3Dlabs Wildcat II 5110, User Manual

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Terms and Definitions
3Dlabs Graphics Accelerator Card User's Guide
45
aáêÉÅíu aáêÉÅíu aáêÉÅíu aáêÉÅíu====
Microsoft’s APIs developed to access various system hardware.
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Microsoft’s API dedicated to 3D graphics, and a component of DirectX.
aáíÜÉêáåÖ aáíÜÉêáåÖ aáíÜÉêáåÖ aáíÜÉêáåÖ====
The process of converting an image with a certain bit depth to one with a lower bit depth. Dithering
enables the application to convert an image’s colors that it cannot display into two or more colors that
closely resemble the original. Dithering works because the mind is tricked by the pattern of colors into
thinking it’s a different color.
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With double-buffering, images are rendered in the back buffer and then displayed on the screen once the
drawing is completed. This results in the smooth, flicker-free rotation and animation of 3D models and
scenes.
aêáîÉê aêáîÉê aêáîÉê aêáîÉê====
A driver is a special interface program that is developed to perform the communication between the
application program, the device (i.e., graphics peripheral) and the operating system.
bsd^
bsd^ bsd^
bsd^====
Extended Video Graphics Array. EVGA runs at 1024 x 768.
cä~í=pÜ~ÇáåÖ cä~í=pÜ~ÇáåÖ cä~í=pÜ~ÇáåÖ cä~í=pÜ~ÇáåÖ====
The simplest method of shading. Each triangle is assigned one single color, resulting in a faceted
appearance of the surface.
cê~ãÉ=_ìÑÑÉê cê~ãÉ=_ìÑÑÉê cê~ãÉ=_ìÑÑÉê cê~ãÉ=_ìÑÑÉê====
A 24-bit, true-color frame buffer provides 8 bits for each red, green and blue primary display color. This
results in 16.8 million color combinations. A second, or double, buffer enables system to calculate pixels
one step ahead of the screen display for smooth, distortion free images.
d~ãã~ d~ãã~ d~ãã~ d~ãã~====
A curve representing both the contrast and brightness of an image. Changing the shape of the curve
changes the RGB color output. (Not to be confused with GLINT Gamma, the 3Dlabs geometry
processing device.)
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dÉçãÉíêó dÉçãÉíêó
dÉçãÉíêó====
The intermediate stage of the 3D pipeline, geometry determines the location of the object and the frame of
reference of the viewer in relation to the object.
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dçìê~ìÇ=pÜ~ÇáåÖ==== ====
This method of shading, more complex than flat shading, shows subtle color changes across an object.
Gouraud Shading is accomplished by adding pixels in a graduated scale of colors.
dê~éÜáÅë=^ÅÅÉäÉê~íçê=`~êÇ dê~éÜáÅë=^ÅÅÉäÉê~íçê=`~êÇ dê~éÜáÅë=^ÅÅÉäÉê~íçê=`~êÇ dê~éÜáÅë=^ÅÅÉäÉê~íçê=`~êÇ====
A graphics accelerator performs 3D functions in the hardware, thereby relieving the CPU of repetitive,
complex and intensive calls. This results in enhanced performance and speed.
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The API developed by Autodesk to work with its products, such as 3D Studio MAX and AutoCAD.