A transformation is an operation performed on a graphics object that changes the object in one of four ways: translation, rotation, scaling and shearing. Transformations enable an application to control the location, orientation, size, and shape of graphics output on any output device.
The transformation of graphics output can be conceptually divided into a series of distinct transformations applied from one logical stopping point to another. Coordinate spaces are used as a method of conceptualizing these logical stopping points. The coordinate spaces are concepts used to explain and manipulate the transformation process.
A graphics primitive in an intermediate coordinate space cannot be displayed on an output device and a transformation cannot be interrupted at one of the distinct stages. The entire series of transformation steps is applied all at once.
This chapter describes the transformation design process. The following topics are related to the information in this chapter: