What makes OpenGL right handed?

GaryNas · 2010-04-10T09:40:02

I often hear OpenGL referred to as using a right handed coordinate system, but I'm a little unclear as to the precise reason why this is so. Sure, the gluXXX helper functions operate in a right handed system, but what specifically about OpenGL makes it right handed?

Graphics and GPU Programming Programming OpenGL

Started by GaryNas March 25, 2010 06:11 AM

62 comments, last by szecs 14 years ago

Zakwayda

2,389

April 10, 2010 12:33 AM

Ha - the thread is back! :)

Quote:Is your projection matrix slightly different between OpenGL and Direct3D?

Yup, that's exactly right. The projection matrices (both the right-handed and left-handed versions) are the same for the two APIs except for a couple of elements that are computed differently due to the differing canonical view volumes.

_Camus_

138

April 10, 2010 05:18 AM

Opengl fixed pipeline is dead, now all is made on vertex/fragment programs, also Directx, right handed or left handed depends on your projection matrix ONLY, you could use the same in both APIs.

Progress

Zakwayda

2,389

April 10, 2010 09:18 AM

Quote:Opengl fixed pipeline is dead, now all is made on vertex/fragment programs, also Directx, right handed or left handed depends on your projection matrix ONLY, you could use the same in both APIs.

Well, yes, that was kind of the whole point of the thread :)