Historically Significant Papers for Computer Graphics

Here are some great scientific publications that fundamentally contributed to modern computer graphics, in historical order. Omitted are the hundreds of mathematics publications on topology, geometry, and calculus that underly graphics.

Reading these papers is a poor way to learn the topics that they discuss. In most cases, the primary contribution can today be described in a sentence or two, the algorithms and theories described have since been eclipsed by alternative preferred implementations or more general theories, and the lasting contribution was often not recognized by the author(s) as the primary contribution of the paper at the time of publication.

The point of reading these papers is that with the benefit of modern knowledge we can observe the methodology of great scientists studying image formation. We can see how they framed problems, performed derivations, conducted experiments, and reported results in a way that enabled contributions that stood the test of time. With careful and clever methodology one can make discoveries beyond of what is directly sought, even if the importance of those discoveries will take years to fully appreciate.