Microcomputer Graphics

Preface
Aristotle dre\V figures in the sand. Leonardo Da Vinci illustrated his
studies of anatomy and engineering with ink drawings. Young children
can express their emotions and ideas with pencil or crayon drawings
before they can do so verbally. Whatever the medium, the value of
visual images has long been recognized. "A picture is worth a thousand
words.''
Now, at a time when computers are controlling the functions of
automobiles, stereo sound systems, and space satellites, it would be surprising
if computers were not used in the development and display of
graphic images. Applications of computer graphics range from video
games, to computer assisted design, to the display of images received
from Voyager 2 as it passed by Saturn.
Work in computer graphics began in the 1950s. While major advances
have been made since then, few people have been able to use
computer graphics. For years the cost of equipment has kept graphics
out of reach of most computer users. But now a new day has arrived. A
microcomputer graphics system can be purchased for a few thousand
dollars. Businesses, educational institutions, and individuals are finding
that computer graphics is accessible, and that it can be useful, interesting,
challenging, and fun.
While the graphics systems associated with low-cost microcomputers
are far from the state of the art, they provide reasonable images
in a reasonable time for a programmer of modest talents. More sophisticated
graphics systems have capabilities which microcomputers do not
provide. In order to achieve quality images, the microcomputer programmer
must compensate for the limitations of the graphics hardware
and the graphics language.
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