<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: -",
    "iPadOS: -",
    "macCatalyst: -",
    "macOS: -",
    "tvOS: -",
    "visionOS: -",
    "watchOS: -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "Accelerate",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Class",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Class",
    "modules" : [
      "Accelerate"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:@T@vImageCVImageFormatRef"
  },
  "title" : "vImageCVImageFormat"
}
-->

# vImageCVImageFormat

A mutable description of image encoding in a Core Video pixel buffer.

```
class vImageCVImageFormat
```

## Overview

The vImage library uses the information in an image format to construct [`vImageConverter`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageConverter) instances that convert to and from images encoded with the format. The format stores a description of the pixels in the image, such as color representation, bit depth, and number of channels.

A [`vImageCVImageFormat`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat) instance is capable of holding an incomplete encoding representation. In this case, the [`vImageConverter_CreateForCGToCVImageFormat(_:_:_:_:_:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageConverter_CreateForCGToCVImageFormat(_:_:_:_:_:)) and [`vImageConverter_CreateForCVToCGImageFormat(_:_:_:_:_:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageConverter_CreateForCVToCGImageFormat(_:_:_:_:_:)) functions return an error code that indicates what information is missing.

- [`kvImageCVImageFormat_ConversionMatrix`](/documentation/Accelerate/kvImageCVImageFormat_ConversionMatrix): Use [`vImageCVImageFormat_CopyConversionMatrix(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat_CopyConversionMatrix(_:_:_:)) to add the missing conversion matrix.
- [`kvImageCVImageFormat_ChromaSiting`](/documentation/Accelerate/kvImageCVImageFormat_ChromaSiting): Use [`vImageCVImageFormat_SetChromaSiting(_:_:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat_SetChromaSiting(_:_:)) to add the missing chrominance siting information.
- [`kvImageCVImageFormat_ColorSpace`](/documentation/Accelerate/kvImageCVImageFormat_ColorSpace): Use [`vImageCVImageFormat_SetColorSpace(_:_:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat_SetColorSpace(_:_:)) to add the missing color space that contains primaries and transfer function.

Reuse a [`vImageCVImageFormat`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat) instance with other Core Video pixel buffers of the same format, such as other frames from the same movie.

## Topics

### Creating a Core Video image format

[`make(buffer:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/make(buffer:))

Creates the description of the image encoding in an existing Core Video pixel buffer.

[`make(format:matrix:chromaSiting:colorSpace:alphaIsOpaqueHint:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/make(format:matrix:chromaSiting:colorSpace:alphaIsOpaqueHint:))

Creates the description of image encoding in a Core Video pixel buffer from the specified properties.

[`make(format:colorSpace:alphaIsOpaqueHint:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/make(format:colorSpace:alphaIsOpaqueHint:))

Creates the description of an RGB image encoding in a Core Video pixel buffer from the specified properties.

### Inspecting a Core Video image format’s properties

[`channelCount`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/channelCount)

The number of channels, including alpha, for the Core Video image format.

[`channels`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/channels)

The channels of the Core Video image format.

[`channelDescription(bufferType:)`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/channelDescription(bufferType:))

Returns the range and clamp limits for a specified channel in a Core Video image format.

[`formatCode`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/formatCode)

The four-character code that encodes the pixel format of the Core Video image format.

[`chromaSiting`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/chromaSiting-swift.property)

The chrominance siting of the Core Video image format.

[`colorSpace`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/colorSpace)

The color space of the Core Video image format.

[`alphaIsOpaqueHint`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/alphaIsOpaqueHint)

The alpha hint of the Core Video image format.

### Supporting types

[`vImageCVImageFormat.ChromaSiting`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/ChromaSiting-swift.enum)

Constants that specify the chrominance siting of a Core Video image format.

[`vImageCVImageFormat.Format`](/documentation/Accelerate/vImageCVImageFormat/Format)

Constants that specify the format of a Core Video image format.


---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)