OpenGL Programming Guide

Appendix AOrder of Operations

Odds and Ends

Matrix operations deal with the current matrix stack, which can be the modelview, the projection, or the texture matrix stack. The commands glMultMatrix*(), glLoadMatrix*(), and glLoadIdentity() are applied to the top matrix on the stack, while glTranslate*(), glRotate*(), glScale*(), glOrtho(), and glFrustum() are used to create a matrix that's multiplied by the top matrix. When the modelview matrix is modified, its inverse is also generated for normal vector transformation.

The commands that set the current raster position are treated exactly like a vertex command up until when rasterization would occur. At this point, the value is saved and is used in the rasterization of pixel data.

The various glClear() commands bypass all operations except scissoring, dithering, and writemasking.

OpenGL Programming Guide