Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
A design ile (right) electronically describes the physical object to be printed (left) and
guides the printer through its paces
A computer-based design ile captures the shape of physical objects using
sets of x, y and z coordinates. When describing the shape of a simple block, it
is suficient to specify its height, width, and depth. But when describing the
shape of a more complex shape, such as a lower, say, things can get much
more complicated. Computers model the shape of such “general” three-
dimensional physical objects as sets of thousands, even millions of trios of
x, y, and z coordinates.
When design software shows its user a design object on the computer
screen, behind the scenes the computer's processor is working hard calcu-
lating mathematical equations that generate the appropriate image. Each
time a user clicks on the design in progress or stretches its edges with the
mouse, the computer is rapidly running a series of calculations to adjust the
object's x, y, and z coordinates.
