What is the basic difference between 2D Graphics and 3D Graphics ?

I am working with 2D graphics application development.
I want to move on to 3D Graphics.
I want to know the basic differences between 2d and 3D graphics.

"2D graphics" is exactly as it sounds... graphics that only deal in a 2 dimensional space. 3D graphics use a 3d coordinate system and vector graphics to plot/draw things. Because things are in a 3d space, objects can be in front of other objects. Objects can be displayed from a perspective viewpoint in which the further an object is from the viewpoint, the smaller the object will be. Only after all the calculations for the placement, perspective size/angles, lighting, colors, and textures of the objects are made, is the image is rasterized (turned into a flat 2d image that is displayed on the screen.) 3D graphics API's often have many features built in that allow the creation of nice effects such as reflections and light/shading.

umm how can you be working on grpahics and nit know what 2d and 2d graphics are!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?


3d grafics are what u'll find in video games ( 3 dimensional GRaphics) Unless your a huge company like THQ.
youve got no hope of making 3d grpahics.

2 d grpahics are like really old games like paper mario or any thing where you see it from only 1 angle.


If you didnt know that BEFORE you started doing grpahics, then youve got some catching up to do.

EVEN i knew that and i dont even do grpahics!!!!

2d graphics use sprites (fixed images) as opposed to 3d (models and actors) and 2d is much easier to program since there are only two axes rather than three

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2d_graphics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3d_graphics

hope that's what you are looking for

This requires your end users to use FireGl graphics cards.