© 2016 Thorlabs Scientific Imaging
2 Camera Basics
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How the Direct3D mode works
OpenGL mode
OpenGL stands for Open Graphics Library and it is an interface specification for graphics
hardware. Unlike Direct3D OpenGL is not only available under Windows but also under Linux and
Mac OS, if OpenGL is supported by the graphics hardware. There are several implementations of
OpenGL, such as e.g. NVIDIA
®
or AMD/ATI. The implementations are always dependent on the
graphics card manufacturer.
How the OpenGL mode works
Comparison of the display modes
The following table illustrates the major differences between the display modes:
Graphics card
requirements
Low. No special graphics
hardware required. Runs
on all systems.
High. Graphics card has
to support Direct3D.
Does not run on all
systems.
High. Graphics card has
to support OpenGL.
Greater. Memory
management, event
handling and display
performed by the
application.
Low. Memory
management, event
handling and display
performed by DirectX.
High. OpenGL itself does
not provide functions for
opening windows or
reading files. However,
there are related
libraries, e.g. GLUT.
Slightly increased by
copying of data.
Low. Display performed
by graphics card.
Low. Display performed
by graphics card.
Not available. A simple
overlay can be
Integrated. Complex
overlays can be