Publication Date:
2014-02-26
Description:
Scientists intending to employ scientific visualization techniques are confronted with the unpleasant task of choosing visualization software that meets their specific needs. A good choice requires consideration of several aspects. Most important are functionality, i.e. the set of supported visual representations, and restrictions due to the user's production environment (i.e. available hardware and software platforms, software compatibility constraints, need of specific input and output formats, network distribution requirements). Crucial are quality demands, ranging from simple graphics for interactive control of simulations, to images of highest quality (glossy prints, slides or video movies) for presentation purposes. Further aspects of consideration are: ease of use, level on which the user is willing to program, portability, conformity to prevalent standards, availability in the world-wide user community, future dissemination, as well as emerging trends in computer graphics and scientific visualization. The aim of this manual is to give a survey on the graphics and visualization software that is currently being provided at ZIB (mainly for internal use). The whole range of computer graphics software relevant in mathematical, natural and technical sciences is covered: image synthesis (basic and higher graphics libraries, plot programs, visualization environments, combined text and drawing programs, renderers), image processing and storage (raster and vector formats, page description languages, raster toolkits for image processing and format conversion), capturing of images as well as printing on paper and recording on photographic film or video tape. This information together with a glossary and recommendations for further reading should help prospective users in getting started and assist them in making good choices of graphics and visualization software.
Keywords:
ddc:000
Language:
German
Type:
reportzib
,
doc-type:preprint
Format:
application/postscript
Format:
application/pdf
