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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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NSColorPickingDefault Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that color pickers implement to provide a basic user interface for color panels.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-27
Image I/O Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for reading and writing image data.
Carbon, Quartz Reference 2007-04-09
Core Video Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Video concepts and how to obtain and manipulate video frames using the Core Video API.
Video Guides 2007-04-03
PictureTaker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the PictureTaker in a basic Cocoa application
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-04-02
NSColorPickingCustom Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that color pickers implement to provide a customized user interface for color panels.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-01
NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a lightweight, easy-access window.
Cocoa Reference 2007-03-26
Core Video Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for obtaining and manipulating individual video frames.
Quartz, Video Reference 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 Reference 2007-03-16
ImageBrowser (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the ImageKit's IKImageBrowserView to browse images in a basic Cocoa application.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-03-13
Availability of Quartz Composer Patches in Web Kit (HTML)
QA1505: Details which Quartz Composer patches are available in Web Kit
Carbon, Cocoa, Quartz Technical Q&A 2007-03-05
Getting the pixel data from a CGImage object (HTML)
QA1509: Describes how to access the pixel data of a CGImage object
Quartz Technical Q&A 2007-03-05
NSBezierPath Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for drawing path-based shapes.
Cocoa Reference 2007-03-02
NSGraphicsContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class whose objects represent graphics contexts, which are destinations for drawing operations.
Cocoa Reference 2007-03-01
Grady (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the NSGradient class.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-02-28
NSAffineTransform Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Application Kit additions to the class for creating, concatenating, and applying affine transformations.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
NSBitmapImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for rendering images from representations of bitmap data.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
NSColorList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to store an ordered list of NSColor objects, identified by keys.
Cocoa Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 2007-02-28
NSColorSpace Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to support the creation of objects representing custom color spaces.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
NSColorWell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used for selecting and displaying a single color value.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Carbon, Typography Reference 2007-02-26
Multilingual Text Engine Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting Unicode text editing.
Typography Reference 2007-02-19
Quartz Core Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Core Image and Core Video.
Quartz Reference 2007-02-17
Enhance Your Dashboard Widgets with Quartz Composer Compositions (HTML)
Learn to create a composition and embed it easily in your widgets.
Quartz Articles 2007-02-13
NSOpenGLPixelBuffer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing OpenGL bitmaps.
Cocoa, OpenGL Reference 2007-01-31
NSQuickDrawView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for using QuickDraw in Cocoa views.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-30
NSScreen Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for retrieving screen-based information.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-30
NSShadow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for adding shadow effects to rendered shapes.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-30
NSOpenGLContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the OpenGL drawing environment.
Cocoa, OpenGL Reference 2007-01-26
NSOpenGLPixelFormat Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing OpenGL rendering attributes.
Cocoa, OpenGL Reference 2007-01-26
NSOpenGLView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for a view that supports OpenGL drawing calls.
OpenGL Reference 2007-01-26
NSPDFImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing PDF image data.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-26
NSPICTImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing PICT image data.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-26
Quartz Composer Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API that supports loading, playing, and controlling compositions.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-01-25
Core Video - Available Pixel Formats (HTML)
QA1501: Discusses how to determine all the pixel format types and format descriptions known to Core Video.
QuickTime Technical Q&A 2007-01-23
NSEPSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling EPS image data.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-22
NSCustomImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for supporting custom image formats.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-19
NSAffineTransform Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating the current coordinate space.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-15
NSCachedImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for accessing image cache information.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-15
NSCIImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for using Core Image with Cocoa images.
Cocoa Reference 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 Reference 2007-01-12
QuickTime Movie Creation Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes some of the different ways your application can create a new QuickTime movie.
Video Guides 2007-01-08
CIImageAccumulator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables feedback-based image processing.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz Reference 2007-01-05
CGColor Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type for representing a color in a color space.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGDataConsumer Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type that gets data into a Quartz application.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGFunction Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that represents an abstract function.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGGLContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for rendering Quartz images to an OpenGL context.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGLayer Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for creating and drawing to a Quartz layer.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPath Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for creating path objects.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPattern Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for creating patterns for stroking or filling a graphics path.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPDFArray Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that operate on an array structure in a PDF document.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPDFContentStream Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type that accesses data which describes the appearance of a PDF page.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPDFDictionary Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the CGPDFDictionary opaque type.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPDFDocument Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the CGPDFDocument opaque type.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPDFObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that represents PDF objects in a PDF document.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPDFOperatorTable Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type that stores callback functions for PDF operators.
Quartz Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-22
CGPDFStream Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that operate on a PDF dictionary that describes a sequence of bytes.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPDFString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that operate on strings in a PDF document.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGPSConverter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that converts PostScript data to PDF data.
Quartz Reference 2006-12-22
CGShading Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that create and operate on Quartz shading objects.
Quartz Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-13
Core Graphics Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Quartz 2D drawing, Quartz Display Services, and Quartz Events Services.
Quartz Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-07
CIPlugInRegistration Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to load Core Image image units.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-07
CIVector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to pass parameter values to Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz Reference 2006-12-07
IKFilterCustomUIProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the protocol that defines a method for providing a view for a filter.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-12-07
IKImageBrowserDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol for the delegate of an image browser view.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-12-07
CIFilter Image Kit Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Image Kit.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-12-06
IKFilterBrowserView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports browsing Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-12-06
IKFilterUIView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a user interface for Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-12-06
IKImageEditPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a panel optimized for image editing.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-05
CIFilterGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports chaining together image processing filters.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-05
CIKernel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that operates on individual pixels using a kernel routine.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz Reference 2006-12-05
CIPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that is responsible for loading image units.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz Reference 2006-12-05
Core Image Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for using and creating filters for image processing.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz Reference 2006-12-05
Quartz Composer Web Kit Plug-in JavaScript Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for manipulating Quartz Composer compositions in webpages and Dashboard widgets via the Quartz Composer Web Kit Plug-in.
Quartz Guides 2006-12-05
Using the ImageIO Framework with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (HTML)
Learn to access image data using ImageIO.
Quartz Articles 2006-11-27
Compression Sequence APIs - codecErr returned when compressing with H.264 (HTML)
QA1470: Describes why ICM Compression Sequence APIs cannot be used to encode to H.264
QuickTime Technical Q&A 2006-11-15
Enabling multi-threaded execution of the OpenGL framework (HTML)
TN2085: OpenGL on Intel-based Macintosh systems can use multi-threading to increase the performance of CPU-bound OpenGL-based applications.
OpenGL Technical Note 2006-11-07
Image Color Management (HTML)
TN2115: Learn how to properly support color management in your application.
ColorSync, Quartz Technical Note 2006-11-01
The Font Panel for Carbon API (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN2058: The API to display and interact with the Font Panel from Carbon applications on Mac OS X.
Typography Technical Note 2006-10-26
MyCustomColorPicker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to write a custom color picker using Cocoa.
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-10-09
Color Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how applications specify colors and how users choose colors in Cocoa.
Cocoa Guides 2006-10-03
Extending Printing Dialogs (HTML) (PDF)
A guide to developing printing dialog extensions, including basic concepts and a documented Carbon-based sample project.
Printing Guides 2006-10-03
Performance Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the factors that determine performance.
Performance Guides 2006-10-03
CarbonQuartzComposer_TV (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to integrate Cocoa based QuartzComposer window into a Carbon based application
Cocoa, Video Sample Code 2006-10-02
ImageBackground (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to draw an image in the background of an NSOutlineView and NSTableView.
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-10-02
PBORenderToVertexArray (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This sample demonstrates render-to-vertex-array using FBO, PBO, and VBO.
OpenGL, Performance Sample Code 2006-10-02
CITransitionSelectorSample2 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Showing all available Core Image transitions in a scrollable NSOpenGLView
Cocoa, OpenGL, Quartz Sample Code 2006-09-18
FBOBunnies (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use framebuffer objects (FBO)
OpenGL, Performance Sample Code 2006-09-18