Asterios Papadimitriou said
The "Computer Graphics for Java Programmers" book
is excellent for learning the theory and the mathematics underlying computer
graphics. The algorithms are presented very clearly and the reader can trace and
understand the underlying mathematics.
I strongly recommend it, both for academic use at the context of a computer graphics
course and for self-study.
From the point of view of a Computer Science text, is excellent,
and it should take 5 stars.
However, I gave it 4 stars, since I think that from the point of view of a Java
Graphics book, although it is very good, it needs some improvements to take better coverage of the recent Java Graphics frameworks, e.g. Java2D, Java3D, Java Advanced Imaging.
JH said
pretty intense and math heavy, not for beginners. interesting graphics problems though. this book discusses important issues that most other books seem to skip.
John Elway said
I don't know if the other reviewers read the same book as I did, I think I was tricked by the bookstore and given the wrong book as a cruel joke.
So, let me tell you the reasons why this book was given 1 star:
1) If you a native spaker of the English language, you won't understand this book. Chapter 5 starts out with, "We now turn to the exciting subject of 3D graphics." Who writes like that anymore? The English in this book is very difficult to understand. The author repeatedly states the same piece of information over and over again in different words. At times you begin to wonder if the author is just trying to fill the pages. It's very apparent that English is not the author's first, second, third, forth, or fifth language. After reading the first several pages, one might conclude that perhaps author had the proof reading and translation assistance of a poorly trained monkey.
2) The author has a bad habit of putting words in quotes expecting the reader to know what they mean. Example is on page 112 with 'superpixels'. Any person who has ever taken a technical communications class knows that one should never assume the audience to know topic specific words. If you look up 'superpixel(s)' in the index, it lists 112. Great.
The Pros:
While this book greatly frustrates me, it isn't all bad. The concepts that the author presents are coherent. His execution could use work.
Conspiracy Theory:
This book is not worth the price they charge for it. This is one of those cases where the publishing company and the universities got together and decided to create a textbook. Anytime this happens, they also agree to rip-off the students as much as possible.
One day someone will compile a list of books that aren't worth their weight in coconut shavings, because the publisher and universities were greedy, and this book will rank top 5 of that list.
If you're a student and you're going to fail the class if you don't buy this book - try to get it used.
If you're interested in learning about computer graphics, I cannot recommend this book to you. If you are thinking about buy this book, Jonathan Swift recommends you attempt to steal it first and get arrested. The time that you spend sitting in a cell will give you an opportunity to ponder about something meaningful. Or spend your energies being angry at something else other then this book.
Simeon H. K. Fitch said
Although providing nice code examples and clearly explaining the mathemantics of standard computer graphics algorithms, its ~270 (paperback) pages do not cover the scope or detail of the ~1100 (hardcover) pages in "Computer Graphics" by Foley, van Damm, et al., which costs roughly the same amount. John Wiley & Sons needs to be brought to task on the pricing issue, as the high price really shadows the real value (and business opportinity) of the book. My conspiracy theory is that the publisher is aiming to market it as a text book where students can't counter being ripped off by a publisher endorced by a professor or university.
Mahmoud Badreddine said
That book was really worth every Penny. I hope Leen Ammeraal (author) continues the tradition in writing such comprehensive textbooks that are generous with information as well as code. If you're taking an introductory course in Computer Graphics and you've already taken an introductory course in JAVA , then that is all you need to optimize your use of this book. Once again, worth every penny.
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