
Computer graphics
by John F. Hughes · first published 2014
14mentions
11recommended by
13HN commenters
2010–2023first – last mentioned
85% recommend15% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Widely cited as the canonical general reference on computer graphics, it is a solid starting point for graphics programmers and students wanting broad, thorough coverage.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.







…a book discussing the most important design patterns in game design. Good book applicable beyond games. # Game engine architecture https://www.amazon.com/Engine-Architecture-Second-Jason-Greg... # Computer graphics: Principles and Practice https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Graphics-Principles-Practice... This is more of college textbook if you'd prefer that but the WebGL one is more accessible and less dry. # Physically…
on “A trip down the League of Legends graphics pipeline” ↗…(I mean the best optimizer is between your ears is worth a book in itself!) Bur for graphics programming, Foley and Van Damm is probably the canonical text - now in 3rd edition. http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Graphics-Principles-Practice-...
on “Markdown source for Michael Abrash's Graphics Programming Black Book” ↗Computer Graphics: [1a, 1b, 1c] Computer Graphics, Principles and Practice Series [2] Physically Based Rendering [3] Real Time Rendering --- [1a] https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Graphics-Principles-James-Fo... [1b]…
on “Ask HN: What are the best textbooks in your field of expertise?” ↗The book you want is called within the graphics industry "Foley Van Dam", after the original authors, but the actual title is "Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice". https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Graphics-Principles-Practice... You may also be interested in "ACM: Transactions on Graphics", the Association of Computing Machinery's publication…
on “Premultiplied alpha vs. not-premultiplied alpha blending and compositing” ↗Way back in the day I read either the 1st or 2nd edition of this book: https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Graphics-Principles-Practice... It's a classic in the computer graphics field, like Knuth is for algorithms. I'd recommend it alongside the OP's new book. EDIT: But for anyone who is reading this wanting to…
on “Computer Graphics from Scratch” ↗…http://duriansoftware.com/joe/An-intro-to-modern-OpenGL.-Tab... Also: http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596804831 And then personally I've found this to be the clearest theory: http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Graphics-Principles-Practice-...
on “Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?” ↗…Toronto, say, for an indie game jam (http://www.tojam.ca/home/default.asp hint hint), you can buy me a beer ;) If you're looking for something lower level, the book you probably want is the white book - Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice. I have the 2nd edition from 1992, which is the still the standard intro graphics textbook for many CS departments. Though Amazon says there will be a 3rd edition coming out at…
on “Gorgeous Unreal Engine 4 brings direct programming, indirect lighting” ↗…https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Tracing-Kaufmann-Compute... Real Time Rendering - This also covers all the math, but focuses on rendering at a higher level and covers more ground. https://www.amazon.com/Real-Time-Rendering-Third-Tomas-Akeni... Finally, Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice - This is a great general reference for more specific topics. It's like Real Time Rendering expanded to cover more topics and going into more depth. Not a beginner reference,…
on “Casual Introduction to Low-Level Graphics Programming” ↗I'd go with these two instead: Michael Abrash’s Graphics Programming Black Book http://www.jagregory.com/abrash-black-book/ Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice: Principles and Practices https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Graphics-Principles-Practi...
on “Bootstrap yourself to write an OS from scratch” ↗If you're willing to spend some money, the classical, https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Graphics-Principles-Practice... Don't be scared by the price, it tends to be available on many university libraries, and I guess some 2nd hand deals as well. So that could be a way to try to get hold of it. First…
on “Learning Modern 3D Graphics Programming” ↗K&R (yes, it's outdated now, but it is still a fine model for how to write a clear and concise textbook). SICP. Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice by Foley and van Dam (plus a bunch more authors now).
on “Ask HN: What are the most eye-opening textbooks you have ever read?” ↗…it's not my field and it's been advancing very rapidly of late. Again, someone else may have a better suggestion. 8) Graphics. I like Computer Animation: Algorithms and Techniques by Rick Parent. Also, Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice by some combination of Hughes, Foley, van Dam, et al. This is a more in-depth text (actually, it's a good reference book). In either case, you'll need a good background in linear…
on “Ask HN: How would you relearn programming?” ↗This is a solid list, but its a shame that no computer graphics resources are even mentioned. Although the reason for the omission is mentioned in the FAQ, I'd argue that computer graphics basics (images, basic rasterization, color spaces, etc.) are as fundamental…
on “Teach Yourself Computer Science” ↗…Programs - Harold Abelson, Gerald Jay Sussman, Julie Sussman (The MIT Press, 1996).pdf The Phenomenology of Spirit - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Terry Pinkard (Cambridge University Press, 2018).pdf Computer Graphics - Principles and Practice - John F. Hughes, Andries van Dam, Morgan McGuire, et al. (Addison-Wesley, 2014).pdf
on “Ask HN: How do you organize or rename PDF files (books, papers, etc)?” ↗