Transformation in Computer Graphics

Transformation in Computer Graphics is utilized to modify the position, orientation, or size of

objects within a graphical scene. By employing mathematical operations, vertices or points in a
3D or 2D space are manipulated to achieve the desired changes.

In this article, we cover Transformation in Computer Graphics explaining 2d Transformation,

rotation, translation, scaling, reflection, shearing and the difference between 2d and 3d
Transformation.

What is 2d Transformation in Computer Graphics?

2d Transformation in Computer Graphics is utilized to modify the position, orientation, or size
of objects within a two-dimensional space. These transformations involve applying
mathematical operations to the coordinates of points or vertices in order to achieve the desired
changes.

These transformations can be applied in a sequence to achieve more complex effects. For
example, a combination of translation, rotation, and scaling operations can be used to animate
an object's movement, rotation, and resizing in a 2D animation.

The various 2d Transformation in Computer Graphics examples include object manipulation,

computer-aided design (CAD), image processing, and graphical user interfaces (GUIs). By
manipulating the position, orientation, and size of objects within a 2D space, these
transformations enable a wide range of visual effects and graphical applications.

The fundamental geometrical 2d Transformation in Computer Graphics include:

● Rotation

● Translation

● Scaling

The derived geometrical 2d Transformation in Computer Graphics are:

● Reflection

● Shearing
2D Rotation in Computer Graphics
2D rotation is a fundamental concept that involves changing the orientation of an object or a
coordinate system in a 2D plane. It enables us to rotate graphical elements around a specified
point or axis by a certain angle.

To perform a 2D rotation, we need to consider two key components: the rotation angle and the
rotation center. The rotation angle, denoted as θ (in radians), represents the amount of rotation
to be applied. The rotation center, represented as (cx, cy), defines the point around which the
rotation will occur.

The original coordinates of points P, A, and B can be represented using standard trigonometric
functions.

Similarly, the points P', A', and B' can be represented as follows:
Upon substituting equations (1) and (2) into equations (3) and (4) correspondingly, we obtain
the following expressions:

In matrix form, the above equation can be represented as follows:

P′ = P . R
Where R is the rotation matrix, the equation can be represented in matrix form as follows:

The above matrix can be used in the case of a rotation angle which is positive, however for a
rotation angle which is negative, the matrix is shown below:
2D Translation
2D Translation is a transformation technique that changes the position of each point in an
object or a coordinate system by a specified distance in the x and y axes.

Applying 2D translation, we can say:

X’ = X + tx

Y’ = Y + ty

(tx, ty) represents the shift or the translation vector. The equations can be expressed using
column vectors for efficient representation and computation.

P=[X]/[Y] p' = [X′]/[Y′] T = [tx]/[ty]

This can also be written as:

P’ = P + T
2D Scaling in Computer Graphics
2D Scaling in Computer Graphics involves resizing objects or coordinate systems in a 2D plane. It
allows us to change the size of each point in the object or coordinate system by applying scaling
factors in the x and y directions.

To perform 2D scaling, we utilize scaling factors: sx for the x-axis and sy for the y-axis. These
factors determine how much each coordinate should be scaled along its respective axis.

If the scaling factor (SX and SY) is greater than 1, the object is enlarged and moves away from
the origin. A scaling factor of 1 leaves the object unchanged, while a scaling factor less than 1
shrinks the object and moves it closer to the origin.

The equations for scaling are X' = X * SX and Y' = Y * SY, where X and Y are the original
coordinates of a point, and X' and Y' are the scaled coordinates after the transformation.

These equations can also be represented in matrix form as:

OR

P’ = P . S

The scaling process is depicted using the scaling matrix S in the given figure:
2D Reflection in Computer Graphics
2D reflection is a transformation technique that involves flipping or mirroring an object or
coordinate system across a specific axis in a 2D plane. It allows us to change the orientation of
each point in the object or coordinate system in relation to the reflection axis.

The figures depict the X and Y axes and the origin:

2D Shearing in Computer Graphics
2D Shearing transformation slants or distorts an object or coordinate system along either the
x-axis or y-axis in a 2D plane. It involves shifting the position of points in a specific direction
based on their original coordinates.

To shear the given image along the x-axis, we use the shearing parameter shx.

The equation will be:

X'= X + Y.shx

Y' = X
The shearing matrix along with the x-axis is:

The shearing matrix along with the y-axis is:

To shear the provided image along the Y-axis, we utilize the shearing parameter shy.

The equation is now:

Y'= X.shy + Y

X' = X

The shearing matrix along with the x-axis is:

Difference between 2d and 3d Transformation in Computer
Graphics
The difference between 2D and 3D transformations in computer graphics lies in the
dimensionality of the space in which the transformations are applied. The prime difference
between 2d and 3d Transformation in Computer Graphics are listed in the table below:

2D Transformations 3D Transformations

Two-dimensional space (x and Three-dimensional space (x, y, and z

Dimension y axes) axes)

Objects are represented on a

flat surface (e.g., a computer Objects are represented in a 3D
Representation screen) environment

Translation, rotation, scaling,

Translation, rotation, scaling, shearing, reflection, perspective
Types shearing, reflection projection, etc.

Coordinates
Affected Only x and y coordinates x, y, and z coordinates

No depth information Depth information allows objects with

Depth (z-coordinate is constant) volume and depth

Limited to flat, 2D Enables more realistic 3D graphics and

Realism representations animations

3D modeling, animation, virtual

GUIs, image processing, 2D reality, simulations, game
Applications animations, CAD development.

The Transformation in Computer Graphics can be combined and applied in a specific order to
achieve more complex effects. They serve as fundamental operations in computer graphics,
enabling the manipulation of objects, creation of animations, simulation of virtual
environments, and various other graphical tasks.

FAQs
 1. What is Transformation in Computer Graphics?

Transformation in computer graphics involves modifying objects' position, orientation, or size

using mathematical operations.

2. What is 2D Transformation in Computer Graphics?

2D transformations modify objects in a 2D space, including translation, rotation, scaling,

reflection, and shearing, while 3D transformations operate in a 3D environment, adding depth
and realism.

3. What are the fundamental 2D Transformations in Computer Graphics?

The fundamental 2D transformations in computer graphics are translation (moving objects in a

specific direction), rotation (changing orientation around a point or axis), and scaling (resizing
objects by applying scaling factors to coordinates).

4. What are some examples of 2d Transformation in Computer Graphics?

Some examples of 2D transformations in computer graphics include moving objects

(translation), rotating objects around a point (rotation), scaling objects (resizing), flipping
objects (reflection), and distorting objects along an axis (shearing).