The OpenGL Graphics Interface

Mark Segal
Kurt Akeley
Silicon Graphics Computer Systems
2011 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, CA 94039
USA

Abstract:

OpenGL is an emerging graphics standard that provides advanced rendering features while maintaining a simple programming model. Its procedural interface allows a graphics programmer to describe rendering tasks, whether simple or complex, easily and efficiently. Because OpenGL is rendering-only, it can be incorporated into any window system (and has been, into the X Window System and the soon-to-be-released Windows NT) or can be used without a window system. Finally, OpenGL is designed so that it can be implemented to take advantage of a wide range of graphics hardware capabilities, from a basic framebuffer to the most sophisticated graphics subsystems.

• 1 Introduction
• 2 OpenGL
• 3 Basic OpenGL Operation
  • 3.1 The OpenGL Utility Library
• 4 The OpenGL Pipeline
  • 4.1 Vertices and Primitives
  • 4.2 Clipping and Projection
  • 4.3 Rasterization
    • 4.3.1 Pixel Rectangles and Bitmaps
  • 4.4 Texturing and Fog
  • 4.5 The Framebuffer
  • 4.6 Per-Fragment Operations
  • 4.7 Miscellaneous Functions
    • 4.7.1 Evaluators
    • 4.7.2 Display Lists
    • 4.7.3 Feedback and Selection
    • 4.7.4 OpenGL State
• 5 Integration in a Window System
• 6 Example: Three Kinds of Text
• 7 Conclusion
• References
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