Instructor: Dr. Adam Bargteil <adamb-at-umbc.edu> (Avoid sending email)
Office Hours: M/W 2:30-3:30pm, ITE 341
TA: Alex Dahl
Office Hours: Tu/Th 4:00-6:00pm, Discord
Prerequisite: MATH 221 (Linear Algebra), CMSC 313 (or
other class covering C or C++), CMSC 341 (Data Structures)
(Yes, we
will make heavy use of the prerequisites)
Discord: There is a discord server for the class, you will receive an invite after the drop date. Almost all class communication should happen through discord (I miss too many emails).
Description: Introduction to graphics systems, rasterization, clipping, transformations, modeling, viewing, hidden surface removal, illumination, and shading. Emphasis on realistic, 3D image synthesis.
Grades: Grades will be based on programming assignments (75%) and midterm and final exams (25%). More specifically, there will be six (6) programming assignments and two (2) take home exams, all worth 125 points, extra credit options will be provided. Students in 435 will be graded out of 1000 points, students in 634 will be graded out of 1200 points. So, to get an "A" students in 634 will have to do some of the extra credit options (corresponding to roughly 20% more work).
Assignments: Programming assignments require the use of the C/C++ programming language. These assignments may be time-consuming. START EARLY! A tentative list is given below:
| Assignment | Description | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | Ray Tracing I | February 13 |
| Assignment 2 | Ray Tracing II | February 27 |
| Assignment 3 | Rendering Pipeline | March 12 |
| MIDTERM | EXAM | April 1 |
| Assignment 4 | Modeling | April 16 |
| Assignment 5 | Animation | April 30 |
| Assignment 6 | Digital Photography | May 14 |
| FINAL | EXAM | May 22 |
Assignments are to be submitted electronically by 11:59 PM on the date listed. Late assignments will penalized with a multiplier in the range [0,1) depending on how late they are. Assignments received before the deadline have a multiplier of 1. For each hour late (or portion thereof) in the first 24 hours, the multiplier is decremented by 0.005. For hours 24-48, the multiplier is decremented by .01 for each hour. For hours 48-72, the multiplier is decremented by .02 per hour. After 72 hours, the multiplier is decremented by .04 per hour. After 76 hours, the multiplier reaches 0.
By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC's scholarly community in which everyone's academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they are wrong.
All assignments and exams in the course are expected to be your INDIVIDUAL work. You area allowed to discuss programming assignments, but must do the coding yourself: words and math are OK, code is not. Any help you receive must be documented. At the beginning of the readme.txt submitted with each assignment, you must include a statement indicating the sources you used while working on it (excluding course staff and text) and the type of help you received from each. If you received no help, say so. Failure to include this statement with your assignment will result in your program being returned ungraded. For example, "I discussed the algorithms for this project with my study group, including student X and student Y. I also found some helpful descriptions on site.xyz."
If it is determined that you have violated the academic dishonesty policy, the Instructor may impose a penalty up to and including failure of the course and reporting to the appropriate undergraduate or graduate administrative bodies.
Required reading from the book should be completed BEFORE the first date listed below for maximum benefit
| Date | Topic | FoCG | Due | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29/31 | Overview / Ray Tracing | 1, 2, 3, 4 | ||
| Feb 5/7 | More Ray Tracing | 4, 13 | ||
| Feb 12/14 | Transformations | 5, 6 | Assignment 1 | |
| Feb 19/21 | Viewing | 7 | ||
| Feb 26/28 | Graphics Pipeline | 8 | Assignment 2 | |
| Mar 4/6 | OpenGL / Shading / Texture | 10,11 | ||
| Mar 11/13 | Signal Processing / Sampling | 9,14 | Assignment 3 | |
| Mar 18/20 | Spring Break | |||
| Mar 25/27 | Catch Up / Flexible Week | |||
| Apr 1/3 | MIDTERM / Modeling | 15,16 | Midterm due in class 10/23 | |
| Apr 8/10 | Animation/Mocap | 17 | ||
| Apr 15/17 | Data Structures | 12 | Assignment 4 | |
| Apr 22/24 | Digital Photography | |||
| Apr 29/May 1 | Light / Color | 20,21 | Assignment 5 | |
| May 6/8 | Global Illumination | 24 | ||
| May 13 | Final handed out | Assignment 6 | ||
| May 22 | FINAL EXAM 1:00-3:00 | |||
There is a class web page, http://www.csee.umbc.edu/~adamb/435 (or 634), where you will find this syllabus online, except you can follow all of the links. Important announcements and updates will be made to this class web page throughout the semester. I will announce at the beginning of class if I make a significant change or addition.
There is a class discord server for this class. Everyone will be invited to the server. Announcements will be made there, and you can also use it for public communication with your classmates, the TA and instructor. You should check discord periodically. Please only post messages appropriate for the entire class to see. Be sure to send direct messages to the instructor or TA for questions about grades or other private matters.
Accommodations for students with disabilities are provided for all students with a qualified disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA & ADAAA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act who request and are eligible for accommodations. The Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) is the UMBC department designated to coordinate accommodations that creates equal access for students when barriers to participation exist in University courses, programs, or activities.
If you have a documented disability and need to request academic accommodations in your courses, please refer to the SDS website at sds.umbc.edu for registration information and office procedures.
SDS email: disAbility@umbc.edu
SDS phone: 410-455-2459
If you will be using SDS approved accommodations in this class, please contact the instructor to discuss implementation of the accommodations. During remote instruction requirements due to COVID, communication and flexibility will be essential for success.
UMBC Policy in addition to federal and state law (to include Title IX) prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in University programs and activities. Any student who is impacted by sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, gender-based harassment, or related retaliation should contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator to make a report and/or access support and resources. The Title IX Coordinator can be reached at titleixcoordinator@umbc.edu or 410-455-1717.
You can access support and resources even if you do not want to take any further action. You will not be forced to file a formal complaint or police report. Please be aware that the University may take action on its own if essential to protect the safety of the community.
If you are interested in making a report, please use the Online Reporting/Referral Form . Please note that, if you report anonymously, the University’s ability to respond will be limited.
Notice that Faculty and Teaching Assistants are Responsible Employees with Mandatory Reporting Obligations
All faculty members and teaching assistants are considered Responsible Employees, per UMBC’s Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment, and Gender Discrimination . Faculty and teaching assistants therefore required to report all known information regarding alleged conduct that may be a violation of the Policy to the Title IX Coordinator, even if a student discloses an experience that occurred before attending UMBC and/or an incident that only involves people not affiliated with UMBC. Reports are required regardless of the amount of detail provided and even in instances where support has already been offered or received.
While faculty members want to encourage you to share information related to your life experiences through discussion and written work, students should understand that faculty are required to report past and present sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, and gender discrimination that is shared with them to the Title IX Coordinator so that the University can inform students of their rights, resources, and support . While you are encouraged to do so, you are not obligated to respond to outreach conducted as a result of a report to the Title IX Coordinator.
If you need to speak with someone in confidence, who does not have an obligation to report to the Title IX Coordinator, UMBC has a number of Confidential Resources available to support you:
Retriever Integrated Health (Main Campus): 410-455-2472; Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; For After-Hours Support, Call 988.
Center for Counseling and Well-Being (Shady Grove Campus): 301-738-6273 ; Monday-Thursday 10:00a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (virtual) Online Appointment Request Form
Pastoral Counseling via The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being : 410-455-6795; i3b@umbc.edu ; Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Other Resources
Women’s Center (open to students of all genders): 410-455-2714 ; womenscenter@umbc.edu ; Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Shady Grove Student Resources , Maryland Resources , National Resources .
Please note that Maryland law and UMBC policy require that faculty report all disclosures or suspicions of child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services and / or the police even if the person who experienced the abuse or neglect is now over 18.
UMBC’s Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination expressly prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, including pregnancy. Resources for pregnant, parenting and breastfeeding students are available through the University’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights . Pregnant and parenting students are encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator to discuss plans and ensure ongoing access to their academic program with respect to a leave of absence – returning following leave, or any other accommodation that may be needed related to pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, breastfeeding, and/or the early months of parenting.
In addition, students who are pregnant and have an impairment related to their pregnancy that qualifies as disability under the ADA may be entitled to accommodations through the Office of Student Disability Services .
UMBC Policy provides that students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs, and that students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to individual participation in religious observances. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any intended absences or requested modifications for religious observances in advance, and as early as possible. For questions or guidance regarding religious observances and accommodations, please contact the Office of Equity and Civil Rights at ecr@umbc.edu .
UMBC values safety, cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility, lifelong learning, equity, and civic engagement.
Consistent with these principles, UMBC Policy prohibits discrimination and harassment in its educational programs and activities or with respect to employment terms and conditions based on race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, ancestry, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, veterans status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or genetic information.
Students (and faculty and staff) who experience discrimination, harassment, hate, or bias based upon a protected status or who have such matters reported to them should use the online reporting/referral form to report discrimination, hate, or bias incidents. You may report incidents that happen to you anonymously . Please note that, if you report anonymously, the University’s ability to respond may be limited.