# Deprecated symbols Review symbols that are no longer in active development, and their recommended replacements. ## Overview Although these symbols are available for use, Apple is no longer actively developing them, and may remove them in a future release. Apple recommends moving away from these symbols and using their indicated replacements instead. Check the individual symbol pages for the recommended replacements. ## Topics ### Deprecated constants [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeClear;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeClear) Transparent. (`R = 0`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeCopy;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeCopy) Source image. (`R = S`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeSourceOver;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeSourceOver) Source image wherever source image is opaque, and destination image elsewhere. (`R = S + D*(1 - Sa)`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeSourceIn;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeSourceIn) Source image wherever both images are opaque, and transparent elsewhere. (`R = S*Da`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeSourceOut;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeSourceOut) Source image wherever source image is opaque but destination image is transparent, and transparent elsewhere. (`R = S*(1 - Da)`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeSourceAtop;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeSourceAtop) Source image wherever both images are opaque, destination image wherever destination image is opaque but source image is transparent, and transparent elsewhere. (`R = S*Da + D*(1 - Sa)`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeDestinationOver;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeDestinationOver) Destination image wherever destination image is opaque, and source image elsewhere. (`R = S*(1 - Da) + D`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeDestinationIn;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeDestinationIn) Destination image wherever both images are opaque, and transparent elsewhere. (`R = D*Sa`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeDestinationOut;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeDestinationOut) Destination image wherever destination image is opaque but source image is transparent, and transparent elsewhere. (`R = D*(1 - Sa)`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeDestinationAtop;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeDestinationAtop) Destination image wherever both images are opaque, source image wherever source image is opaque but destination image is transparent, and transparent elsewhere. (`R = S*(1 - Da) + D*Sa`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeXOR;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeXOR) Exclusive OR of source and destination images. (`R = S*(1 - Da) + D*(1 - Sa)`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositePlusDarker;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositePlusDarker) Sum of source and destination images, with color values approaching 0 as a limit. (`R = MAX(0, (1 - D) + (1 - S))`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositePlusLighter;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositePlusLighter) Sum of source and destination images, with color values approaching 1 as a limit. (`R = MIN(1, S + D)`) [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeMultiply;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeMultiply) The source color is multiplied by the destination color. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeScreen;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeScreen) Multiplies the complement of the destination and source color values, and then complements the result. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeOverlay;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeOverlay) Source colors overlay the destination. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeDarken;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeDarken) Use the darker of the source and destination colors. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeLighten;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeLighten) Use the lighter of the source and destination colors. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeColorDodge;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeColorDodge) Brightens the destination to reflect the source. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeColorBurn;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeColorBurn) Darkens the destination color to reflect the source. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeSoftLight;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeSoftLight) Darkens or lightens colors, with the effect of shining a diffused spotlight on the destination. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeHardLight;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeHardLight) Multiplies or screens colors, with the effect of shining a spotlight on the destination. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeDifference;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeDifference) Subtracts the darker value from the lighter value. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeExclusion;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeExclusion) Subtracts the darker value from the lighter value, except lower in contrast. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeHue;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeHue) Uses the hue of the source and the saturation and luminosity of the destination. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeSaturation;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeSaturation) Uses the saturation value of the source and the hue and luminosity of the destination. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeColor;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeColor) Uses the hue and saturation of the source and the luminosity of the destination. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeLuminosity;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeLuminosity) Uses the luminosity of the source and the hue and saturation of the destination. [`static const NSCompositingOperation NSCompositeHighlight;`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositeHighlight) Source image wherever source image is opaque, and destination image elsewhere. ### Deprecated symbols [`NSCompositingOperationHighlight`](/documentation/AppKit/NSCompositingOperation/NSCompositingOperationHighlight) The source image wherever it is opaque, and the destination image elsewhere. --- Copyright © 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)