COMPUTER GRAPHICS SYLLABUS

Unit I
Overview of Computer Graphics System: Video Display Devices – Raster
Scan Systems – Random – Scan Systems - Graphics Monitors and
Workstations – Input Devices – Hardcopy Devices – Graphics Software.
Text Book:
1. Donald Hearn M. Pauline Baker, Computer Graphics C Version, Second Edition, Pearson
Education, 2014.

Unit 1

Overview of Computer Graphics System

Computer graphics is branch of computer science[1][2] that deals with generating images
with the aid of computers. Today, computer graphics is a core technology in digital photography,
film, video games, cell phone and computer displays, and many specialized applications. A great
deal of specialized hardware and software has been developed, with the displays of most
devices being driven by computer graphics hardware.

Computer graphics is responsible for displaying art and image data effectively and meaningfully
to the consumer. It is also used for processing image data received from the physical
world. Computer graphics development has had a significant impact on many types of media and
has revolutionized animation, movies, advertising, video games, and graphic design in general.

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is a well-known saying and highlights the advantages and
benefits of the visual presentation of our data. We are able to obtain a comprehensive overall
view of our data and also study features and areas of particular interest.

Computer graphics is concerned with all aspects of producing images using a computer.
It concerns with the pictorial synthesis of real or imaginary objects from their computer-
based models.

Definition

Computer graphics is an art of drawing pictures, lines, charts, etc. using computers with the help
of programming. Computer graphics is made up of number of pixels. Pixel is the
smallest graphical picture or unit represented on the computer screen. Basically there are
two types of computer graphics namely.

Types of computer graphics

Interactive Computer Graphics: Interactive Computer Graphics involves a two way

communication between computer and user. Here the observer is given some control over
the image by providing him with an input device for example the video game controller of the
pingpong game. This helps him to signal his request to the computer.

The computer on receiving signals from the input device can modify the displayed
picture appropriately. To the user it appears that the picture is changing instantaneously in
response to his commands. He can give a series of commands, each one generating a
graphical response from the computer. In this way he maintains a conversation, or dialogue, with
the computer.

Non Interactive Computer Graphics: In non-interactive computer graphics otherwise known

as passive computer graphics. it is the computer graphics in which user does not have any kind of
control over the image. Image is merely the product of static stored program and will
work according to the instructions given in the program linearly. The image is totally under the
control of program instructions not under the user. Example: screen savers.

Display Devices in Computer Graphics

The display device is an output device used to represent the information in the form of images
(visual form). Display systems are mostly called a video monitor or Video display unit (VDU).
Display devices are designed to model, display, view, or display information. The purpose of
display technology is to simplify information sharing.

Today, the demand for high-quality displays is increasing.

There are some display devices given below:

1. Cathode-Ray Tube(CRT)

2. Color CRT Monitor

 3. Liquid crystal display(LCD)

4. Light Emitting Diode(LED)

5. Direct View Storage Tubes(DVST)

6. Plasma Display

7. 3D Display

1. Cathode-ray Tube (CRT): Here, CRT stands for Cathode ray tube. It is a technology which
is used in traditional computer monitor and television. Cathode ray tube is a particular type of
vacuum tube that displays images when an electron beam collides on the radiant surface.

Fig.1cathod Ray Tube

A beam of electrons i.e cathode rays emitted by an electron gun, passes through focusing
and deflection systems that direct the beam toward specified positions on the phosphor –coated
screen that direct the beam toward specified positions on the phosphor –coated screen. The phosphor
then emits a small spot of light at each position contacted by the electron beam. Because the light
emitted by the phosphor fades very rapidly, some method is needed for maintain the screen picture.
One way to keep the phosphor glowing is to redraw the picture repeatedly by quickly directing the
electron beam back over the same points. This type of display is called a refresh CRT.

Component of CRT:
 Electron Gun: The electron gun is made up of several elements, mainly a heating
filament (heater) and a cathode.The electron gun is a source of electrons focused
on a narrow beam facing the CRT.

 Focusing & Accelerating Anodes: These anodes are used to produce a narrow
and sharply focused beam of electrons.
  Horizontal & Vertical Deflection Plates: These plates are used to guide the path of the
electron the beam. The plates produce an electromagnetic field that bends the
electron
beam through the area as it travels.

 Phosphorus-coated Screen: The phosphorus coated screen is used to produce

bright spots when the high-velocity electron beam hits it.

There are two ways to represent an object on the screen:

Raster Scan: It is a scanning technique in which the electron beam moves along the screen. It
moves from top to bottom, covering one line at a time. A raster scan is based on pixel intensity
control display as a rectangular box on the screen called a raster.

Picture description is stored in the memory area called as Refresh buffer, or Frame
Buffer.
Frame buffer is also known as Raster or Bitmap. Raster scan provides the refresh rate of 60 to
80 frames per second.

For Example: Television

The beam refreshing has two types:

1. Horizontal Retracing

2. Vertical Retracing

When the beam starts from the top left corner and reaches bottom right, and again return to the
top left, it is called the vertical retrace.

It will call back from top to bottom more horizontally as a horizontal reversal.
 Fig.2 raster scan display
Advantages:
1. Real image

2. Many colors to be produced

3. Dark scenes can be pictured

Disadvantages:
1. Less resolution
2. Display picture line by line
3. More costly
Random Scan (Vector scan): It is also known as stroke-writing display or calligraphic display.
In this, the electron beam points only to the area in which the picture is to be drawn.
It uses an electron beam like a pencil to make a line image on the screen. The image is
constructed from a sequence of straight-line segments. On the screen, each line segment is drawn
by the beam to pass from one point on the screen to the other, where its x & y coordinates define
each point.

After compilation of picture drawing, the system cycle back to the first line and create all the
lines of picture 30 to 60 times per second.

Fig.3 A Random Scan display draws the lines of an object in a specific order

Advantages:
1. High Resolution

2. Draw smooth line Drawing

Disadvantages:
1. It does only the wireframe.

2. It creates complex scenes due to flicker.

3.
Color CRT Monitor: It is similar to a CRT monitor. The basic idea behind the color
CRT monitor is to combine three basic colors- Red, Green, and Blue. By using these three colors,
we can produce millions of different colors.

The two basic color display producing techniques are:

1. Beam–Penetration Method: It is used with a random scan monitor for displaying

pictures. There are two phosphorus layers- Red and Green are coated inside the screen.
The color shown depends on how far the electron beam penetrates the phosphorus
surface.

A powerful electron beam penetrates the CRT, it passes through the red layer and excites
the green layer within.

A beam with slow electrons excites only the red layer.

A beam with the medium speed of electrons, a mixture of red and green light is emitted
to display two more colors- orange and yellow.

Fig .4 Beam–Penetration Method

Advantages:
1. Better Resolution

2. Half cost

3. Inexpensive
Disadvantages:
1. Only four possible colors

2. Time Consuming

2. Shadow–Mask Method: It is used with a raster scan monitor for displaying pictures. It has
more range of color than the beam penetration method. It is used in television sets and monitors.

Structure:
1. It has three phosphorus color dots at each position of the pixel.

First Dot: Red color

Second Dot: Green color
Third Dot: Blue color
1. It has three different guns. Each for one color.

2. It has a metal screen or plate just before the phosphorus screen, named “Shadow-Mask.”
3. It also has a shadow grid just behind the phosphorus coated screen with tiny holes in a
triangular shape.

Working: A Shadow Mask is a metal plate with tiny holes present inside a color
monitor.A Shadow Mask directs the beam by consuming the electrons so that the beam hits only
the desired point and displays a resulting picture.

It has three different guns. These guns direct their beams to shadow mask, which allows them to
pass. It is a task of a shadow mask to direct the beam on its particular dot on the
screen and produce a picture on the screen.

A Shadow Mask can display a wider range of pictures than beam penetration.
 Fig 5 Shadow–Mask method

Advantages:
1. Display a wider range picture.

2. Display realistic images.

3. In-line arrangement of RGB color.

Disadvantages:
1. Difficult to cover all three beams on the same hole.
2. Poor Resolution.

Direct View Storage Tube (DVST): It is used to store the picture information as a
charge distribution behind the phosphor-coated screen.
There are two guns used in DVST:

1. Primary Gun: It is used to store the picture information.

2. Flood / Secondary Gun: It is used to display a picture on the screen.
 Fig.6 Direct View Storage Tube (DVST
Advantages:
 1. Less Time Consuming

2. No Refreshing Required

3. High-Resolution

4. Less Cost

Disadvantages:
1. The specific part of the image cannot be erased.
2. They do not display color.

Flat Panel Displays

The term flat panel display refers to a class of video devices that have reduced volume, weight,
and power requirements compared to a CRT.

There are two categories: emissive displays and non-emissive displays

1. Emissive displays or emitters are devices that convert electrical energy into light

Example: plasma panel, thin film electroluminescent displays, and light emitting diodes

2. Non emissive displays (non-emitters) use optical effects to convert sunlight from some
other source into graphics pattern.
Example: LCD

Liquid crystal display (LCD): The LCD depends upon the light modulating properties of liquid
crystals.
1. LCD is used in watches and portable computers. LCD requires an AC power
supply instead of DC, so it is difficult to use it in circuits.
2. It generally works on flat panel display technology. LCD consumes less power than LED.
The LCD screen uses the liquid crystal to turn pixels on or off.
3. Liquid Crystals are a mixture of solid and liquid. When the current flows inside it,
its position changes into the desired color.
 Fig.7. LCD calculator

Thin Film electroluminescent displays

It is a similar in construction to a plasma panel. The difference is that region between the
glasses plates is filled with a phosphor, such as zinc sulfide doped with
manganese, instead of a glass.
Electrical energy is then absorbed by the manganese atoms, which then release
the energy as a spot of light similar to the glowing plasma effect in a plasma
panel, electroluminescent require more power than plasma panel and good color and gray
scale displays are hard to archive.
Advantages:
1. Produce a bright image

2. Energy efficient

3. Completely flat screen

Disadvantages:
1. Fixed aspect ratio & Resolution
2. Lower Contrast
 3. More Expensive

Light Emitting Diode (LED):

1. LED is a device which emits when current passes through it. It is a semiconductor device.
2. The size of the LED is small, so we can easily make any display unit by arranging a large
number of LEDs.
3. LED consumes more power compared to LCD. LED is used on TV, smartphones, motor
vehicles, traffic light, etc.
4. LEDs are powerful in structure, so they are capable of withstanding mechanical pressure.
LED also works at high temperatures.

Advantages:
1. The Intensity of light can be controlled.

2. Low operational Voltage.

3. Capable of handling the high temperature.

Disadvantages:
1. More Power Consuming than LCD.

Plasma Display: It is a type of flat panel display which uses tiny plasma cells. It is also known
as the Gas-Discharge display.
Components of plasma display:
1. Anode: It is used to deliver a positive voltage. It also has the line wires.
2. Cathode: It is used to provide negative voltage to gas cells. It also has fine wires.
3. Gas Plates: These plates work as capacitors. When we pass the voltage, the cell lights
regularly.
4. Fluorescent cells: It contains small pockets of gas liquids when the voltage is passed to this
neon gas. It emits light.
 Fig.8 plasma display
Advantages:
1. Wall Mounted

2. Slim

3. Wider angle
Disadvantag
es:
1. Phosphorus loses luminosity over time.
2. It consumes more electricity than LCD.
3. Large Size

3D viewing
devices
It is also called stereoscope display technology. This technology is capable of bringing
depth perception to the viewer. It is used for 3D gaming and 3D TVs. Graphics monitor for the
display of three dimensional scenes have been devised using a technique that reflects a CRT
image from a vibrating Flexible mirror. As the varifocal mirror vibrates, it changes
focal length. These vibrations are synchronized with the display of an object on a CRT
so that each point on the object is reflected from the mirror into a spatial position
corresponding to the distance of that
point from a specified viewing
position.

Fig.9 Three dimensional display

systems

For Example: Fog Display, Holographic Display, Retina Display , The space graph
interactive graphics system ,Etc.
Advantages:
Impressive Picture Quality

High Definition

Motion Communicates

Disadvantage:
Expensive

Binocular Fusion

Raster scan system

Addition to the CPU, special purpose processor, Video Controller or display controller is used
to control the operation of the display device. Frame buffer can be anywhere in the
systems
memory & video controller access the frame buffer to refresh the screen.

Fixed Portion of the system memory is reserved. Frame buffer locations, and the corresponding
screen Positions are referenced in Cartesian Coordinates.
The multiple pixel intensities are then stored in a separate register and used to control the CRT
beam intensity for a group of adjacent pixels. Other Operations performed by Video Controller
are:
1.) It can retrieve pixel intensities from different memory areas on different
cycles
2.) In high quality systems, two frame buffers are often provided so that one buffer can be
used for refreshing and other filled with intensity values. Provide the fast mechanism for
generating real time animation.

3.) Video controllers often contain a lookup table, so that pixel value in the frame buffer
are used to access the lookup table instead of controlling the CRT beam intensity directly.

Raster Scan display Processor Sometimes also referred as graphics controller or a

display coprocessor and its purpose is to free the CPU from the graphics operations. For this
separate display processor memory area is also provided. Its major task is to digitize a picture
definition given in an application program into a set of pixel intensity values for storage in a
frame buffer.

This digitization process is called scan-conversion. Graphics commands specifying straight

lines and other geometric objects are scan converted into a set of discrete intensity
points. Scan converting a straight line means, we have to locate the pixel positions closest to
the line path and
store the intensity for each position in the frame
buffer.

Random scan system

 An application program is input and stored in the system memory along with a graphics
package. Graphics commands in the program are translated by the graphics package
into a display file stored in the system memory.

This display file is then accessed by the display processor to refresh the screen.

The display processor cycles through each command in the display file program once
during every refresh cycle.

Graphic patterns are drawn on a random scan system by directing the electron beam along
the component lines of the picture.

Lines are defined by the values for their co-ordinate endpoints, and these input co-ordinate
values are converted to x and y deflection voltages.

A scene is then drawn one line at a time by positioning the beam to fill in the line between
specified endpoints.
Inputandoutputdev
ices

Input
Device
s

The Input Devices are the hardware that is used to transfer transfers input to the
computer. The data can be in the form of text, graphics, sound, and text. Output device
display data from the memory of the computer. Output can be text, numeric data, line,
polygon, and other objects.

These Devices
include:

1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Trackball

4. Space ball
5. Joystick
6. Light Pen
7. Digitizer
8. Touch Panels
9. Voice Recognition
10. Image Scanner
Keyboard:

The most commonly used input device is a keyboard. The data is entered by pressing the set
of keys. All keys are labeled. A keyboard with 101 keys is called a QWERTY keyboard.

The keyboard has alphabetic as well as numeric keys. Some special keys are also available.

1. Numeric Keys: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
2. Alphabetic keys: a to z (lower case), A to Z (upper case)
3. Special Control keys: Ctrl, Shift, Alt
4. Special Symbol Keys: ; , " ? @ ~ ? :
5. Cursor Control Keys: ↑ → ← ↓
6. Function Keys: F1 F2 F3....F9.
7. Numeric Keyboard: It is on the right-hand side of the keyboard and used for fast
entry of numeric data.

Function of Keyboard:

1. Alphanumeric Keyboards are used in CAD. (Computer Aided Drafting)

2. Keyboards are available with special features line screen co-ordinates entry,
Menu selection or graphics functions, etc.

3. Special purpose keyboards are available having buttons, dials, and switches. Dials
are used to enter scalar values. Dials also enter real numbers. Buttons and switches
are used to enter predefined function values.

Advanta
ge:

1. Suitable for entering numeric data.

2. Function keys are a fast and effective method of using commands, with fewer errors.

Disadvanta
ge:
 1. Keyboard is not suitable for graphics input.

Mou
se:

A Mouse is a pointing device and used to position the pointer on the screen. It is a small palm
size box. There are two or three depression switches on the top. The movement of the mouse
along the x-axis helps in the horizontal movement of the cursor and the movement along the y-
axis helps in the vertical movement of the cursor on the screen. The mouse cannot be used to
enter text. Therefore, they are used in conjunction with a
keyboard.

Advantage:

1. Easy to use
2. Not very expensive

Trackball

It is a pointing device. It is similar to a mouse. This is mainly used in notebook or

laptop computer, instead of a mouse. This is a ball which is half inserted, and by changing
fingers on the ball, the pointer can be moved.
Advantage:

1. Trackball is stationary, so it does not require much space to use it.

2. Compact Size

Spaceball:

It is similar to trackball, but it can move in six directions where trackball can move
in two directions only. The movement is recorded by the strain gauge. Strain gauge is
applied with
pressure. It can be pushed and pulled in various directions. The ball has a diameter around 7.5

cm. The ball is mounted in the base using rollers. One-third of the ball is an inside box, the
rest is outside.

Applicatio
ns:

1. It is used for three-dimensional positioning of the object.

2. It is used to select various functions in the field of virtual reality.
3. It is applicable in CAD applications.
4. Animation is also done using spaceball.
 5. It is used in the area of simulation and modeling.

Joysti
ck:

A Joystick is also a pointing device which is used to change cursor position on a monitor
screen. Joystick is a stick having a spherical ball as its both lower and upper ends as shown in
fig. The lower spherical ball moves in a socket. The joystick can be changed in all four
directions. The function of a joystick is similar to that of the mouse. It is mainly used
in Computer Aided Designing (CAD) and playing computer games.

Light
Pen

Light Pen (similar to the pen) is a pointing device which is used to select a displayed menu
item or draw pictures on the monitor screen. It consists of a photocell and an optical system
placed in a small tube. When its tip is moved over the monitor screen, and pen button
is pressed, its

photocell sensing element detects the screen location and sends the corresponding signals to
the
C
P
U.
Us
es:

1. Light Pens can be used as input coordinate positions by providing

necessary arrangements.
2. If background color or intensity, a light pen can be used as a locator.
3. It is used as a standard pick device with many graphics system.
4. It can be used as stroke input devices.
5. It can be used as valuators

Digitize
rs:

The digitizer is an operator input device, which contains a large, smooth board (the appearance
is similar to the mechanical drawing board) & an electronic tracking device, which can be
changed over the surface to follow existing lines. The electronic tracking device contains a
switch for the user to record the desire x & y coordinate positions. The coordinates can
be entered into the
computer memory or stored or an off-line storage medium such as magnetic
tape.
Advantages:

1. Drawing can easily be changed.

2. It provides the capability of interactive

graphics. Disadvantages:

1. Costly
2. Suitable only for applications which required high-resolution graphics.

Touch
Panels:

Touch Panels is a type of display screen that has a touch-sensitive transparent panel covering
the screen. A touch screen registers input when a finger or other object comes in contact with
the screen.

When the wave signals are interrupted by some contact with the screen, that located is
recorded. Touch screens have long been used in military applications.
Voice Systems (Voice
Recognition):

Voice Recognition is one of the newest, most complex input techniques used to interact with
the computer. The user inputs data by speaking into a microphone. The simplest form
of voice recognition is a one-word command spoken by one person. Each command is
isolated with pauses between the words.

Voice Recognition is used in some graphics workstations as input devices to accept

voice commands. The voice-system input can be used to initiate graphics operations or to enter
data. These systems operate by matching an input against a predefined dictionary of
words and phrases.

Advanta
ge:

1. More efficient device.

2. Easy to use
3. Unauthorized speakers can be identified

Disadvantag
es:
 1. Very limited vocabulary
2. Voice of different operators can't be distinguished.

Image Scanner

It is an input device. The data or text is written on paper. The paper is feeded to scanner.
The paper written information is converted into electronic format; this format is stored in
the computer. The input documents can contain text, handwritten material, picture extra.

By storing the document in a computer document became safe for longer period of time. The
document will be permanently stored for the future. We can change the document when we
need. The document can be printed when needed.

Scanning can be of the black and white or colored picture. On stored picture 2D or 3D
rotations, scaling and other operations can be applied.

Types of image Scanner:

1. Flat Bed Scanner: It resembles a photocopy machine. It has a glass top on its top. Glass top
in further covered using a lid. The document to be scanned is kept on glass plate. The light is
passed underneath side of glass plate. The light is moved left to right. The scanning is done the
line by line. The process is repeated until the complete line is scanned. Within 20-25 seconds a
document of 4" * 6" can be scanned.

2. Hand Held Scanner: It has a number of LED's (Light Emitting Diodes) the LED's
are arranged in the small case. It is called a Hand held Scanner because it can be kept in hand
which performs scanning. For scanning the scanner is moved over document from the top
towards the bottom. Its light is on, while we move it on document. It is dragged very slowly
over document. If dragging of the scanner over the document is not proper, the conversion
will not correct.

OutputDevice
s

Itisanelectromechanicaldevice,whichacceptsdatafromacomputerandtranslatesthemintoformunderstandby users.

FollowingareOutputDevic
es:

1. Printers
2. Plotters

Printe
rs:

Printer is the most important output device, which is used to print data on
paper.
Types of Printers: There are many types of printers which are classified on various criteria
as shown in fig:

1. Impact Printers: The printers that print the characters by striking against the ribbon and
onto the papers are known as Impact Printers.

These Printers are of two

types:

1. Character Printers
2. Line Printers

2. Non-Impact Printers: The printers that print the characters without striking against
the ribbon and onto the papers are called Non-Impact Printers. These printers print a complete
page at a time, therefore, also known as Page Printers.

Page Printers are of two

types:

1. Laser Printers
2. Inkjet Printers
Dot Matrix
Printers:

Dot matrix has printed in the form of dots. A printer has a head which contains nine pins. The
nine pins are arranged one below other. Each pin can be activated independently. All or only
the same needles are activated at a time. When needless is not activated, and then the tip of
needle stay in the head. When pin work, it comes out of the print head. In nine pin
printer, pins are arranged in 5 * 7 matrixes.

Advanta
ge:

1. Dot Matrix Printers prints output as dots, so it can print any shape of the character.
This allows the printer to print special character, charts, graphs, etc.
2. Dot Matrix Printers come under the category of impact printers. The printing is
done when the hammer pin strikes the inked ribbon. The impressions are printed on
paper. By placing multiple copies of carbon, multiple copies of output can be
produced.
3. It is suitable for printing of invoices of companies.

Daisy Wheel
Printers:

Head is lying on a wheel and Pins corresponding to characters are like petals of Daisy, that's
why called Daisy wheel printer.
Advantage:

1. More reliable than DMPs

2. Better Quality

Disadvanta
ge:

1. Slower than DMPs

Drum
Printers:

These are line printers, which prints one line at a time. It consists of a drum. The shape of the
drum is cylindrical. The drum is solid and has characters embossed on it in the form of vertical
bands. The characters are in circular form. Each band consists of some characters. Each line
on drum consists of 132 characters. Because there are 96 lines so total characters are (132 *
95) =
12, 672.Drum contains a number of hammers
also.

Chain
Printers:
These are called as line printers. These are used to print one line at a line. Basically,
chain consists of links. Each link contains one character. Printers can follow any character set
style,
i.e., 48, 64 or 96 characters. Printer consists of a number of hammers
also.

Advantag
es:

1. Chain or Band if damaged can be changed easily.

2. It allows printing of different form.
3. Different Scripts can be printed using this printer.

Disadvantag
es:

1. It cannot print charts and graphs.

2. It cannot print characters of any shape.
3. Chain Printers is impact printer, hammer strikes so it is noisy.

Non-Impact

Printers: Inkjet

Printers:

These printers use a special link called electrostatic ink. The printer head has a special nozzle.
Nozzle drops ink on paper. Head contains up to 64 nozzles. The ink dropped is deflected by
the electrostatic plate. The plate is fixed outside the nozzle. The deflected ink settles on paper.
Advantag
es:

1. These produce high quality of output as compared to the dot matrix.

2. A high-quality output can be produced using 64 nozzles printed.
3. Inkjet can print characters in a variety of shapes.
4. Inkjet can print special characters.
5. The printer can print graphs and charts.

Disadvantag
es:
1. Inkjet Printers are slower than dot matrix printers.
2. The cost of inkjet is more than a dot matrix printer.

Laser
Printers:

These are non-impact page printers. They use laser lights to produces the dots needed to form
the characters to be printed on a page & hence the name laser printers.

The output is generated in the following

steps:
Step1: The bits of data sent by processing unit act as triggers to turn the laser beam on &
off.

Step2: The output device has a drum which is cleared & is given a positive electric charge. To
print a page the modulated laser beam passing from the laser scans back & forth the surface of
the drum. The positive electric charge on the drum is stored on just those parts of the
drum surface which are exposed to the laser beam create the difference in electric which
charges on the
exposed drum
surface.

Step3: The laser exposed parts of the drum attract an ink powder known as toner.

Step4: The attracted ink powder is transferred to paper.

Step5: The ink particles are permanently fixed to the paper by using either heat or
pressure technique.

Step6: The drum rotates back to the cleaner where a rubber blade cleans off the excess ink &
prepares the drum to print the next page.

Plotters

Plotters are a special type of output device. It is suitable for applications:

1. Architectural plan of the building.

2. CAD applications like the design of mechanical components of aircraft.
3. Many engineering applications.

Advantage:

1. It can produce high-quality output on large sheets.

2. It is used to provide the high precision drawing.
3. It can produce graphics of various sizes.
4. The speed of producing output is high.

Drum
Plotter:
It consists of a drum. Paper on which design is made is kept on the drum. The drum can rotate
in both directions. Plotters comprised of one or more pen and penholders. The holders are
mounted perpendicular to drum surface. The pens are kept in the holder, which can move left
to the right
as well as right to the left. The graph plotting program controls the movement of pen and
drum.

Flatbed
Plotter:

It is used to draw complex design and graphs, charts. The Flatbed plotter can be kept over the
table. The plotter consists of pen and holder. The pen can draw characters of various sizes.
There can be one or more pens and pen holding mechanism. Each pen has ink of
different color. Different colors help to produce multicolor design of document. The
area of plotting is also variable. It can vary A4 to 21'*52'.
It is used to
draw

1. Cars
2. Ships
3. Airplanes
4. Shoe and dress designing
5. Road and highway design

Graphics
Software:

There are two types of Graphics

Software.

1. General Purpose Packages: Basic Functions in a general package include

those for generating picture components (straight lines, polygons, circles and other figures),
setting color
and intensity values, selecting views, and applying
transformations.

Example of general purpose package is the GL (Graphics Library), GKS, PHIGS, PHIGS+ etc.

2. Special Purpose Packages: These packages are designed for non programmers, so that
these users can use the graphics packages, without knowing the inner details.

Example of special purpose package is

1. Painting programs
2. Package used for business purpose
3. Package used for medical systems.
4. CAD packages