OpenGL Mini-Project

Write a computer graphics animation using techniques that you have learnt.

1) This is an individual project. Hand in a folder (please refer to 5) for hand in method) 

with name “” ” (e.g. “Chan Tai Man 51234567”). 

Inside the folder, please include 

i) a subfolder named “source code” containing the C source code and ALL project 

files, including the .exe file.

ii) a subfolder named “exe” containing the exe file.

iii) a subfolder named “report” containing the report in pdf format.

2) Please note:

i) The C source code should be thoroughly commented. 

ii) Before hand in, make sure that your code runs properly in any computer within 

the Computer Terminal Laboratory 1 and 2. All computers within the Computer 

Terminal Laboratory 1 and 2 have the same configuration (Windows 7 (64 bits), 

VC2015) and Laboratory 3 have very similar configuration, and I’ll mark by 

borrowing a computer within the Laboratory 1 or 2.

iii) The opening hours of Computer Terminal Laboratory is posted outside the 

laboratory.

 Students can go to Computer Terminal Laboratory to work on their project any 

time the laboratory is open and do not have lessons.

iv) Hand in a report of at most 10 pages describing your work. Include at the end of 

the report the following declaration:

“I declare that every line of code is written by myself and I have not committed 

any plagiarism.

Signed

__________________

(print your name here)

” 

 For definition of plagiarism, please refer to the university document and 

Clarifications on Plagiarism below. To repeat, you are expected to write your own 

code. Copying and pasting of code written by others are not permitted.

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3) Examples of A+ project are shown in the demo during lecture. You can make the 

animation a simple game if you like. Please include a message about the keys that 

should be used at the first screen.

4) The grade of the mini-project will be determined by the overall quality of the 

animation. The following technical merits will also be considered: presence/absence 

of

a) realistic hierarchical structures; 

b) realistic animation; 

c) shadowing effect and

d) texture mapping.

5) Students can read ahead the OpenGL part of 

i) Lecture 3 and 4 for a)

ii) Lecture 6 for b)

iii) Lecture 9 for c)

iv) Lecture 10 for d)

to implement the above when you have spare time.

Notes on Animation Design: 

Students cannot hand in animation with the theme “Solar System” or “Rubix 

(Magic) Square” or “Pendulum”

In general, be creative, design your own scene, and avoid handing in some “standard” 

objects. Try to use all the techniques that you have learnt. Handing in scenes similar 

to examples in text book, references or open source teaching web pages will get very 

low or zero marks.

Clarifications on Plagiarism

The purpose of the mini project is a complementary learning to help you to understand 

the concepts and techniques learnt through lecture through learning by doing. According 

to this spirit:

If you have used some utility functions, e.g. load texture function in gluax, it is ok and 

not considered as plagiarism.

You can also modify the code from OpenGL Exercises and that would not be considered 

plagiarism. Be professional however; remove references to "OpenGL Ex. 1", "step 3", etc.

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If you use other sources, you can make your animation even more beautiful and realistic, 

but this defeats the purpose a bit, and of course using other sources and not doing it 

yourself is plagiarism. In particular, modifying other’s source code (including open 

source code), instead of writing it yourself, is considered plagiarism.

If you use large data sets obtained from 3D scanner for your quadrilateral mesh, it would 

be considered plagiarism. If you must use it, please seek my approval beforehand and 

also write an acknowledgment of the data set source in your mini project report.

Apart from the above, to be safe, you can acknowledge all sources in your mini project 

report.

Clarifications on Report Writing

I would mark your report mainly based on your animation. You can put essential 

information in your report (e.g. how to start your game if it does not automatically start, 

essential commands for playing the game, or pictures of special effect you really wish me 

not to miss). 

In general, don't spend time in the report otherwise. I would go to read your report if I 

have problems or queries about your animation.