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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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PDFAnnotationPopup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu annotations in a PDF document.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationStamp Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying content to look as if it is "stamped" onto a PDF page.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating text annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationTextWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating editable text fields in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFDestination Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for describing specific destinations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating PDF files.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFOutline Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating structure outlines in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFPage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling specific pages in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFSelection Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling user selections in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFThumbnailView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the thumbnail view in a PDF document.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 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, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
QCCompositionLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a Quartz Composer composition in a Layer Kit layer.
Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
Quartz Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Quartz Composer, Image Kit, and PDF Kit.
Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
CGImageSource Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for reading image data.
Quartz Reference 2007-12-04
Display Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the C API for dynamically changing the arrangement and display modes of attached monitors. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
Carbon Reference 2007-12-04
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 Reference 2007-11-30
AGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Apple graphics library for Carbon applications that use OpenGL.
Carbon, OpenGL Reference 2007-10-31
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Cocoa Objective-C API for the Application Kit framework.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
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 Reference 2007-10-31
CAAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class that manages the timing and pacing of an animation.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
CATransition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides transition animations to layers.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
CGImageProperties Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes property constants for source and destination images.
Carbon, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
CGPDFContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that operate on drawing destinations for PDF content.
Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
CIImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents an immutable Core Image image.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
Core Animation Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for Core Animation.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
IKFilterBrowserPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the panel contained in a filter browser.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
IKPictureTaker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the class that provides a panel for choosing images.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
IKSlideshow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates a data source and options for a slideshow.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
NSAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the timing and progress of animations in the user interface.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
NSImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing and drawing images.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
NSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the base class for managing image data.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
NSWindow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manipulate windows and distribute window events to the appropriate view.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
Quartz Display Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for configuration and control of display hardware.
Carbon, Hardware & Drivers, Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
Quartz Event Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for event taps, filters used to observe and alter the stream of low-level user input events.
Quartz Reference 2007-10-31
CAAction Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used by objects to respond to actions initiated by a layer.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CABasicAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides basic interpolation of a layer property.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CAConstraint Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that defines a single geometric constraint between two layers.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CAKeyframeAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides keyframe interpolation of a layer property.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CALayoutManager Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used by Core Animation to visually layout sublayers.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CAMediaTiming Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol that defines the timespace of an object.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CAPropertyAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the abstract class for interpolating the value of a layer property during animation.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
Carbon Printing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by Carbon applications to provide a user interface for printing.
Printing Reference 2007-07-24
CAScrollLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that displays a portion of a layer that's too large to be displayed in its entirety.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CATiledLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that simplifies rendering large image layers.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CATransaction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides nested transaction support for Core Animation.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
CIFilter Core Animation Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Layer Kit.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
Core Animation Function Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes C functions that provide supporting functionality for the classes and protocols in Core Animation.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
Core Printing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that provides an abstraction layer for application printing.
Printing Reference 2007-07-24
NSValue Core Animation Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes extensions to Foundation's NSValue class that support the Core Animation LKTransform structure.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
AGL Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the AGL framework.
OpenGL Reference 2007-07-18
Application Services Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Application Services framework.
Carbon Reference 2007-07-18
CGColorSpace Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type for representing a color space.
Quartz Reference 2007-07-18
OpenGL Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the OpenGL framework.
OpenGL Reference 2007-07-18
Quartz Core Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Quartz Core framework.
Quartz Reference 2007-07-18
Quartz Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Quartz framework.
Quartz Reference 2007-07-18
CGFont Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque data type for creating and using Quartz fonts.
Quartz Reference 2007-07-17
IKImageBrowserDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to access the data source associated with an image browser view.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-17
QCPlugInInputImageSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for managing image data that's input to a QCPlugIn object.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Alpha Compositing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high-performance alpha compositing operations.
Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Conversion Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance image conversion operations.
Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Convolution Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance image convolution operations.
Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Data Types and Constants Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types and constants used by the vImage framework.
Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Decompression Filtering Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for decompression filtering operations.
Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Geometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance geometric operations on images.
Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Histogram Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance image histogram operations.
Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Morphology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance morphological operations on images.
Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Carbon, Cocoa, Performance Reference 2007-07-12
vImage Transform Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the programming interface for high performance image transform operations.
Performance Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 2007-06-29
ATSUI Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for rendering Unicode-encoded text with advanced typographic features.
Carbon, Typography Reference 2007-06-28
CGBitmapContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Quartz functions that relate to bitmap contexts.
Quartz Reference 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 Reference 2007-06-28
DVD Playback Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the DVD Playback framework, which supports adding DVD playback features to applications.
Video Reference 2007-06-28
QCComposition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents a Quartz Composer composition.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-06-26
HIGeometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that defines basic geometric objects for HIToolbox.
Carbon Reference 2007-06-11
CIImage Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for supporting Cocoa images in Core Image.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-06-08
NSBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that implements a view that can display its border and a title.
Cocoa Reference 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 Reference 2007-05-09
QCCompositionParameterViewDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for responding to changes in a QCCompositionParameterView object.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 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 Reference 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display a view for browsing and selecting a composition.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-05-09
QCCompositionPickerViewDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol for responding to changes in a QCCompositionPickerView object.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-05-09
QCCompositionRepository Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents a system-wide, central repository of Quartz Composer compositions.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-05-09
QCPlugInContext Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used by execution contexts.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 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 Reference 2007-05-09
CGImageDestination Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for writing image data.
Quartz Reference 2007-05-04
CGGradient Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that create and operate on Quartz gradient objects.
Quartz Reference 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 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
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
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
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
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