This text investigates how to effectively teach computer graphics by prioritizing high-level application programming over low-level algorithmic implementation. Edward Angel, a professor emeritus of computer science, utilizes his extensive academic background to present a pedagogical framework that integrates OpenGL early in the curriculum. By shifting the focus from foundational rasterization algorithms to immediate 3D application development, the author enables students to engage with complex visual concepts using C and C++ from the outset of their studies.

Experts and educators frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for undergraduate computer graphics courses due to its practical, application-oriented structure. Readers often note the clarity of the programming examples, which successfully bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and functional software development.