This concise introduction to OpenGL version 1.2 is ideal for students in a graphics course that requires programming using OpenGL. In this primer, author Edward Angel presents the commands, provides examples, and discusses common beginners' pitfalls when talking about - two-dimensional programs, interaction and animation, three-dimensional programs, transformations, lights and materials, bits and pixels, texture mapping, curves and surfaces, as well as some advanced features. 'Open GL - A Primer' is designed to be a companion to a textbook that covers computer graphics principles.