Learn about OpenGL

What is OpenGL?

According to the IT definition, OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a graphic technical standard formed with the purpose of defining an application programming interface (API) in three dimensions.Before OpenGL appears, any company that wants to develop a graphics application often has to rewrite its graphics to suit each operating system platform and graphics hardware.With OpenGL, an application can create similar effects in any operating system that uses OpenGL graphics adapters.It can be said that OpenGL is like a standalone graphical language and is compatible with all platforms, all types of computers, even on computers that do not support high-end graphics.

OpenGL specifies a set of "commands" or functions that must be executed immediately.In it each command is in charge of a certain action of drawing or creating special effects.A list of such commands can be created to create OpenGL repetitive effects independent of the characteristics of each operating system, but providespecial"glue" procedures for each operating system. This allows OpenGL to work in that system environment.

OpenGL contains a large number of designated and required integration features through APIs, including hidden surface removal, alpha mixing, anti-aliasing, smoothing, pixel calculations, tracking and variable Modify models, and effects on the air (fog, smoke and haze).

Silicon Graphics, a world-class graphics workstation manufacturer, is a pioneer in OpenGL development.Followed by other companies in the Architecture Review Board include DEC, Intel, IBM, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems.There is no cost (besides learning) for developing an application that uses OpenGL API.In addition, Microsoft provides OpenGL libraries that allow users to download for free on their Windows systems.

The effect of OpenGL

In summary, OpenGL is designed to satisfy the following main purposes:

- Simplify interaction between 3D space models with a unified programming interface.

- Maximize the functionality of OpenGL interface by forcing different 3D hardware to be compatible.Even if hardware cannot be fully supported, OpenGL may require the system to use additional software power to process.

- OpenGL standards receive geometric principles such as points, lines and polygons, and then convert them into graphical points (pixels) on the screen.This process is done through the graphics pipeline.Another name for OpenGL is also shared by the technical community, which is an OpenGL state machine.

See more:

1. Display the actual size for the drawing in Corel
2. The difference in the Color Profile mode of the photos
3. Easily convert from 2D images to 3D