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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 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
ATSUI Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for rendering Unicode-encoded text with advanced typographic features.
Carbon 2007-06-28
CGImageProperties Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes property constants for source and destination images.
Carbon 2007-10-31
CGL Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Apple's low level interface for OpenGL contexts.
Carbon 2007-06-28
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 2005-06-04
Core Image Kernel Language Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the symbols for writing image-processing kernels.
Carbon 2008-06-09
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
Font Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for QuickDraw-based font access and management.
Carbon 2007-12-11
Fonts Panel Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for providing a Fonts window in a Carbon application.
Carbon 2007-02-26
FontSync Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for content-based font identification and comparison.
Carbon 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
Image I/O Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for reading and writing image data.
Carbon 2007-04-09
Palette Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API used to select colors for display devices limited to an 8-bit pixel depth.
Carbon 2006-07-13
Picture Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Describes the legacy C API for reading and modifying image data stored in PICT-formatted files. Replaced by Quartz2D.
Carbon 2006-07-13
Quartz 2D Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the native two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS X.
Carbon 2006-12-18
Quartz Display Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for configuring and controlling display hardware.
Carbon 2008-11-19
Quartz Window Services Reference (HTML)
Describes the interface for capturing the contents of a window.
Carbon 2009-01-15
QuickDraw Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the legacy two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS. Replaced by Quartz 2D.
Carbon 2007-06-29
Ticket Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by printer modules and PDEs to communicate printing information to the system.
Carbon 2002-10-23
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Carbon 2007-07-12
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for all things related to an application's user interface.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
CAAction Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving actions initiated by a layer.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CAAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing the actions and timing of an animation.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
CAAnimationGroup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a grouping of multiple animations into a single animation.
Cocoa 2008-03-11
CABasicAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the basic interpolation of a layer property.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CAConstraint Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single geometric constraint between two layers.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CAConstraintLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layout manager that applies a set of constraints to a layer tree.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
CAKeyframeAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an animation that provides keyframe interpolation of a layer property.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CALayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a node of animated visual content.
Cocoa 2009-02-04
CALayoutManager Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving requests to arrange a layout tree.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CAMediaTiming Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for the time behavior of an animation.
Cocoa 2009-03-04
CAMediaTimingFunction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the pacing of an animation as a timing curve.
Cocoa 2008-07-11
CAOpenGLLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that acts as a target for OpenGL commands.
Cocoa 2008-03-11
CAPropertyAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for manipulating values of layer properties.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CARenderer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws a layer to a Core Graphics context.
Cocoa 2008-04-30
CAScrollLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that displays a scrollable portion of another layer.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CATextLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that draws text.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
CATiledLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that draws tiles of content as needed.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CATransaction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a batch of Core Animation updates that are applied to a render tree atomically.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CATransition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides transition animations to layers.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
CIColor Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions to support Cocoa color information.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
CIColor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage color values and color spaces for Core Image filters.
Cocoa 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 2007-03-16
CIFilter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that processes image data and produces a Core Image image as output.
Cocoa 2007-12-11
CIFilter Core Animation Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Layer Kit.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
CIFilter Image Kit Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Image Kit.
Cocoa 2006-12-06
CIFilterGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports chaining together image processing filters.
Cocoa 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 2006-12-07
CIImage Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for manipulating Cocoa images.
Cocoa 2007-06-08
CIImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents an immutable Core Image image.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
CIImageAccumulator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables feedback-based image processing.
Cocoa 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 2006-12-05
CIKernel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that operates on individual pixels using a kernel routine.
Cocoa 2006-12-05
CIPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that is responsible for loading image units.
Cocoa 2006-12-05
CIPlugInRegistration Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to load Core Image image units.
Cocoa 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 2006-12-07
CIVector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to pass parameter values to Core Image filters.
Cocoa 2006-12-07
Core Animation Function Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C functions that support Core Animation.
Cocoa 2007-07-24
Core Animation Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Core Animation.
Cocoa 2008-06-26
Core Image Kernel Language Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the symbols for writing image-processing kernels.
Cocoa 2008-06-09
Core Image Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for using and creating filters for image processing.
Cocoa 2006-12-05
IKFilterBrowserPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides the panel contained in a filter browser.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
IKFilterBrowserView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports browsing Core Image filters.
Cocoa 2006-12-06
IKFilterCustomUIProvider Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the protocol that defines a method for providing a view for a filter.
Cocoa 2006-12-07
IKFilterUIView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a user interface for Core Image filters.
Cocoa 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 2007-07-17
IKImageBrowserDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol for the delegate of an image browser view.
Cocoa 2006-12-07
IKImageBrowserItem Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the informal protocol used by an image browser view to access the data source for an item.
Cocoa 2007-01-12
IKImageBrowserView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that can display and browse a large amount of images and movies in an efficient manner.
Cocoa 2006-12-13
IKImageEditPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides a panel optimized for image editing.
Cocoa 2006-12-06
IKImageEditPanelDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the mthods than an image edit panel object uses to access the contents of its data source object.
Cocoa 2006-12-06
IKImageView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to display images efficiently at the same time it supports image editing.
Cocoa 2008-04-08
IKPictureTaker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Descibes the class that provides a panel for choosing images.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
IKSaveOptions Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that initializes, adds, and manages user interface options for saving image data.
Cocoa 2006-12-06
IKSlideshow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates a data source and options for a slideshow.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
IKSlideshowDataSource Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods that a slideshow object uses to access the contents of its data source object.
Cocoa 2009-03-04
Image Kit Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for providing a user interface for images, image editing, and image processing.
Cocoa 2006-12-06
NSAffineTransform Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions to support affine transformations.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSAffineTransform Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an affine transformation from one coordinate space to another.
Cocoa 2007-01-15
NSAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the behavior of an animation.
Cocoa 2007-10-31
NSBezierPath Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a vector-based path consisting of line and curve segments.
Cocoa 2007-03-02
NSBitmapImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from bitmap data.
Cocoa 2009-01-06
NSBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that can display its border and a title.
Cocoa 2008-10-15
NSCachedImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes cached image data that is ready to be rendered.
Cocoa 2007-01-15
NSCIImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from a Core Image CIImage instance.
Cocoa 2007-01-15
NSClipView Class Objective-C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that contains and scrolls the document view of a scroll view.
Cocoa 2006-05-23
NSColor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of color and opacity.
Cocoa 2009-01-06
NSColorList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an ordered list of colors identified by keys.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the standard panel used for color selection.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorPicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for custom views in a color panel used for color selection.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorPickingCustom Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving custom color-picker user-interface requests.
Cocoa 2007-04-01
NSColorPickingDefault Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving basic color-picker user-interface requests.
Cocoa 2007-04-27
NSColorSpace Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a system or custom color space.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSColorWell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying and selecting colors.
Cocoa 2007-02-28
NSCustomImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that supports drawing an image using a custom data format.
Cocoa 2007-01-19
NSEPSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from encapsulated PostScript data.
Cocoa 2007-01-22