One of the main fields of application of computer graphics is the entertainment industry, in particular computer games and movies. It is assumed that the first film, which began to use computer graphics was the Throne, and the first feature-length film created completely using computer was Toy Story.

Milestones:

• 1982: First completely computer-generated sequence (the „Genesis sequence” in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
• 1985: First completely computer-generated character, the „stained glass man” in Young Sherlock Holmes
• 1988: First morphing sequence, in Willow
• 1989: First computer-generated 3-D character, the pseudopod in The Abyss
• 1991: First partially computer-generated main character, the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
• 1992: First time the texture of human skin was computer generated, in Death Becomes Her
• 1993: First time digital technology used to create a complete and detailed living creature, the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park
• 1995: First computer-generated photo-realistic hair and fur (used for the digital lion and monkeys) in Jumanji
• 1996: First completely computer-generated main character, Draco in Dragonheart
• 1999: First computer generated character to have a full human anatomy (done by being built from the inside out), Imhotep in The Mummy
• 2003: Used most extensive projects and animation techniques yet to create a large, human-like, green monster in Hulk
• 2006: Develops „iMocap” system, which uses computer vision techniques to track live-action performers on set. Used in the creation of Davy Jones and ship’s crew in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
• 2011: Produces its first animated feature film, Rango.

Dragonheart

Interesting
A 3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception. Stereoscopic motion pictures can be produced through a variety of different methods:

anaglyph - the two images are superimposed in an additive light setting through two filters, one red and one cyan. In a subtractive light setting, the two images are printed in the same complementary colors on white paper. Glasses with colored filters in each eye separate the appropriate images by canceling the filter color out and rendering the complementary color black.

polarization system - two images are projected superimposed onto the same screen through different polarizing filters. The viewer wears low-cost eyeglasses which also contain a pair of polarizing filters oriented differently,

eclipse method - a shutter blocks light from each appropriate eye when the converse eye's image is projected on the screen. The projector alternates between left and right images, and opens and closes the shutters in the glasses or viewer in synchronization with the images on the screen.

Graphics engines

A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. The leading game engines provide a software framework that developers use to create games for video game consoles and personal computers. Examples of graphics engine are OGRE, Crystal Space and Unity 3D.

Interesting...
Australian company Euclideon says she managed to create a graphics engine, which is 100 000 times faster than today's engines. All this is due to change in the design of models and 3D objects.


Summary

The entertainment industry is a very rapidly developing area which requires more and more excellent visualization.