In computer graphics, 2D transformations are techniques used to manipulate the position, size, and orientation of objects within a two-dimensional space. These manipulations are achieved by applying mathematical operations to the coordinates of the points (vertices) that define the object's shape.
Why are they important?
2D transformations are fundamental for various tasks in computer graphics, including:
- Repositioning objects: Moving an object from one location to another on the screen.
- Resizing objects: Making an object larger or smaller.
- Rotating objects: Turning an object around a specific point.
- Creating animation effects: Combining transformations in sequence allows for animating movements, rotations, and resizing of objects.
Types of 2D Transformations:
There are several basic types of 2D transformations:
Translation: Moves an object by a specified distance in both the horizontal (x) and vertical (y) directions.
Scaling: Increases or decreases the size of an object uniformly about a fixed point (often the object's center).
Rotation: Rotates an object around a specified point by a certain angle.
Shearing: Distorts an object by skewing it along one or both axes.
These transformations can be represented using matrices, which simplify calculations and allow for efficient manipulation of object coordinates. Transformations can also be combined to achieve more complex effects.