The title of this book indicates that it will examine OpenGL graphics via applications. The description of the book indicates that it is a practical introduction to computer graphics (a significant area), with an emphasis on understanding through practice, specifically covering image processing, artifact construction, introductory animation, texturing, curves, surfaces, and patterns.

The “Getting Started” section assumes that the reader has a basic understanding of C++ programming and uses the Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 integrated development environment (IDE). The section begins with a nice and simple OpenGL application to display a dot in a window, and continues with a basic explanation of OpenGL drawing primitives, such as lines, polygons, and bitmaps. Surprisingly, and for some readers delightfully enough, the “Getting Started” section includes an introduction to different algorithms for drawing circles, and problem solving through graphics. The next sections cover image file formats and image processing, and provide introductions to a few interesting tools, such as those for edge detection and histograms. Following this are sections on transforms, object hierarchies, projections/views, texture mapping, lighting, curves, surfaces, and patterns. The introduction to Bézier curves is nice. Eventually, the reader gets an acceptable beginners’ introduction to OpenGL, as long as he or she doesn’t hope for anything new and advanced, such as shader languages.

The book provides a quick and basic introduction to computer graphics; OpenGL is used to implement the examples. Personally, I would prefer the splitting up of the two subjects into two different books, but I guess it also works to combine them. Also, to me, the title seems a bit misleading.