Polygon (computer graphics)

Short description: Fundamental unit of geometry used in 3D computer graphics and modeling

Polygons are used in computer graphics to compose images that are three-dimensional in appearance.

Usually (but not always) triangular, polygons arise when an object's surface is modeled, vertices are selected, and the object is rendered in a wire frame model. This is quicker to display than a shaded model; thus the polygons are a stage in computer animation. The polygon count refers to the number of polygons being rendered per frame.

Beginning with the fifth generation of video game consoles, the use of polygons became more common, and with each succeeding generation, polygonal models became increasingly complex.

Competing methods for rendering polygons that avoid seams

• Point
  • Floating Point
  • Fixed-Point
  • Polygon
  • because of rounding, every scanline has its own direction in space and may show its front or back side to the viewer.
• Fraction (mathematics)
  • Bresenham's line algorithm
  • Polygons have to be split into triangles
  • The whole triangle shows the same side to the viewer
  • The point numbers from the Transform and lighting stage have to converted to Fraction (mathematics)
• Barycentric coordinates (mathematics)
  • Used in raytracing

See also

• Low poly
• Polygon, for general polygon information
• Polygon mesh, for polygon object representation
• Polygon modeling