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Leopard Reference Library
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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NSBitmapImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from bitmap data.
Cocoa Reference 2009-01-06
NSBox Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view that can display its border and a title.
Cocoa Reference 2008-10-15
NSCachedImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes cached image data that is ready to be rendered.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-15
NSCIImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from a Core Image CIImage instance.
Cocoa Reference 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 Reference 2006-05-23
NSColor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of color and opacity.
Cocoa Reference 2009-01-06
NSColorList Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an ordered list of colors identified by keys.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
NSColorPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the standard panel used for color selection.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
NSColorPicker Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for custom views in a color panel used for color selection.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
NSColorPickingCustom Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving custom color-picker user-interface requests.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-01
NSColorPickingDefault Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving basic color-picker user-interface requests.
Cocoa Reference 2007-04-27
NSColorSpace Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a system or custom color space.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
NSColorWell Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a control for displaying and selecting colors.
Cocoa Reference 2007-02-28
NSCustomImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that supports drawing an image using a custom data format.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-19
NSEPSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from encapsulated PostScript data.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-22
NSGLImage (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Demonstrates how to texture in OpenGL with an NSImage and/or NSBitmapImageRep
Cocoa, Games, OpenGL Sample Code 2004-12-01
NSGraphicsContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a destination for drawing operations.
Cocoa Reference 2007-03-01
NSImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a graphical image that includes facilities for drawing and compositing.
Cocoa Reference 2009-01-06
NSImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing and drawing image data.
Cocoa Reference 2009-01-06
NSOpenGL Fullscreen (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to create and switch between windowed and fullscreen OpenGL contexts using NSOpenGL.
Cocoa, OpenGL Sample Code 2004-02-11
NSOpenGLContext Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a target for OpenGL commands.
Cocoa, OpenGL Reference 2008-06-09
NSOpenGLPixelBuffer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an OpenGL pixel buffer.
Cocoa, OpenGL Reference 2007-01-31
NSOpenGLPixelFormat Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a pixel format for OpenGL rendering.
Cocoa, OpenGL Reference 2008-10-15
NSOpenGLView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for OpenGL drawing.
OpenGL Reference 2007-01-26
NSOpenGLView redraw problems after a window is closed and re-opened. (HTML)
QA1353: Workaround for NSOpenGLView failure to draw after its window is closed and re-opened.
Cocoa, OpenGL Technical Q&As 2004-12-03
NSPanel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window for performing auxiliary functions in an application.
Cocoa Reference 2009-01-06
NSPDFImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from PDF data.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-26
NSPICTImageRep Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws an image from PICT data.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-26
NSQuickDrawView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a deprecated technology replaced by Quartz.
Cocoa Reference 2007-01-30
NSScreen Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a representation of a screen (computer monitor).
Cocoa Reference 2009-01-06
NSScrollView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for displaying content larger than its bounds.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSShadow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a drop shadow for a drawing operation.
Cocoa Reference 2009-02-04
NSValue Core Animation Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes extensions to Foundation's NSValue class that support the Core Animation LKTransform structure.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-07-24
NSView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for drawing, event handling, and printing in views.
Cocoa Reference 2009-02-04
NSViewAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an animation in a view or window.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
NSWindow Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a window.
Cocoa Reference 2009-03-04
NURBSSurfaceVertexProg (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Uses a vertex program to compute the vertex position for a NURB surface.
OpenGL Sample Code 2003-07-07
Obtaining 16 Bits-Per-Color Data with CUPS Raster Printing (HTML)
TN2149: Obtaining 16 Bits-Per-Color Data with CUPS Raster Printing
Printing Technical Notes 2005-08-24
OpenGL Capabilities Matrix (HTML)
Lists supported OpenGL extensions and parameter values by various combinations of Mac OS X versions, graphics adapters, and CPU types.
OpenGL Reference 2007-11-30
OpenGL Driver Monitor Decoder Ring (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1334: Describes what each of the parameters available in the OpenGL Driver Monitor measure.
OpenGL Technical Q&As 2004-01-30
OpenGL Driver Monitor User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to view the properties supported by the OpenGL drivers available on the system.
OpenGL, Tools Guides 2008-02-08
OpenGL Extensions Guide (HTML)
Information about OpenGL functionality supported in Mac OS X.
Carbon, OpenGL Guides 2003-09-10
OpenGL Filter Basics Cocoa (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to use Objective-C and MVC design patterns in installing and utilizing filters in an OpenGL rendering pipeline
Cocoa, Games, OpenGL, Performance Sample Code 2008-02-06
OpenGL Performance Optimization : The Basics (HTML)
TN2093: This document describes some of the concepts and techniques for optimizing performance in OpenGL applications.
OpenGL Technical Notes 2008-11-05
OpenGL Profiler User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to assess the efficiency of an OpenGL application.
OpenGL, Tools Guides 2008-02-08
OpenGL Programming Guide for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Apple implementation of OpenGL to create 3D graphics for Cocoa and Carbon applications.
Games, OpenGL Guides 2008-06-09
OpenGL Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the OpenGL framework.
OpenGL Release Notes 2007-07-18
OpenGL Release Highlights - Mac OS X 10.3 Panther (HTML)
TN2131: Contains a list of bugs along with a short description on a release-by-release basis
Carbon, Cocoa, Games, OpenGL Technical Notes 2005-02-04
OpenGL Screensaver (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to integrate OpenGL drawing into a standard Cocoa screen saver on Mac OS X.
Cocoa, OpenGL Sample Code 2003-12-10
OpenGL Shader Builder User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use OpenGL Shader Builder to develop and test GPU programs.
OpenGL, Tools Guides 2008-06-23
OpenGL Tools for Serious Graphics Development (HTML)
Learn how Apple's best-of-breed OpenGL tools help developers locate, analyze, and debug graphics bottlenecks.
OpenGL, Performance, Tools Articles 2004-02-02
OpenGLCaptureToMovie (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to capture the screen on Mac OS X using OpenGL and save to a QuickTime movie.
OpenGL Sample Code 2007-08-30
OpenGLCompositorLab (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using OpenGL to composite multiple sources in hardware. Requires NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti hardware.
Cocoa, OpenGL, QuickTime Sample Code 2003-04-21
OpenGLScreenSnapshot (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to get the screen pixels using OpenGL and save them to an image file.
OpenGL Sample Code 2008-08-14
Optimizing OpenGL Data Throughput on Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn how to optimize your OpenGL code to maximize vertex data throughput.
OpenGL, Performance Articles 2005-03-21
Out of This GWorld (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Demonstrates the use of offscreen GWorlds and palette animation to simulate animation.
Carbon, Games Sample Code 2003-03-12
The "packages" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW90: Describes the "packages" node in the Open Firmware device tree.
Hardware & Drivers Technical Q&As 2006-02-22
Palette and GWorld (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Demonstrates the use of palette and color tables with GWorlds.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-10-10
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 Reference 2006-07-13
Parsing the PICT File Format (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QD56: Explains where to find information on the PICT file format and warns against parsing a PICT file.
Carbon Technical Q&As 1998-02-10
PBORenderToVertexArray (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This sample demonstrates render-to-vertex-array using FBO, PBO, and VBO.
OpenGL, Performance Sample Code 2006-10-02
PDEProject (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Demonstrates an application-hosted printing dialog extension (PDE) that displays a custom pane in the Print dialog.
Carbon, Printing Sample Code 2003-01-14
PDF Annotation Editor (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use PDF Kit to examine, edit, and create PDF annotations.
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-07-31
PDF Calendar (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use PDF Kit to create PDF content.
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-07-31
PDF Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces basic PDF concepts and describes how to use PDF Kit to display PDF documents in your application.
Carbon, Cocoa, Quartz Guides 2007-12-11
PDF Kit Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for viewing, navigating, and editing PDF content.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for representing an action in a PDF document.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionGoTo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating the destination of a go-to action in a PDF document.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionNamed Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for working with actions that have defined names, such as "Go back."
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionRemoteGoTo Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating the destination of a go-to action that targets another PDF document.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionResetForm Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for getting and clearing fields in a PDF form.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFActionURL Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the URL associated with a URL action.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describe the class for creating and managing annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationButtonWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating button annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationChoiceWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu and list annotations in a PDF document.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationCircle Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating circle annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationFreeText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating free text annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationInk Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating ink annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationLine Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating line annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationLink Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating link annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationMarkup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating markup annotations (highlighting, underlining, and so on) in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationPopup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating pop-up menu annotations in a PDF document.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationSquare Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating square annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-05-23
PDFAnnotationStamp Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for displaying content to look as if it is "stamped" onto a PDF page.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationText Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating text annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFAnnotationTextWidget Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for manipulating editable text fields in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFBorder Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating borders around annotations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2006-05-23
PDFDestination Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for describing specific destinations in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFDocument Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating PDF files.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFKitLinker2 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates many aspects of PDFKit including navigation, display modes, searching, and PDFView subclassing.
Cocoa Sample Code 2005-08-10
PDFOutline Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for creating and manipulating structure outlines in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFPage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling specific pages in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFSelection Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for handling user selections in PDF documents.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFThumbnailView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class for managing the thumbnail view in a PDF document.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
PDFView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that encapsulates all the capabilities of PDF Kit in a standard Cocoa view.
Cocoa, Quartz Reference 2007-12-11
Performance Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the factors that determine performance.
Performance Guides 2006-10-03
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 Reference 2006-07-13
PictureTaker (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the PictureTaker in a basic Cocoa application
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-04-02
PinBallHighScores (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates use of Quartz Composer for displaying data within an application
Quartz Sample Code 2007-06-11
Play Video Sample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - The sample makes use of the RequestVideo sample code API.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-01-14