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In 3D computer graphics, the graphics pipeline or rendering pipeline is the pipeline that transforms the conceptual model of the 3D world to a 2D raster image.
Though a given graphics pipeline may implement one of a variety of algorithms – including Z-buffering, Reyes rendering, and ray tracing – there are certain steps that are common to almost all graphics pipelines:
- Viewing transformation
- Objects are transformed from their own individual coordinate systems into the coordinate system of the virtual camera.
- Hiding
- Parts of the scene that will not be visible are discarded.
- Lighting and shading
- The surface properties of objects are calculated based on the virtual lights in the scene.
- Projection
- The 3D scene is flattened to a 2D image.
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