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CIFilter Image Kit Additions

Overview

This Image Kit addition to the CIFilter class, introduced in Mac OS X v10.5, consists of one method and a set of constants that generate a view with input parameter controls for a Core Image filter. Using this method, it is easier for applications to present a user interface for a filter than it was in Mac OS X v10.4. Then, applications could create a filter user interface only by analyzing the keys and key attributes of a filter and then writing the code to implement the user interface.

You use the viewForUIConfiguration:excludedKeys: method to request a view from Core Image. The view is a subclass of the NSView class so that you can insert it easily into any other view as a subview or into an NSWindow object as a content view. Core Image automatically generates the view for you unless you implement the IKFilterCustomUIProvider protocol, in which case calling viewForUIConfiguration:excludedKeys: causes Core Image to provide your custom view.

Tasks

Creating a View for a Filter

• – viewForUIConfiguration:excludedKeys:

Instance Methods

viewForUIConfiguration:excludedKeys:

Returns a filter view for the filter.

-(IKFilterUIView*)viewForUIConfiguration:(NSDictionary*)inUIConfiguration excludedKeys:(NSArray*)inKeys;

Parameters

inUIConfiguration

A dictionary that contains values for the IKUISizeFlavor and kCIUIParameterSet keys. See “User Interface Options” for the constants that you can provide as values for IKUISizeFlavor. For kCIUIParameterSet you can provide one of the following values: kCIUISetBasic, kCIUISetIntermediate, kCIUISetAdvanced, or kCIUISetDevelopment. When you request a user interface for a parameter set, all keys for that set and below are included. For example, the advanced set consists of all parameters in the basic, intermediate and advanced sets. The development set should contain parameters that are either experimental or for debugging purposes. You should use them only during the development of filters and client applications, and not in a shipping product.

inKeys

An array of the input keys for which you do not want to provide a user interface. Pass nil if you want all input keys to be represented in the user interface.

Return Value

An IKFilterUIView object. You should retain the view as long as you need it, but make sure to release it when you no longer need it as the view is retaining the filter.

Discussion

Calling this method to receive a view for a filter causes the CIFilter class to invoke the provideViewForUIConfiguration:excludedKeys: method. If you override provideViewForUIConfiguration:excludedKeys: the user interface is created by your filter subclass . Otherwise, Core Image automatically generates the user interface based on the filter keys and attributes.

The algorithm used to lay out the controls for a filter operates in a manner similar to the Core Image Fun House application (/Developer/Applications/Graphics Tools/). Applications can retrieve a view whose control sizes complement the size of user interface elements already used in the application. It is also possible to choose which filter input parameters appear in the view. Consumer applications, for example, may want to show a small, basic set of input parameters whereas professional applications may want to provide access to all input parameters.

The controls in the view use bindings to set the values of the filter. See Cocoa Bindings Programming Topics if you are unfamiliar with bindings.

Availability

• Available in Mac OS X v10.5 and later.

Declared In

IKFilterUI.h

Constants

User Interface Options

Keys or values for the size of the input parameter controls for a filter view.

NSString *IKUISizeFlavor;
NSString *IKUISizeMini;
NSString *IKUISizeSmall;
NSString *IKUISizeRegular;
NSString *IKUImaxSize;
NSString *IKUIFlavorAllowFallback;

Constants

IKUISizeFlavor

A key for the size of the controls in a filter view. The associated value can be IKUISizeMini, IKUISizeSmall, or IKUISizeRegular.

Available in Mac OS X v10.5 and later.

Declared in IKFilterUI.h.

IKUISizeMini

Controls whose size is mini, as defined by Interface Builder 2.5.

Available in Mac OS X v10.5 and later.

Declared in IKFilterUI.h.

IKUISizeSmall

Controls whose size is small, as defined by Interface Builder 2.5.

Available in Mac OS X v10.5 and later.

Declared in IKFilterUI.h.

IKUISizeRegular

Controls whose size is regular or normal, as defined by Interface Builder 2.5.

Available in Mac OS X v10.5 and later.

Declared in IKFilterUI.h.

IKUImaxSize

Controls whose dimensions are the maximum allowable for the filter view. A width or height of 0 indicates that that dimension of the view is not restricted. If the size requested is too small, the filter is expected to return a view as small as possible. It is up to the client to verify that the returned view fits into the context.

Available in Mac OS X v10.5 and later.

Declared in IKFilterUI.h.

IKUIFlavorAllowFallback

Substitute controls of another size. The associated value is a Boolean value. If the filter cannot provide a view for the requested size and a fallback is allowed, the filter can use controls of a different size.

Available in Mac OS X v10.5 and later.

Declared in IKFilterUI.h.

Declared In

IKFilterUI.h

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