<p>Not 3D as such, but it seems in 1963 <a href="http://www.icetcs.ru.is/SutherlandPOCHannes.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ivan Sutherland's</a> seminal <a href="https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/techreports/UCAM-CL-TR-574.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">&quot;Sketchpad&quot;</a> (and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sketchpad" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wikipedia</a>) had instancing. eg. See &quot;<em>Chapter VI RECURSIVE FUNCTIONS</em>&quot; of the 2nd reference.</p>
<p>IIRC somewhere there's a video of it in action - it made me annoyed as to how some of today's vector drawing tools don't seem to be able to do some of what sketchpad appeared to support.</p>
<p>Update: @Joojaa has kindly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=57wj8diYpgY" rel="nofollow noreferrer">located a video</a>   or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6orsmFndx_o" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-02T17:53:14.857Z
We arent necceserily getting better tools due to the masses dragging down on progress. It is often so that pioneers often had features that took others years to realize they need. But then sketchpad describes a cad system thats not at all the same as a vector drawing package. You have all this in something like autocad. And link https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=57wj8diYpgY
joojaa
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-03T07:08:37.047Z
I was thinking specifically of a diagram drawing packages that shall remain nameless but are forced upon me and colleagues. Things that would make life so much more pleasant that are missing, yet were implemented on a "steam-powered" computer from the 60s :-/
Simon F
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-03T08:29:26.480Z
Aah the most (mis)used vector package out there, Sympathies.
joojaa
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-02T09:01:58.910Z
2021-03-03T07:18:34.520Z
2021-03-03T07:18:34.520Z
Simon F
<p>Simple question: is there a source that precedes the idea of presenting graphical application or 3D scene in a scene graph?</p>
<p>I came across <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/360349.360354" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hierarchical geometric models for visible surface algorithms</a> which introduces the idea of having the geometry in easily searchable and cullable format. So I wonder if this is the father of the idea of having scene graph, or has there been something published earlier with this idea.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-19T13:42:36.857Z
Very difficult to say if it is earliest for sure but E. Warnock invented the Warnock algorithm which recursively subdivides a scene and determines what parts of surfaces are hidden in his phd thesis at 1969.
Kaan E.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-02T18:29:25.420Z
Id like to point out that systems that could redraw the screen all must have some sort of scene graph even though your not aware that it should be called that.even if its totally bastardized.
joojaa
<gltf><bounding-volume-hierarchy><scene-graph>
When and who introduced the idea of a scene graph?
Toothery
# When and who introduced the idea of a scene graph?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-19)

Simple question: is there a source that precedes the idea of presenting graphical application or 3D scene in a scene graph?

I came across [Hierarchical geometric models for visible surface algorithms](https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/360349.360354) which introduces the idea of having the geometry in easily searchable and cullable format. So I wonder if this is the father of the idea of having scene graph, or has there been something published earlier with this idea.

**Tags:** gltf, bounding-volume-hierarchy, scene-graph

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Very difficult to say if it is earliest for sure but E. Warnock invented the Warnock algorithm which recursively subdivides a scene and determines what parts of surfaces are hidden in his phd thesis at 1969.  
> **username_2**: Id like to point out that systems that could redraw the screen all must have some sort of scene graph even though your not aware that it should be called that.even if its totally bastardized.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-03-02. Score: 2

Not 3D as such, but it seems in 1963 [Ivan Sutherland's](http://www.icetcs.ru.is/SutherlandPOCHannes.pdf) seminal ["Sketchpad"](https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/techreports/UCAM-CL-TR-574.pdf) (and [wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sketchpad)) had instancing. eg. See "*Chapter VI RECURSIVE FUNCTIONS*" of the 2nd reference.

IIRC somewhere there's a video of it in action - it made me annoyed as to how some of today's vector drawing tools don't seem to be able to do some of what sketchpad appeared to support.

Update: @username_2 has kindly [located a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=57wj8diYpgY) or [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6orsmFndx_o)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: We arent necceserily getting better tools due to the masses dragging down on progress. It is often so that pioneers often had features that took others years to realize they need. But then sketchpad describes a cad system thats not at all the same as a vector drawing package. You have all this in something like autocad. And link https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=57wj8diYpgY  
> **username_3**: I was thinking specifically of a diagram drawing packages that shall remain nameless but are forced upon me and colleagues. Things that would make life so much more pleasant that are missing, yet were implemented on a "steam-powered" computer from the 60s :-/  
> **username_2**: Aah the most (mis)used vector package out there, Sympathies.  

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