Book excerpt: The Official Reference Document to OpenGL, Version 1.4 OpenGL is a powerful software interface used to produce high-quality computer-generated images and interactive graphics applications by rendering 2D and 3D geometric objects, bitmaps, and color images. Officially sanctioned by the OpenGL Architecture Review Board (ARB), The OpenGL� Reference Manual, Fourth Edition, is the comprehensive and definitive documentation of all core OpenGL functions. This fourth edition has been completely revised and updated for OpenGL Versions 1.3 and 1.4. It features coverage of cube-mapped textures, multisampling, depth textures and shadowing, multitexturing, and register combiners. In addition, this book documents all OpenGL Utility Library functions (GLU 1.3) and the OpenGL extension to the X Window System (GLX 1.3). A comprehensive reference section documents each set of related OpenGL commands. Each reference page contains: A description of the command's parameters The command's effect on rendering and how OpenGL's state is modified Examples References to related functions Errors generated by each function This book also includes a conceptual overview of OpenGL, a summary of commands and routines, a chapter on defined constants and associated commands, and descriptions of the multitexturing and imaging subset ARB extensions. The OpenGL Technical Library provides tutorial and reference books for OpenGL. The Library enables programmers to gain a practical understanding of OpenGL and shows them how to unlock its full potential. Originally developed by SGI, the Library continues to evolve under the auspices of the Architecture Review Board (ARB), an industry consortium responsible for guiding the evolution of OpenGL and related technologies. The OpenGL ARB is composed of leaders in the computer graphics industry: 3Dlabs, Apple, ATI, Dell, Evans & Sutherland, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Matrox, NVIDIA, SGI, and Sun Microsystems.