The frustrations and joys of computer graphics

The one place where the minds of science and art can meet is computer graphics. Both have a need to express themselves – seemingly through different means but for a common goal – to figure “it” out. And what is “it”? Therein lies the frustration, because no one really knows. Yet, from the depths of their unknown, they persist in exploring, systematically and intuitively, the imagery of zeros and ones that will explain. The joy is in sharing those findings with others, which is the tradition of the ACM SIGGRAPH conference every year. The images used for the cover of this Computer Graphics issue help illustrate the opposite poles of the spectrum – Associate Professor Bahman Kalantari representing the scientist and Michael Masucci the artist – expressing the frenzy of process while figuring “it” out. There is so much to see when wandering the floors of the conference that it is impossible to take in everything. Hopefully, this taste of visual treats from last year will encourage everyone to again make the rounds this summer to enjoy the festival of computer graphics that annually revitalizes our passion and enthusiasm for the digital technology of picture making.