Graphics from the Ancient Greek graphikos ‘pertaining to drawing, painting or writing’ are visual designs on a surface such as paper or canvas that inform, educate and entertain. Graphics can be made using a variety of media and techniques, including drawing, painting and photography. Main Graphics can also be created on a computer using software programs. Computer graphics are often used in the fields of art, science and technology, and education.
In the earliest days of computers, people started to use them for graphic design and illustration. In 1963, engineer E.E. Zajac produced a computer-generated film illustrating how the attitude of a satellite could be altered while it orbits the Earth. The graphical design of the film was influential in promoting the use of computers as design tools for graphic designers.
Computer graphics became more popular in the 1970s as home computers began to become more powerful and could be programmed to draw a variety of shapes and designs. The graphic design style of this period was influenced by the Swiss schools of design, which stressed simplicity and legibility. It is this design style that gave rise to many logos and icons that we see today.
3D computer graphics became more popular in the 1990s as video games and animation became more sophisticated. The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter films and Spider-Man are just a few examples of popular movies that utilize computer graphics. The art of motion graphics also became more popular in the 1990s, thanks to designers such as Saul Bass and Pablo Ferro. Their work was a departure from the traditional, rigid design principles of earlier periods and offered more creative alternatives.
The development of digital imaging technology has allowed for the creation of new types of graphics that were not possible before, such as computer-generated films and holography. These technologies are often referred to as digital graphics and they are used in a wide variety of applications, including computer animation, virtual reality and augmented reality.
A main aspect of both VR and AR are the graphics. These graphics help to create realistic and immersive environments for users. Detailed three dimensional (3D) models, textures and lighting can all contribute to the sense of realism in VR and AR environments.
Performing many tasks at the same time, such as rendering shapes, textures and lighting in a game, requires a high-performance graphics processor. These processors are called GPUs and they are much more powerful than the cores found in a standard CPU. A GPU has a number of cores, which are the pathways of billions of microscopic transistors, that perform these tasks.
Some of the main aspects of the Graphics industry include Dark mode – the rise of dark interfaces that offer an alternative visual style and reduce eye strain; Grunge – the use of dirty textures, torn or broken elements and other rough designs in graphic design; Abstract and Surreal – the use of unusual shapes, colors and forms in a design; Text-based – the emergence of large, bold typography as a key element in contemporary graphic design; and Motion – the use of moving images in graphic designs.