Task 3: How 3D Models are Displayed

API
API (Application programming interface) is what tells different softwares just how to react to each other and work with each other,
not only that but it enables some computers to show graphics such as pictures and videos, in many cases it comes in the form of a kind of library and holds specific specifications for things like routines, data structures, object classes and variables, its basically the main controller or processor, everything you do in a programm, game or a picture, it all has to go through the 'Application Programming Interface' before its shown on the screen (monitor).



''In addition to accessing databases or computer hardware, such as hard disk drives or video cards, an API can be used to ease the work of programming graphical user interface components. In practice, many times an API comes in the form of a library that includes specifications for routines, data structures, object classes, and variables. In some other cases, notably for SOAP and REST services, an API comes as just a specification of remote calls exposed to the API consumers.''

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_programming_interface


Sub Objects
Vertices
vertices are basically the co-ordinates for the shape in the space you are drawing, complete zero for each one would put it in the dead center of the drawing feild, there are 3 co-ordinates, X, Y and Z, each one acounting for how far forward, how far to the side and how high it goes.

Lines
lines are straight and they connect the vertices together and hold it, without them there would be no shape at all

Curves
curves are also sort of lines only because they curve they are classified as diffeertn but you need there in order to make circles or spheres, if you look closely you could see that they actually made up off lots of straight lines at different angles.

Edges
edges are the lines at the end of the shape, say if there was a cube then the 12 lines that made up that shape would be the edges, and all the other lines running through the faces would just be lines

Polygons
polygones are the name for the faces in a conjoined manner, such as the amount of different faces that have been made when lines close off a shape and make a face.

Elements
basically this means things like fire, water, wind, ect, all sorts of things that can make a scenic background that you've created look more realistic if you had say a lake of water or some wind in the trees.

Faces
faces are the flat plains made when several lines or curves close off on themselves and form a shape, this is what fills that shape and makes it non-see-through. they can bend and contort to match the shape the lines and curves set out for it,

Graphics Pipeline
the graphics pipeline is what turns the 3D model you have created into what the computer displays, coinciding with the 'Application Programming Interface'