Introduction to Computer Graphics: Physics, Formats, and Compression

How does a computer translate physical light into digital pixels, and how do we store those images efficiently? For engineering students and tech enthusiasts, grasping the underlying physics and mathematics of digital media is essential to building modern software and hardware systems. This text-based course guides you from the fundamental behavior of light to the sophisticated algorithms that shrink image files without losing quality. By reading through these comprehensive lessons, you will build a solid technical foundation in digital imaging, enabling you to analyze graphics formats and select the right compression techniques for engineering applications. What you'll learn: • Understand the physical properties of light, human color perception, and color models like RGB and YCbCr. • Compare raster and vector graphics, identifying when to use each format in technical projects. • Analyze the inner workings of common image formats, including legacy standards and modern formats like WebP. • Apply fundamental compression concepts, distinguishing between lossless and lossy techniques. • Study key algorithms such as Run-Length Encoding (RLE), Huffman coding, and transform-based compression like JPEG. • Practice evaluating compression efficiency and image quality metrics. The course begins with the core physics of light and color perception, establishing a solid theoretical baseline. You will then progress to analyzing digital representations, file structures, and the mathematical algorithms used to compress visual data efficiently. This course is designed specifically for junior engineering students and beginners in computer science who want a deep, conceptual understanding of digital media. No prior background in graphics programming or advanced engineering is required. Start reading today to master the core principles of digital graphics and compression technology.