: The New Testament

Chapter 15   Programmable Pipeline: This Isn’t Your Father’s OpenGL  515

Chapter 16   Vertex Shading: Do-It-Yourself Transform, Lighting, and Texgen  547

Chapter 17   Fragment Shading: Empower Your Pixel Processing  567

Chapter 18   Advanced Buffers  601

 

Part III: The Apocrypha

Chapter 19   Wiggle: OpenGL on Windows  641

Chapter 20   OpenGL on Mac OS X  685

Chapter 21   OpenGL on Linux  713

Chapter 22   OpenGL ES — OpenGL on the Small  735

 

Appendix A    Further Reading/References  773

Appendix B    Glossary  777

Appendix C   API Reference  783

Index  1141

 

About the Author

Richard S. Wright, Jr.has been using OpenGL for more than 12 years, since it first became available on the Windows platform, and teaches OpenGL programming in the game design degree program at Full Sail in Orlando, Florida. Currently, Richard is the president of Starstone Software Systems, Inc., where he develops third-party multimedia simulation software for the PC and Macintosh platforms using OpenGL.

Previously with Real 3D/Lockheed Martin, Richard was a regular OpenGL ARB attendee and contributed to the OpenGL 1.2 specification and conformance tests. Since then, Richard has worked in multidimensional database visualization, game development, medical diagnostic visualization, and astronomical space simulation.

Richard first learned to program in the eighth grade in 1978 on a paper terminal. At age 16, his parents let him buy a computer with his grass-cutting money instead of a car, and he sold his first computer program less than a year later (and it was a graphics program!). When he graduated from high school, his first job was teaching programming and computer literacy for a local consumer education company. He studied electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Louisville’s Speed Scientific School and made it half way through his senior year before his career got the best of him and took him to Florida. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, he now lives with his wife and three children in Lake Mary, Florida. When not programming or dodging hurricanes, Richard is an avid amateur astronomer and an Adult Sunday School teacher.

 

Benjamin Lipchak graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a double major in technical writing and computer science. “Why would anyone with a CS degree want to become a writer?” That was the question asked of him one fateful morning when Benj was interviewing for a tech writing job at Digital Equipment Corporation. Benj’s interview took longer than scheduled, and he left that day with job offer in hand to work on the software team responsible for DEC’s AlphaStation OpenGL drivers.

Benj’s participation in the OpenGL Architecture Review Board began when he chaired the working group that generated the GL_ARB_fragment_program extension spec. While chairing the Khronos OpenGL Ecosystem Technical SubGroup, he established the OpenGL SDK and created the OpenGL Pipeline newsletter, of which he remains editor.

Benj will now participate in the Khronos OpenGL ES Working Group. After 12 years of OpenGL driver development and driver team management at DEC, Compaq, and ATI, he is headed for smaller pastures. Benj recently became manager of AMD’s handheld software team. Although the API is familiar, the new challenges of size and power consumption make for a great change of scenery. In his fleeting spare time, Benj tries to get outdoors for some hiking or kayaking. He also operates an independent record label, Wachusett Records, specializing in solo piano music.

 

Nicholas Haemel, developer at AMD in the Graphics Products Group, was technical reviewer for OpenGL SuperBible, Third Edition, and contributed the chapters on GLX and OpenGL ES.

 

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1248 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 4 edition (June 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321498828
• ISBN-13: 978-0321498823
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #25,100 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This item is part of The OpenGL Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Tutorial, July 22, 2007

By	D. Clemens (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just started learning OpenGL a few months ago. OpenGL.org has a free ebook on OpenGL 1.1 but I hate reading at the computer and I wanted to learn OpenGL 2.1.

So I bought this book since it was just published this month and covers 2.1.

So far, I just finished chapter 5 and I am quite pleased. I have no negative feedback on the text itself as I think the author does a great job. Each topic is covered comprehensively and transitions between topics are subtle enough so as to not lose the reader.

Now for teaching purposes the text and source code use GLUT. Thankfully, the author also includes sections on OS specific OpenGL setup.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best OpenGL book out there for beginners and experienced alike, March 31, 2008

By	Cristobal A. Alvarez-Russell (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has three great uses: as a learning tool for beginners, as an update for intermediates, and as a reference for experts. All groups can be benefited from this book.

With regards to the first, this book provides a much more natural progression between the topics when read front to back. Also, it does not assume a lot of mathematical knowledge, and it will provide some of it as it goes along.

Also, for people who know OpenGL 1.x, this book will be a great way of being introduced to shader programming as part of OpenGL. Also, something I found invaluable in this book is the chapters in optimization (buffer objects, etc). It talks enough about optimizing OpenGL to high-performance applications without delving into 3D engine design (something that is out of the cope), but still filling a niche. Last, it talks about several things that are taken for granted by professionals but novices sometimes have a hard time accessing (post-processing, multiple passes, image processing, etc.)

Even professionals will find the book useful for looking things up, or to use as a reference.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book for OpenGL, March 27, 2008

By	Liming Mei "james mei" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent book for OpenGL topic. I noticed it also includes the most recent works in the computer graphics field which makes it totally different from the free 1st edition bluebook on the internet. I read it everyday on the train to and back from the work. The words used in the book are easy to understand. The authors did a good job presenting the technical details. This is a must-have for all OpenGL software engineers. Would recommend to other people!