Courses in Graphics

Stanford offers the following courses in graphics:
(Not all courses are offered every year.)

CS/EE cross listings:

The following courses are being offered this year (2007-2008).

Autumn quarter:
Winter quarter:
Spring quarter:

Press here for the official Computer Science Department course bulletin.

Press here for a listing of courses that are no longer offered.

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CS 48N (formerly CS 99D) - The Science of Art

The interwoven histories of science and Western art from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Emphasis is on the revolutions in science and mathematics that have inspired parallel revolutions in the visual arts (e.g., Brunelleschi's invention of linear perspective, Newton's discoveries in geometric optics, and the theories of color vision proposed by Goethe, Young, Helmholtz, etc.). The scientific principles behind image making, including a brief survey of digital image synthesis (a.k.a. computer graphics). However, this is not a course in computer graphics. No programming experience is required. Intended primarily for freshmen and sophmores, with preference given to freshmen. Enrollment limited.

Units:
3
Prerequisites:
none
Instructor:
Marc Levoy
Televised?
No
Next offering:
Winter 2009

Past offerings:

Look here for some outstanding student projects that we've placed online:

This course satisfies the Applied Science and Technology area of the university General Education Requirement (GER:2b, area 6 under the 1991 DR system). It also satisfies the SoE's Technology in Society requirement.

CS 148 - Introductory Computer Graphics

(cross listed as EE 167)

(For undergraduates. M.S. students or students with a strong interest in continuing in graphics should take 248. Only one of 148 or 248 counts towards any CS degree program.) Topics: Input and output devices such as cameras and displays, graphics hardware and software, interactive techniques and the model-view-controller design pattern, typography and page layout, light and color representations, tone reproduction, image filtering, sampling, aliasing and antialiasing, compression, two- and three-dimensional geometry and transformations, modeling techniques including curves and surfaces, reflection models and illumination algorithms, and basic methods for animation.

Units:
3
Prerequisites:
CS 107 and Math 103
Next offering:
Winter 2008
Instructor:
Pat Hanrahan
Televised?
No

Past offerings:

CS 205A - Mathematical Methods for Computer Vision, Robotics, and Graphics

Overview of some of the continuous mathematics background necessary for research in robotics, vision, and graphics. Possible topics: linear algebra; the conjugate gradient method; ordinary and partial differential equations; vector and tensor calculus; calculus of variations.

Units:
3
Prerequisite:
106B or 106X; MATH 51 and 113; or equivalents.
Next offering:
Autumn 2007
Instructor:
Ron Fedkiw
Televised?
Yes.

Past offering:

CS 205B - Mathematical Methods for Fluids, Solids and Interfaces

Overview of numerical methods for the simulation of problems involving solid mechanics and fluid dynamics. The focus is on practical tools needed for simulation, as well as the necessary continuous mathematics involving nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations. Possible topics: finite element method, highly deformable elastic bodies, plasticity, fracture, level set method, Burgers' equation, compressible and incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, smoke, water, fire, solid-fluid coupling.

Units:
3
Prerequisite:
205A or equivalents.
Next offering:
Spring 2008
Instructor:
Ron Fedkiw
Televised?
???

Past offering: first offering...

CS 223B - Introduction to Computer Vision

Fundamental issues and techniques of computer vision. Image formation, edge detection and image segmentation, stereo, motion, shape representation, recognition. Project or final. Prerequisite: 205 or equivalent.

Units:
3
Prerequisite:
A good background in linear algebra, statistics, programming in MATLAB and/or C++.
Next offering:
Winter 2008
Instructor:
Jana Kosecka (visiting from George Mason University)
Televised?
No.

Past offerings:

CS 248 - Introduction to Computer Graphics

(cross listed as EE 287)

The fundamentals of input, display, and hardcopy devices, scan conversion of geometric primitives, 2D and 3D geometric transformations, clipping and windowing, scene modeling and animation, algorithms for visible surface determination, introduction to local and global shading models, color, and real-time rendering methods. Programming projects and exams. Only one of 148 or 248 counts towards CS degree requirements.

Units:
3-5, at the student's discretion (no change in course requirements).
Prerequisites:
CS 108, and Math 103 or equivalent. Students should be competent C programmers.
Quarter (in 2007-2008):
Autumn
Time and place:
TTh 12:50 - 2:05, Gates B01
Instructor:
Kurt Akeley (visiting from Microsoft Research)
(His email address is kurt _at_ graphics _dot_ stanford _dot_ edu)
Televised?
Yes, but not offered to TVI or out-of-Bay-Area students.

Current offering:

Past offerings:

Look here for images and animations from the old CS 248 rendering competitions:

And look here for results of the more recent CS 248 video game competitions:

CS 268 - Geometric Algorithms

(formerly CS 368)

An introduction to the basic techniques used in the design and analysis of efficient geometric algorithms including: convexity, triangulation, sweeping, partitioning, and point location. Voronoi and Delaunay diagrams. Arrangements and convex polytopes. Intersection and visibility problems. Geometric searching and optimization. Random sampling methods. Impact of numerical issues in geometric computation. Example applications to robotic motion planning, visibility preprocessing in graphics, model-based recognition in computer vision, and structural molecular biology.

Units:
3
Prerequisites:
CS 161
Quarter (in 2007-2008):
Spring
Instructor:
Leonidas Guibas
Televised?
No

Past offerings (of CS268 or CS 368):

CS 348A - Computer Graphics: Geometric Modeling

(formerly called Mathematical Methods)

(cross listed as EE 481A)

The mathematical tools needed for the geometrical aspects of computer graphics. Fundamentals: homogeneous coordinates, transformations and perspective. Theory of parametric and implicit curve and surface models: polar forms, Bezier arcs and de Casteljau subdivision, continuity constraints, B-splines, tensor product, and triangular patch surfaces. Representations of solids and conversions among them. Geometric algorithms for graphics problems, with applications to ray tracing, hidden surface elimination, etc. Rudiments of wavelet theory and multi-resolution shape representations.

Units:
4. May be taken for 3 units by graduate students (same course requirements).
Prerequisite:
Solid foundation in linear algebra and discrete algorithms.
Quarter (in 2007-2008):
Winter
Instructor:
Leonidas Guibas
Televised?
Yes.

Current offering:

Past Offerings:

CS 348B - Computer Graphics: Image Synthesis Techniques

 (cross listed as EE 481B)

Intermediate level, emphasizing sampling, shading, and display aspects of computer graphics. Topics: local and global illumination methods including radiosity and distributed ray tracing, texture generation and rendering, volume rendering, strategies for anti-aliasing and photo-realism, human vision and color science as they relate to computer displays, and high-performance architectures for graphics. Written assignments and programming projects.

Units:
4. May be taken for 3 units by graduate students (same course requirements).
Prerequisite:
CS 248 or equivalent
Recommended:
Exposure to Fourier analysis or digital signal processing
Quarter (in 2007-2008):
Spring
Instructor:
Pat Hanrahan
Televised?
No.

Past offerings:
Look here for images and animations from the yearly CS 348B rendering competitions:

 

CS 448 - Topics in Computer Graphics

 (cross listed as EE 484)

In-depth study of an active research topic in computer graphics. Topic changes each quarter. Recent topics include exotic input and display technologies, graphics architectures, advanced rendering techniques, modeling shape and motion, data visualization, computational photography. Readings and a project. May be repeated for credit. This course was formerly called 348C.

Units:
Usually 3, but 1-3 for some offerings and 3-4 for others
Prerequisites:
Depends on the course, typically CS 248 or consent of instructor
Televised?
No
Offerings in 2007-2008:
Past offerings (under the number 348C through 1996-7)
Look here for images and animations from the CS 348C student projects

CS 468 - Topics in Geometric Algorithms

 Advanced seminar covering different topics related to geometric computing. Recent offerings: shape matching, proximity and nearest-neighbor problems, visibility and motion planning, and collision detection. Readings from the literature and a presentation or a project required.
Units:
2
Prerequisites:
CS 268 or CS368 or consent of the instructor
Quarter (in 2007-2008):
Winter (Koltun)
Televised?
No

Past Offerings:

This course may be taken repeatedly for credit.

CS 528 - AI/Graphics/Geometry/Vision/Robotics Seminar

 (cross listed as EE 485) This colloquium began as a joint offering between what was known as the the Stanford Geometry, Graphics, Robotics, and Vision Seminar (GGRV) and the AI, Vision, and Robotics Colloquium (AIRV). We've consolidated the two seminars. Students can also take this seminar as a course, CS 528. This colloquium is intended to bring established and senior researchers from the fields of AI, geometry, graphics, robotics, and vision together to discuss and explain broad considerations and high-level tasks that the relevant communities are addressing. The talks are intended to create awareness and interest for all of the members of these communities, hopefully bridging the gaps and creating collaborations. All are invited.
Units:
1
Prerequisites:
none
Quarters (in 2007-2008):
(not offered)

Past offerings:
Last update: February 1, 2008 08:25:14 PM
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