Create a Figure

1. Draw a figure made of straight lines and determine the coordinates
   of the points.  It is best if the figure lives near the origin.

2. Create an M-file in MATLAB (call it myfig.m) which creates
   a list of the points you used.  It should start like

   pts = [

   and each line after that should be the coordinates of the points
   you found from Step 1.  Since MATLAB will connect these points one
   to the next, if you want a break enter NaN NaN
   as a point where you want a break.  End the list with

   ];

   and save the file (as myfig.m)

   An example of a boring square:
   pts = [
   0 0
   1 0
   1 1
   0 1
   0 0
   ];

   Note if you want a closed figure you have to connect back
   to the first point.

3. Test it.  Go to the command window and type

   myfig
   plot(pts(:,1),pts(:,2))

   You should see your figure.  If you don't like what you see,
   go back and change your myfig.m file.  You can change the
   color and line width around using
   
   plot(pts(:,1),pts(:,2),'Color',[0.3 0.8 0.2],'LineWidth',2)

   where the numbers after the keyword Color are the RGB values (0<=v<1)
   and the number after LineWidth is the width.  If you repeatedly use
   a certain plot command, you might want to make a function out of it:

   function myplot(pts)
   % my hairy plotter
   plot(pts(:,1),pts(:,2),'Color',[0.3 0.8 0.2],'LineWidth',2)
   hold on
   plot(pts(:,1),pts(:,2),'k*')
   hold off
   

Create Transformations

We are using 3x3 matrices as our transformations (we are using the homogeneous
coordinate system).  Below are instructions/templates for various transformations
as well as code on how to apply them.

1. Applying a transformation T to our figure. Since we are doing this
   over and over again, it is best to write it as an M-file function.
   The input should be our list of points pts and the transformation
   matrix T and the output should be the transformed list of points.
   Since we are using homogeneous coordinates, the function will need to
   add ones to our list of points (see ones) and then strip off the
   extra data before returning the points. (I've supplied code below).

   After you have the function (call it transform.m) written, try this
 
   T = [2 0 0; 0 2 0; 0 0 1];
   myfig
   np = transform(pts,T);
   plot(pts(:,1),pts(:,2))
   hold on
   plot(np(:,1),np(:,2),'r')
   hold off 

   hold off/on tells MATLAB to erase or not erase a drawing before 
   doing the next plot command.

   Here's my take for the function:

   function newpts = transform(pts,T)
   % applies the (homogeneous) transformation T to the points in pts

   N = size(pts,1);         % number of points
   pts = [pts,ones(N,1)];   % add 1s as 3rd coordinate
   newpts = T*pts';         % apply T (turn pts around first)
   newpts = newpts(1:2,:)'; % strip off 3rd coordinate and turn around
   

2. Basic Transformations.  Below are templates for the transformations
   we discussed in class; you'll need to either put in values for
   the variables, or set the values of the variables before you use
   the template.

   Translation: T = [1 0 tx; 0 1 ty; 0 0 1];
   Rotations: T = [cos(th) -sin(th) 0; sin(th) cos(th) 0; 0 0 1];
        (Note: th must be in radians:  radians = degrees*pi/180)
   Scaling: T = [sx 0 0;0 sy 0; 0 0 1];
   Reflection: T = [1 0 0;0 -1 0;0 0 1];
   Shear: T = [1 s 0; 0 1 0; 0 0 1];

3. Complex Transformations.  You can build any type of transformation you
   want by simply combining Basic Transformations.  We combine them simply
   by multiplying them together.  So as you build Basic Transformations, give
   them different names and then you can build any sort of complex transformation.
   All these transformations are invertible, so you can use inv(T)
   to get the opposite transformation.  Here's an example:

   T1 =[1 0 1; 0 1 -1; 0 0 1];
   T2 = [cos(pi/3) -sin(pi/3) 0; sin(pi/3) cos(pi/3) 0; 0 0 1];
   T3 = [2 0 0;0 0.5 0; 0 0 1];
   CT = T3*inv(T1)*T2*T1;

   This translates (x+1,y-1), rotates 60 degrees, translates back (x-1,y+1)
   and then scales (x*2, y*0.5)

   If you are too lazy to make a transformation this way you can create
   random transformations by Tr = [randn(2,3); 0 0 1];

Assignment

1. Get all the functions you need to do the work working.

2. Construct a non-basic transformation T
   (Explain what you think it does)
   Apply it to your figure and plot the results.  It helps
   if you plot the original figure and the transformed
   figure on the same graph.  Print out the result.

3. Using the same (or a new) transformation, apply it
   over and over again to your figure (use a for
   loop), plotting all the results.  Print out the result.

4. (Challenge) Find a non-basic transformation that is
   periodic, i.e. after applying it M times you get
   your original image back.

5. (Challenge) Given a non-basic transformation construct
   a figure such that the image of the figure under the transformation
   gives back the original figure.

5. (Challenge) Create two (or more transformations) and
   apply them in order to your image, plotting the
   intermediate results.  Can you cover the entire
   plane with some set of transformations?

Fun

MATLAB also has the ability to record pictures you draw and then
play them back, i.e. make a movie.

After you figure out what pictures you want in your movie, you need
to figure out what screen (or axes) will hold all your pictures.
Figure out the x-range and the y-range that can contain every picture
you draw.  Create a vector of these values:
   myaxis = [xleft xright ybot ytop];
Now you are ready to make a movie.  The steps are pretty basic,
first you create the space for the movie, then you create images
frame by frame and save them.  It looks like this:
   n = 24;   % number of frames (you can use more or less)
   axis(myaxis)
   M = moviein(n);
   for j=1:n
      % put your plot commands here, before the axis command
      axis(myaxis)
      M(:,j) = getframe;    % captures whatever is on the graph
   end
The command axis off removes the axis markings.

To play your movie, you just type
   movie(M)   or
   movie(M,10)  or
   movie(M,-10)
The first version plays it once, the second 10 times, the third plays
it forward and backward.