# Official Course Website


See: Link

# Schedule


Welcome to CS559! Computer Graphics is how we use computers to make pictures. This class is about how to program computers to draw. It is not about what pictures you should draw (that's art). The class is about how you program picture making, not how you use tools to make pictures. This class is how to write graphics programs not about how to use them.

Week Date Lectures Notes Workbooks
1 Sep 3 Introduction, 2D Drawing Link -
2 Sep 8, 10 Coordinate Systems and Transformations Link -
3 Sep 15, 17 Transformation Math and 2D Shapes Link WB1
4 Sep 22, 24 2D Curves, Splines Link -
5 Sep 29, 1 Intro to 3D, 3D Basics Link WB2
6 Oct 6, 8 3D Transformations, 3D Rotations Link -
7 Oct 13, 15 Shapes in 3D, Skinning and Morphing Link WB3
8 Oct 20, 22 Meshes, Texture, and Lighting Link -
9 Oct 27, 29 More Texture, How 3D Drawing Works Link WB4
10 Nov 3, 5 Graphics Hardware, Shaders Link -
11 Nov 10, 12 Lighting Math, Anti-Aliasing, Perlin Noise Link WB5
12 Nov 17, 19 Particle System Optimization, Animation System Link -
13 Nov 24, 26 Motion Capture, Cloth Simulation Link WB6
14 Dec 1, 3 High Quality Rendering, Ray Tracing Link -
15 Dec 8, 10 Project Presentations Link WB7


📗 The lectures will be in-person and recorded on Zoom.
📗 Example of past projects: Link.
📗 Textbooks: Fundamentals of Computer Graphics, 5th Edition: Link, and Real-Time Rendering, 4th Edition: Link.

# Grading Scheme


See Link for details, please make a post on Piazza if there are any inconsistencies.

Component Frequency Number Points Each Total
(A) In-class Activities Weekly 15 2 30
(X) Exams - 3 0 0
(W) Workbook Biweekly 7 10 70


📗 The in-class activities must be completed during the lectures, either in person or on Zoom. Submissions made by AI agents or inconsistent with the instructions could receive negative points.
📗 Exams will be taken in person and can be used to replace in-class activities or workbooks covering the same materials.
📗 Workbooks with on-time submissions with creative or technically challenging work will receive a grade of 10, but if you receive less than 10, you can get points back by booking in-person appointments within 2 weeks with a course staff for interviews to answer questions related to the workbook and explain your work.
📗 Workbooks with late submissions and ones that only satisfy basic requirements (similar to a submission created by a large language model) will receive a grade of 6, but you can earn points from interviews too.

From To Letter Grade
91 100 A
86 90 AB
81 85 B
76 80 BC
71 75 C
61 70 D


📗 There will be no curves or adjustments to the final grades.

# CBEF Testing Information


This course will use the Computer-Based Evaluation Facility (CBEF) for quizzes and exams. Throughout the semester, you will receive detailed instructions for scheduling your assessment time.

Please note that final examinations will not be administered through the CBEF. Final exams will follow the university's official final examination schedule and applicable policies.

# Accommodations for Students with Disabilities


In alignment with UW-Madison's practices, faculty and students share responsibility in the accommodation process.  Students are expected to inform faculty of their need for instructional accommodations during the beginning of the semester, or as soon as possible after being approved for accommodations.  Faculty will work with the student to provide reasonable instructional and course-related accommodations.

# Course Websites and Forms


📗 This webpage (for lecture notes and in-class activities).
📗 Course website (for admin): Link
📗 Canvas (for grades): Link.
📗 Piazza (for discussion): Link.
📗 Lecture Zoom: Zoom.

📗 Past semesters: Link.
📗 Professor Michael Gleicher: 2026, 
2025,  2023,  2022,  2021,  2020,  2019,  2015,  2014,  2010.
📗 Professor Eftychios Sifakis: .





Last Updated: September 07, 2026 at 9:57 PM