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Leopard Reference
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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AGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Apple graphics library for Carbon applications that use OpenGL.
Carbon, OpenGL 2007-10-31
Apple Game Sprockets Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the programming interface defined by Game Sprockets. Replaced by Quartz Display Services.
Carbon 2006-07-13
Apple Type Services for Fonts Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ATS-based font access and management.
Typography 2007-12-11
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for all things related to an application's user interface.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
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 2007-10-31
ATSUI Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for rendering Unicode-encoded text with advanced typographic features.
Carbon, Typography 2007-06-28
CAAction Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving actions initiated by a layer.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CAAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing the actions and timing of an animation.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-10-31
CAAnimationGroup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a grouping of multiple animations into a single animation.
Cocoa, Quartz 2008-03-11
CABasicAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the basic interpolation of a layer property.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CAConstraint Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single geometric constraint between two layers.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CAConstraintLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layout manager that applies a set of constraints to a layer tree.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-12-11
CAKeyframeAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an animation that provides keyframe interpolation of a layer property.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CALayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a node of animated visual content.
Cocoa, Quartz 2009-02-04
CALayoutManager Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving requests to arrange a layout tree.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CAMediaTiming Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for the time behavior of an animation.
Cocoa, Quartz 2009-03-04
CAMediaTimingFunction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the pacing of an animation as a timing curve.
Cocoa, Quartz 2008-07-11
CAOpenGLLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that acts as a target for OpenGL commands.
Cocoa, Quartz 2008-03-11
CAPropertyAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for manipulating values of layer properties.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
Carbon Printing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by Carbon applications to provide a user interface for printing.
Printing 2007-07-24
CARenderer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws a layer to a Core Graphics context.
Cocoa, Quartz 2008-04-30
CAScrollLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that displays a scrollable portion of another layer.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CATextLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that draws text.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-12-11
CATiledLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that draws tiles of content as needed.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CATransaction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a batch of Core Animation updates that are applied to a render tree atomically.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CATransition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides transition animations to layers.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-10-31
CGAffineTransform Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions for creating and applying affine transformations.
Quartz 2008-04-08
CGBitmapContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for managing drawing operations in a bitmap.
Quartz 2007-06-28
CGColor Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of color and opacity (alpha value).
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGColorSpace Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for specifying color space information.
Quartz 2008-09-09
CGContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Quartz 2D drawing destination.
Quartz 2008-04-08
CGDataConsumer Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque data type for writing image or PDF data.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGDataProvider Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque data type for reading image data.
Quartz 2009-01-06
CGFont Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a font.
Quartz 2007-07-17
CGFunction Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a facility for defining and using callback functions.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGGeometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes structures and functions for manipulating points, rectangles, and sizes.
Quartz 2009-01-06
CGGLContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphics context for OpenGL commands. Not recommended
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGGradient Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions that create and operate on Quartz gradient objects.
Quartz 2007-05-01
CGImage Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of an image.
Quartz 2008-04-08
CGImageDestination Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for writing image data.
Quartz 2007-05-04
CGImageProperties Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes property constants for source and destination images.
Carbon, Quartz 2007-10-31
CGImageSource Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for reading image data.
Quartz 2007-12-04
CGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Apple's low level interface for OpenGL contexts.
Carbon, OpenGL 2007-06-28
CGLayer Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for creating and drawing to a Quartz layer.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPath Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a vector-based path consisting of line and curve segments.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPattern Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a fill pattern.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFArray Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an array structure in a PDF document.
Quartz 2008-10-15
CGPDFContentStream Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the appearance of a PDF page.
Quartz 2008-10-15
CGPDFContext Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a Quartz PDF drawing destination.
Quartz 2007-10-31
CGPDFDictionary Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a dictionary structure in a PDF document.
Quartz 2008-10-15
CGPDFDocument Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a document containing PDF data.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGPDFObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a PDF object in a PDF document.
Quartz 2008-10-15
CGPDFOperatorTable Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a collection of PDF operators and associated callback functions.
Quartz 2009-03-04
CGPDFPage Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a page in a PDF document.
Quartz 2008-04-08
CGPDFScanner Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for parsing a PDF content stream.
Quartz 2008-10-15
CGPDFStream Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a PDF data stream, which typically represents an image or a page description.
Quartz 2008-10-15
CGPDFString Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a character string in a PDF document.
Quartz 2008-10-15
CGPSConverter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an opaque type for converting PostScript data to PDF data.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CGShading Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a gradient fill pattern.
Quartz 2006-12-22
CIColor Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions to support Cocoa color information.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-05-23
CIColor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage color values and color spaces for Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-05
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 2007-03-16
CIFilter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that processes image data and produces a Core Image image as output.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2007-12-11
CIFilter Core Animation Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Layer Kit.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
CIFilter Image Kit Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Image Kit.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
CIFilterGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports chaining together image processing filters.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-05
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 2006-12-07
CIImage Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for manipulating Cocoa images.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-06-08
CIImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents an immutable Core Image image.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2007-10-31
CIImageAccumulator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables feedback-based image processing.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2007-01-05
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 2006-12-05
CIKernel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that operates on individual pixels using a kernel routine.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-05
CIPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that is responsible for loading image units.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-05
CIPlugInRegistration Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to load Core Image image units.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 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 2006-12-07
CIVector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to pass parameter values to Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-07
Color Picker Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used in Classic Mac OS to solicit color choices from users.
Carbon 2007-07-02
ColorSync Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ColorSync, the platform-independent color management system in Mac OS X.
Carbon, ColorSync 2005-06-04
Core Animation Function Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C functions that support Core Animation.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-24
Core Animation Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Core Animation.
Cocoa, Quartz 2008-06-26
Core Graphics Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Quartz 2D drawing, Quartz Display Services, and Quartz Events Services.
Quartz 2006-12-11
Core Image Filter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the built-in image processing filters available through Core Image.
Quartz 2008-07-11
Core Image Kernel Language Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the symbols for writing image-processing kernels.
Carbon, Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2008-06-09
Core Image Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for using and creating filters for image processing.
Cocoa, Games, Quartz 2006-12-05
Core Printing Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that provides an abstraction layer for application printing.
Printing 2007-07-24
Core Video Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for obtaining and manipulating individual video frames.
Quartz, Video 2007-03-22
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 2007-12-04
DVD Playback Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the DVD Playback framework, which supports adding DVD playback features to applications.
Video 2007-06-28
Font Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for QuickDraw-based font access and management.
Carbon, Typography 2007-12-11
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Carbon, Typography 2007-02-26
FontSync Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for content-based font identification and comparison.
Carbon, Typography 2002-10-01
HIGeometry Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that defines basic geometric objects for HIToolbox.
Carbon 2007-06-11
HIShape Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for manipulating HIShape objects.
Carbon 2004-06-28
HTML Rendering Library Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for drawing HTML text and images in a window. Replaced by the Web Kit.
Carbon 2006-07-13
IKFilterBrowserPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the panel contained in a filter browser.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-10-31
IKFilterBrowserView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports browsing Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
IKFilterCustomUIProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the protocol that defines a method for providing a view for a filter.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-07
IKFilterUIView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a user interface for Core Image filters.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-06
IKImageBrowserDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used to access the data source associated with an image browser view.
Cocoa, Quartz 2007-07-17
IKImageBrowserDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol for the delegate of an image browser view.
Cocoa, Quartz 2006-12-07