Touch Computer Graphics

Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer.

 

What is Shader?

A shader is a small program or set of algorithms that determines how 3-D surface properties of objects are rendered, and how light interacts with the object within a 3-D computer program. NewerGPUs calculate shaders where previously it was an algorithm calculated by the CPU.

Shaders are simple programs that describe the traits of either a vertex or a pixel. Vertex shaders describe the traits (position, texture coordinates, colors, etc.) of a vertex, while pixel shaders describe the traits (color, z depth and alpha value) of a pixel.

As the major graphic software library: OpenGL, DirectX 3D, they provide three type shaders: vertex, pixel and geometry shader.

More detail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shader

 

What is rendering?

Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model, by means of computer programs. The model is a description of three-dimensional objects in a strictly defined language or data structure. It would contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting, and shading information.

 

What is Shading?

In computer graphics, Shading refers to the process of altering a color based on its angle to lights and its distance from lights to create a photorealistic effect. Shading is performed during the rendering process.

 

What is RenderMonkey?

It's a shader development IDE.