Display Method
Quick Review
Classification
Pixel
Resolution
Aspect Ratio
True Color
Color Depth
Display Method
Procedure of creating an image on the screen.
Raster Scan
Random Scan
Raster Scan
CRT
Raster Scan
CRT
Raster Scan
The electron beam excites each pixel on the
screen from left to right and top to bottom.
Raster Scan
Raster Scan
Raster Scan Graphics Storage
Refresh/Frame buffer:
Memory area that holds the set of intensity values for
all the pixels.
Stored intensity values are then retrieved from the
refresh buffer and “painted” on the screen.
Raster Scan
3 beams (each for R,G and B) move from the top
left corner to the bottom right corner
Since phosphor is illuminated for a short period
of time,
Refreshing is usually done 60 times/sec
(60 Hz).
Also called refresh rate.
Raster Scan
Refresh/Frame buffer:
Random Scan
The electron beam directed only to the parts of
the screen where a picture is to be drawn.
Draws a picture one line at a time.
Picture Definition is stored as a Line-Drawing
Commands in an area of memory called display
buffer/list (Random Scan Graphics Storage).
The component lines of a picture can be drawn
and refreshed.
Random Scan
Also called vector drawing.
Random Scan
Raster Scan vs Random Scan
Raster Scan vs Random Scan
Raster Scan vs Random Scan
Raster Scan vs Random Scan
Raster Scan Random Scan
Resolution Lower Higher
Electron-Beam Covers whole screen Covers only part of screen
Operation Cost less expensive Costlier
Refresh Rate 60 to 80 30 to 60
Picture Definition Stored as values Stored as line commands
Realism in More realistic Less realistic
display
Application Suitable where whole Suitable where small part
screen is utilized of screen is utilized
Raster Scan Display System
Video Controller or Display Controller, is used to
control the operation of the display device such
as refreshing the screen.
Raster Scan Display System
A fixed area of the system memory is reserved for
the frame buffer.
Video controller is given direct access to the
frame buffer.
Display Processor
Graphics system requires a lot of processing.
If done on CPU, it makes system slow.
A separate processor to deal with graphics
complexity.
Called display processor.
Raster Scan Display System
Works: Display Processor
Calculating the intensity values for pixels
corresponding to an image definition.
Deciding pixel positions.
Digitization process is called Scan Conversion.
Generating various styles (dashed, dotted, etc.)
Many more.
Display Processor
Translation of graphics command stored in
display file.
Fetching of instructions
Decoding
Execution
Refreshing (running the same set of commands
again)
Random Scan Display Processor
Character Generators
Challenges:
Font Type (Typefaces)
1. Serif
2. Sans Serif
Font Size
Bold
Italics
Character Generators
Character Generators
Two generation techniques:
1. Bitmap method
2. Outline method
Bitmap Font
Also called Raster Font.
Simpler
Corresponding bits are stored
in frame buffer.
Require more space
Good for sans serif
Outline Font
Also called Stroke Font.
Straight lines and curves are
used.
More complex.
Require less space
Good for serif
Color Display Techniques
Color Display Techniques
How to produce colors on the screen?
1. Beam penetration method
2. Shadow-Mask method
Beam penetration method
Screen has layers of different colored phosphors.
Emitted color depends on how far the electron
beam penetrates into the phosphor layers.
A typical setting has two phosphor layers: red
and green.
Beam penetration method
Slow electrons excites only the outer red layer.
Very fast electrons excites the inner green layer.
At Intermediate level: orange and yellow.
Beam penetration method
Inexpensive.
Only limited number of colors.
Quality of image not good.
Primarily used in Random Scan systems.
Shadow Mask Method
Screen is filled with phosphor dots.
Three phosphor color dots (RGB) at each pixel
position.
Three electron guns.
Shadow Mask Method
Shadow Mask Method
Shadow Mask Method
Light emitted from the three phosphors results in
a small spot of color at each pixel position.
To accurately excite the corresponding phosphor
of RGB triad at a pixel position, a fine metal sheet
having holes is used before the screen, called
shadow mask.
Shadow Mask Method
Shadow Mask Method
When the three beams pass through a hole in the
shadow mask, they activate a dot triangle, which
appears as a small color spot on the screen.
The phosphor dots in the triangles are arranged
so that each electron beam can activate only its
corresponding color dot when it passes through
the shadow mask.
Shadow Mask Method
More expensive.
Different intensity of beams means different
colors.
Millions of colors.
Good quality image.
Used in Raster Scan systems.
Beam Penetration vs. Shadow Mask
Beam Penetration Shadow Mask
Usage Random Scan Raster Scan
Colors limited Millions
Cost less expensive Costlier
Picture quality Not good good
Resolution higher lower
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