Software rendering for newbies (???)
Author
Hello...
I was wondering, what things must somebody know in case to write a simple software rasterizer, and where somebody can find such info?
I searched the net for thing like "software rendering" or "software rasterization", but i couldn''t find something complete. I can say that i understand the basics like transformations etc., but when i comes to polygon filling and z-buffering it becomes a little confusing.
Can somebody suggest tutorials or articles for getting started with those things? Or at least discribe the steps required to display a triangle onto a custom buffer.
Thanks in advance for any tip.
HellRaiZer
PS. Sorry for posting newbies question in this forum but that kind of questions fits here i think!
Here''s the best start for practical rasterization: Perspective Texture Mapping. But I -highly- recommend to first learn how to draw lines, and then work with 3D wireframe models. Then you can write a clipper, which is the hardest part of a software renderer when you start.
Don''t take software rendering too lightly. It means you have to learn and understand in-depth the principles behind all the things normally done by the hardware, driver and API for you! Honestly, it''s not a newbie thing, and it will take you more than a year to get a decently performing basic software renderer that doesn''t have any artifacts...
Don''t take software rendering too lightly. It means you have to learn and understand in-depth the principles behind all the things normally done by the hardware, driver and API for you! Honestly, it''s not a newbie thing, and it will take you more than a year to get a decently performing basic software renderer that doesn''t have any artifacts...
Well, out of curiosity I ordered a copy of LaMothe''s new book, something like "Trick of the Game Programming Guru''s - Advanced 3d rasterization". From what I have heard it consolidates the information on software rasterizers and seems well respected for a new title.
I wrote one years ago that I''ve been going through seeing just how I did it, it was under Watcom/Dos4gw flat shaded, n-gon 3d renderer, so was pretty old and I''m sure there are better algos than what I used. If I remember right it used VESA and could render 1024x768 with about 50 polys at 30+ fps on a 386-33. I might update it just to see what a 2.4Ghz can do with it.
More of a curiousity for me though as I still think OpenGL/DirectX is way easier, but it is nice to know the basics.
I wrote one years ago that I''ve been going through seeing just how I did it, it was under Watcom/Dos4gw flat shaded, n-gon 3d renderer, so was pretty old and I''m sure there are better algos than what I used. If I remember right it used VESA and could render 1024x768 with about 50 polys at 30+ fps on a 386-33. I might update it just to see what a 2.4Ghz can do with it.
More of a curiousity for me though as I still think OpenGL/DirectX is way easier, but it is nice to know the basics.
I''ve not seen LaMothe''s new book yet, but I''ve read good things about it (typical dribble from LaMothe-bashers aside). I''ve heard the big sample app he provides runs quite well. I''ve never built a software renderer, so I''m pretty sure I''ll be getting that book in the near future.
Author
Thanks for the link C0D1F1ED.
I don''t think software rendering is for newbies. You misunderstood me
What i mean is, i''m a newbie and i want to start somehow.
About drawing wireframe models (this is perspective lines), i gave it a shot yesterday, but there are some problems. Like the model gets stretched when you look at it from different angles, etc. Where can i find that kind of info to read about?
Because i work with OGL, my target make a system similar to this. And i don''t mean vertex shaders and fragment programs. Don''t get me wrong again. I mean a system that can be integrated to my existing code easily. For example, OGL sets the projection matrix through glFrustum (or gluPerspective). I want to be able to do the same thing for my rasterizer. This is just an example.
Any more links and tuts?
HellRaiZer
I don''t think software rendering is for newbies. You misunderstood me
What i mean is, i''m a newbie and i want to start somehow.About drawing wireframe models (this is perspective lines), i gave it a shot yesterday, but there are some problems. Like the model gets stretched when you look at it from different angles, etc. Where can i find that kind of info to read about?
Because i work with OGL, my target make a system similar to this. And i don''t mean vertex shaders and fragment programs. Don''t get me wrong again. I mean a system that can be integrated to my existing code easily. For example, OGL sets the projection matrix through glFrustum (or gluPerspective). I want to be able to do the same thing for my rasterizer. This is just an example.
Any more links and tuts?
HellRaiZer
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