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Reference
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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NSGraphicsContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class whose objects represent graphics contexts, which are destinations for drawing operations.
Cocoa 2007-03-01
NSImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing and drawing images.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
NSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the base class for managing image data.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
NSOpenGLContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the OpenGL drawing environment.
Cocoa 2008-06-09
NSOpenGLPixelBuffer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing OpenGL bitmaps.
Cocoa 2007-01-31
NSOpenGLPixelFormat Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing OpenGL rendering attributes.
Cocoa 2007-01-26
NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a lightweight, easy-access window.
Cocoa 2008-07-11
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
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
NSScrollView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that allows the user to scroll a document view that's too large to display in its entirety.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
NSShadow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for adding shadow effects to rendered shapes.
Cocoa 2007-01-30
NSValue Core Animation Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes extensions to Foundation's NSValue class that support the Core Animation LKTransform structure.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
NSView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that defines the basic drawing, event-handling, and printing architecture of an application.
Cocoa 2008-03-11
NSViewAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for animating views and windows.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
NSWindow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manipulate windows and distribute window events to the appropriate view.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
PDF Kit Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for viewing, navigating, and editing PDF content.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for representing an action in a PDF document.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFActionGoTo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating the destination of a go-to action in a PDF document.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFActionNamed Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for working with actions that have defined names, such as "Go back."
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFActionRemoteGoTo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating the destination of a go-to action that targets another PDF document.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFActionResetForm Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for getting and clearing fields in a PDF form.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFActionURL Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the URL associated with a URL action.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describe the class for creating and managing annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationButtonWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating button annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationChoiceWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu and list annotations in a PDF document.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationCircle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating circle annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationFreeText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating free text annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationInk Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating ink annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationLine Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating line annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationLink Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating link annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationMarkup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating markup annotations (highlighting, underlining, and so on) in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationPopup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu annotations in a PDF document.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationSquare Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating square annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationStamp Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying content to look as if it is "stamped" onto a PDF page.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating text annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationTextWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating editable text fields in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFBorder Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating borders around annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
PDFDestination Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for describing specific destinations in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating PDF files.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFOutline Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating structure outlines in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFPage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling specific pages in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFSelection Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling user selections in PDF documents.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFThumbnailView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the thumbnail view in a PDF document.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
PDFView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates all the capabilities of PDF Kit in a standard Cocoa view.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
QCComposition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents a Quartz Composer composition.
Cocoa 2007-06-26
QCCompositionParameterView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to edit the input parameters of a composition in a view.
Cocoa 2007-05-09
QCCompositionParameterViewDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for responding to changes in a QCCompositionParameterView object.
Cocoa 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a utility window for browsing and selecting a composition.
Cocoa 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a view for browsing and selecting a composition.
Cocoa 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerViewDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for responding to changes in a QCCompositionPickerView object.
Cocoa 2007-05-09
QCCompositionRenderer Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for passing and retrieving data from the ports of a composition.
Cocoa 2008-04-08
QCCompositionRepository Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents a system-wide, central repository of Quartz Composer compositions.
Cocoa 2007-05-09
QCPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to write custom patches for Quartz Composer.
Cocoa 2008-04-08
QCPlugInContext Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used by execution contexts.
Cocoa 2007-05-09
QCPlugInInputImageSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for managing image data that's input to a QCPlugIn object.
Cocoa 2007-07-12
QCPlugInOutputImageProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for managing image data that's produced as output from a QCPlugIn object.
Cocoa 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 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 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 2007-05-09
Quartz Composer Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API that supports loading, playing, and controlling compositions.
Cocoa 2007-01-25
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Cocoa 2007-07-12
ColorSync Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ColorSync, the platform-independent color management system in Mac OS X.
ColorSync 2005-06-04
CIColor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage color values and color spaces for Core Image filters.
Games 2006-12-05
CIContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides an evaluation context for rendering a Core Image image through Quartz 2D or OpenGL.
Games 2007-03-16
CIFilter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that processes image data and produces a Core Image image as output.
Games 2007-12-11
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.
Games 2006-12-07
CIImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents an immutable Core Image image.
Games 2007-10-31
CIImageAccumulator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables feedback-based image processing.
Games 2007-01-05
CIImageProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to supply bitmap data for creating or initializing a Core Image image.
Games 2006-12-05
CIKernel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that operates on individual pixels using a kernel routine.
Games 2006-12-05
CIPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that is responsible for loading image units.
Games 2006-12-05
CIPlugInRegistration Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to load Core Image image units.
Games 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.
Games 2006-12-07
CIVector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to pass parameter values to Core Image filters.
Games 2006-12-07
Core Image Kernel Language Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the symbols for writing image-processing kernels.
Games 2008-06-09
Core Image Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for using and creating filters for image processing.
Games 2006-12-05
Quartz 2D Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the native two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS X.
Games 2006-12-18
Application Services Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for a number of services--such as Quartz 2D and ATSUI--that are essential to Carbon applications.
General 2007-10-31
Image Capture Applications Reference (HTML)
Describes the API that applications use to communicate with image capture devices such as cameras and scanners.
General 2008-04-08
Image Capture Applications Reference (HTML)
Describes the API that applications use to communicate with image capture devices such as cameras and scanners.
Hardware 2008-04-08
Image Capture Device Modules Reference (HTML)
Describes the API to add support for image capture devices, such as cameras, phones, and scanners, to Mac OS X.
Hardware & Drivers 2008-04-08
Quartz Display Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for configuration and control of display hardware.
Hardware & Drivers 2007-10-31
AGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Apple graphics library for Carbon applications that use OpenGL.
OpenGL 2007-10-31
AGL Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the AGL framework.
OpenGL 2007-07-18
CGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the lowest-level accessible interface for the Apple implementation of the OpenGL graphics system.
OpenGL 2007-06-28
NSOpenGLContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the OpenGL drawing environment.
OpenGL 2008-06-09
NSOpenGLPixelBuffer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing OpenGL bitmaps.
OpenGL 2007-01-31
NSOpenGLPixelFormat Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing OpenGL rendering attributes.
OpenGL 2007-01-26
NSOpenGLView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for a view that supports OpenGL drawing calls.
OpenGL 2007-01-26
OpenGL Capabilities Matrix (HTML)
Lists supported OpenGL extensions and parameter values by various combinations of Mac OS X versions, graphics adapters, and CPU types.
OpenGL 2007-11-30
OpenGL Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the OpenGL framework.
OpenGL 2007-07-18
vImage Alpha Compositing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high-performance alpha compositing operations.
Performance 2007-07-12
vImage Conversion Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance image conversion operations.
Performance 2007-07-12
vImage Convolution Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance image convolution operations.
Performance 2007-07-12
vImage Data Types and Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types and constants used by the vImage framework.
Performance 2007-07-12
vImage Decompression Filtering Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for decompression filtering operations.
Performance 2007-07-12
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