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Graphics and imaging on Mac OS X consists of three main developer technologies: Quartz, an advanced drawing engine and windowing environment; OpenGL, an Apple implementation of this 3D graphics industry-standard API; and QuickTime, the cross-platform multimedia technology for handling video, sound, and text.

A guided introduction for developers new to Mac OS X graphics and imaging.   Essential information for developers working with graphics and imaging.   C and Objective-C API references organized by framework.
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vImage Geometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance geometric operations on images.
Performance 2007-07-12
vImage Histogram Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance image histogram operations.
Performance 2007-07-12
vImage Morphology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance morphological operations on images.
Performance 2007-07-12
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Carbon, Cocoa, Performance 2007-07-12
vImage Transform Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance image transform operations.
Performance 2007-07-12
Color Picker Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used in Classic Mac OS to solicit color choices from users.
Carbon 2007-07-02
QuickDraw Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the legacy two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS. Replaced by Quartz 2D.
Carbon 2007-06-29
ATSUI Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for rendering Unicode-encoded text with advanced typographic features.
Carbon, Typography 2007-06-28
CGBitmapContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Quartz functions that relate to bitmap contexts.
Quartz 2007-06-28
CGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the lowest-level accessible interface for the Apple implementation of the OpenGL graphics system.
Carbon, OpenGL 2007-06-28
DVD Playback Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the DVD Playback framework, which supports adding DVD playback features to applications.
Video 2007-06-28
QCComposition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents a Quartz Composer composition.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-06-26
HIGeometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that defines basic geometric objects for HIToolbox.
Carbon 2007-06-11
CIImage Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for supporting Cocoa images in Core Image.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-06-08
NSBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a view that can display its border and a title.
Cocoa 2007-05-30
QCCompositionParameterView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to edit the input parameters of a composition in a view.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCCompositionParameterViewDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for responding to changes in a QCCompositionParameterView object.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a utility window for browsing and selecting a composition.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a view for browsing and selecting a composition.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerViewDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for responding to changes in a QCCompositionPickerView object.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCCompositionRepository Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents a system-wide, central repository of Quartz Composer compositions.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCPlugInContext Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used by execution contexts.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCPlugInOutputImageProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for managing image data that's produced as output from a QCPlugIn object.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCPlugInViewController Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a controller object for a user interface to edit the settings for a QCPlugIn object.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCRenderer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to load, play, and control a Quartz Composer composition to an arbitrary OpenGL context.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
QCView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to load, play, and control a Quartz Composer composition to a custom NSView object.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-05-09
CGImageDestination Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for writing image data.
Quartz 2007-05-04
CGGradient Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that create and operate on Quartz gradient objects.
Quartz 2007-05-01
NSColorPickingDefault Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that color pickers implement to provide a basic user interface for color panels.
Cocoa 2007-04-27
Image I/O Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for reading and writing image data.
Carbon, Quartz 2007-04-09
NSColorPickingCustom Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that color pickers implement to provide a customized user interface for color panels.
Cocoa 2007-04-01
NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a lightweight, easy-access window.
Cocoa 2007-03-26
Core Video Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for obtaining and manipulating individual video frames.
Quartz, Video 2007-03-22
CIContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides an evaluation context for rendering a Core Image image through Quartz 2D or OpenGL.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2007-03-16
NSBezierPath Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for drawing path-based shapes.
Cocoa 2007-03-02
NSGraphicsContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class whose objects represent graphics contexts, which are destinations for drawing operations.
Cocoa 2007-03-01
NSAffineTransform Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Application Kit additions to the class for creating, concatenating, and applying affine transformations.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSBitmapImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for rendering images from representations of bitmap data.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to store an ordered list of NSColor objects, identified by keys.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to provide a standard user interface for selecting color in an application.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorPicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract superclass used to add color pickers (custom user interfaces for color selection) to NSColorPanel.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorSpace Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to support the creation of objects representing custom color spaces.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorWell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used for selecting and displaying a single color value.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Carbon, Typography 2007-02-26
Multilingual Text Engine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting Unicode text editing.
Typography 2007-02-19
Quartz Core Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Core Image and Core Video.
Quartz 2007-02-17
NSOpenGLPixelBuffer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing OpenGL bitmaps.
Cocoa, OpenGL 2007-01-31
NSQuickDrawView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for using QuickDraw in Cocoa views.
Cocoa 2007-01-30
NSScreen Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for retrieving screen-based information.
Cocoa 2007-01-30
NSShadow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for adding shadow effects to rendered shapes.
Cocoa 2007-01-30
NSOpenGLPixelFormat Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing OpenGL rendering attributes.
Cocoa, OpenGL 2007-01-26
NSOpenGLView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for a view that supports OpenGL drawing calls.
OpenGL 2007-01-26
NSPDFImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing PDF image data.
Cocoa 2007-01-26
NSPICTImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing PICT image data.
Cocoa 2007-01-26
Quartz Composer Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API that supports loading, playing, and controlling compositions.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-01-25
NSEPSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling EPS image data.
Cocoa 2007-01-22
NSCustomImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for supporting custom image formats.
Cocoa 2007-01-19
NSAffineTransform Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating the current coordinate space.
Cocoa 2007-01-15
NSCachedImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for accessing image cache information.
Cocoa 2007-01-15
NSCIImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for using Core Image with Cocoa images.
Cocoa 2007-01-15
IKImageBrowserItem Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used by an image browser view to access the data source for an item.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-01-12
CIImageAccumulator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables feedback-based image processing.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2007-01-05
CGColor Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type for representing a color in a color space.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGDataConsumer Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type that gets data into a Quartz application.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGFunction Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that represents an abstract function.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGGLContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for rendering Quartz images to an OpenGL context.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGLayer Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for creating and drawing to a Quartz layer.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPath Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for creating path objects.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPattern Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for creating patterns for stroking or filling a graphics path.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFArray Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that operate on an array structure in a PDF document.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFContentStream Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type that accesses data which describes the appearance of a PDF page.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFDictionary Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the CGPDFDictionary opaque type.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFDocument Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the CGPDFDocument opaque type.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that represents PDF objects in a PDF document.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFOperatorTable Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type that stores callback functions for PDF operators.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFScanner Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type that parses a PDF content stream and invokes callbacks for PDF operators in the stream.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFStream Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that operate on a PDF dictionary that describes a sequence of bytes.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that operate on strings in a PDF document.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPSConverter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that converts PostScript data to PDF data.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGShading Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that create and operate on Quartz shading objects.
Quartz 2006-12-22
Quartz 2D Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the native two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS X.
Carbon, Games, Quartz 2006-12-18
IKImageBrowserView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that can display and browse a large amount of images and movies in an efficient manner.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-13
Core Graphics Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Quartz 2D drawing, Quartz Display Services, and Quartz Events Services.
Quartz 2006-12-11
CIFilterShape Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that defines the bounding shape of a filter and the domain of definition of a filter operation.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-07
CIPlugInRegistration Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to load Core Image image units.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-07
CISampler Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that retrieves samples of images that are then processed by a Core Image kernel.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-07
CIVector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to pass parameter values to Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-07
IKFilterCustomUIProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the protocol that defines a method for providing a view for a filter.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-07
IKImageBrowserDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol for the delegate of an image browser view.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-07
CIFilter Image Kit Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Image Kit.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
IKFilterBrowserView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports browsing Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
IKFilterUIView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a user interface for Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
IKImageEditPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a panel optimized for image editing.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
IKImageEditPanelDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the mthods than an image edit panel object uses to access the contents of its data source object.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
IKSaveOptions Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that initializes, adds, and manages user interface options for saving image data.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
IKSlideshowDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods that a slideshow object uses to access the contents of its data source object.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
Image Kit Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for providing a user interface for images, image editing, and image processing.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
CIColor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage color values and color spaces for Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-05
CIFilterGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports chaining together image processing filters.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-05
CIImageProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to supply bitmap data for creating or initializing a Core Image image.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-05