Jump To:
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.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sort by
Title
Sorted by
Topic
Sort by
Resource Type
Sort by
Date
Quartz Window Services Reference (HTML)
Describes the interface for capturing the contents of a window.
Carbon Reference 2009-01-15
Quartz2DBasics (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Carbon and Cocoa sample code demonstrating some basic usage of the Quartz 2D API
Carbon Sample Code 2006-09-11
QuartzShapes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Example Quartz functions that implement equivalents to the QuickDraw PaintArc, FrameArc, PaintOval, FrameOval, PaintRect, and FrameRect
Carbon Sample Code 2005-03-08
QuickDraw Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for the legacy two-dimensional drawing engine in Mac OS. Replaced by Quartz 2D.
Carbon Reference 2007-06-29
QuickDraw Text Anti-Aliasing using Quartz 2D (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1193: Describes APIs added to Mac OS X to allow applications to draw QD text using CG anti-aliasing.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2002-10-29
Requirements for Quartz GL (HTML)
QA1536: Describes the requirements for enabling Quartz GL.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2008-08-08
Resolution Independence Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Describes resolution independence and how to start updating applications to support high-resolution monitors.
Carbon Guides 2007-05-04
SampleScannerApp (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This project implements a simple client accessing an ICA scanning device.
Carbon Sample Code 2008-05-07
Saving the current Core Graphics Path (HTML)
QA1056: Explains that the Core Graphics save and restore GState APIs do not affect the path.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2001-10-02
SetCustomIcon (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to programmatically set a custom icon for a file, folder, or disk.
Carbon Sample Code 2006-08-01
Son of Grab (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the new CGWindow to get window images from the Window Server.
Carbon Sample Code 2007-11-01
Spooling in or out of CompressPicture or CompressImage (HTML)
Deprecated - QD17: Recommends alternatives to spooling the results of CompressPicture or CompressImage to or from disk.
Carbon Technical Q&As 1995-09-15
Supporting Printing in Your Carbon Application (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to support printing in Carbon applications. Includes creating PDFs and porting from Mac OS 9.
Carbon Guides 2004-08-31
TE Over Background (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - A textEdit that shows old text editing over a colored background
Carbon Sample Code 2003-07-22
Ticket Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by printer modules and PDEs to communicate printing information to the system.
Carbon Reference 2002-10-23
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing with Core Image (HTML)
Learn how Core Image can help you take your graphics development to the next level.
Carbon Articles 2005-03-09
TubeTest (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - The program is a simple demonstration of how to use the Palette Manager in a color program.
Carbon Sample Code 2003-03-12
Turning Off Core Graphics Clipping (HTML)
QA1050: Explains how to clear the clipping path for a CGContext.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
Unexpected CG state changes (HTML)
QA1045: Explains why the Core Graphics drawing state sometimes changes for no apparent reason.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
Updating OpenGL Contexts (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1209: When and why to update an OpenGL context in response to system and user actions.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2003-06-19
Using Clip Region and Buffer Rectangles with OpenGL Carbon (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1222: Shows the basics of using buffer rectangles and clip regions with AGL.
Carbon Technical Q&As 2002-12-19
Using qd and QDGlobals (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QD40: Why a sample program compiled with SC may give the link error: undefined entry qd. Provides a solution.
Carbon Technical Q&As 1996-02-09
Using Temporary Memory with OpenPicture (HTML)
Deprecated - QD20: Provides several techniques of causing OpenPicture to allocate temporary memory for a picture handle.
Carbon Technical Q&As 1996-02-01
vImage Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C programming interface for high-performance image processing.
Carbon Reference 2007-07-12
Window Manager and EraseRect (HTML)
Deprecated - QD26: Why WindowManager causes a flicker using EraseRect and provides a solution for this problem.
Carbon Technical Q&As 1995-09-15
Working with Quartz Composer (HTML)
Learn to build a sample composition without having to write code.
Carbon Articles 2006-02-13
Animating the frame of a CALayer. (HTML)
QA1620: Explains how the frame property of a layer interacts with animations.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2008-10-24
Animation Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the animation facilities provided by Mac OS X.
Cocoa Guides 2008-10-15
Animation Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use Cocoa animation objects to enhance user interface transitions.
Cocoa Guides 2006-05-23
Application Kit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for all things related to an application's user interface.
Cocoa Reference 2008-11-19
Availability of Quartz Composer Patches in Web Kit (HTML)
QA1505: Details which Quartz Composer patches are available in Web Kit
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2007-03-05
BasicCocoaAnimations (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
"BasicCocoaAnimations" demonstrates the use of the animator proxy to easily animate Cocoa views and windows.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-06-11
BoingX (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows off using Quartz Extreme to provide borderless OpenGL content on the desktop.
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-11-06
CAAction Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving actions initiated by a layer.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CAAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for managing the actions and timing of an animation.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
CAAnimationGroup Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a grouping of multiple animations into a single animation.
Cocoa Reference 2008-03-11
CABasicAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the basic interpolation of a layer property.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CAConstraint Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a single geometric constraint between two layers.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CAConstraintLayoutManager Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layout manager that applies a set of constraints to a layer tree.
Cocoa Reference 2007-12-11
CAKeyframeAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an animation that provides keyframe interpolation of a layer property.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CALayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a node of animated visual content.
Cocoa Reference 2009-02-04
CALayerEssentials (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the basics of setting up various Core Animation layers
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-09-30
CALayoutManager Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving requests to arrange a layout tree.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CAMediaTiming Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for the time behavior of an animation.
Cocoa Reference 2009-03-04
CAMediaTimingFunction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the pacing of an animation as a timing curve.
Cocoa Reference 2008-07-11
CAOpenGLLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that acts as a target for OpenGL commands.
Cocoa Reference 2008-03-11
CAPropertyAnimation Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for manipulating values of layer properties.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CarbonCocoaCoreImageTab (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Carbon-based application creates a Cocoa-based web window which used CoreImage filters to transition between tabbed WebViews
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-07-25
CarbonQuartzComposer_TV (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to integrate Cocoa based QuartzComposer window into a Carbon based application
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-10-02
CARenderer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object that draws a layer to a Core Graphics context.
Cocoa Reference 2008-04-30
CAScrollLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that displays a scrollable portion of another layer.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CATextLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that draws text.
Cocoa Reference 2007-12-11
CATiledLayer Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a layer that draws tiles of content as needed.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CATransaction Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a batch of Core Animation updates that are applied to a render tree atomically.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CATransition Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that provides transition animations to layers.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
CGBitmapContextCreate Supported Color Spaces (HTML)
QA1037: Lists the color space and alpha info combinations currently supported by CGBitmapContextCreate.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2007-07-18
CGContextAddLineToPoint, CGContextAddCurveToPoint, et. al. (HTML)
QA1049: Explains why the CGContextAddXYZ APIs don't draw anything immediately.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
CGContextClosePath (HTML)
QA1046: Explains when you should call CGContextClosePath.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2001-10-02
CGDrawPicture (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Shows how to use the QDPictDrawToCGContext API.
Cocoa Sample Code 2003-01-14
CGImageRef contents are immutable (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1276: Explains that CGImageRef contents are considered immutable once created.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2003-07-17
CIAnnotation (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Image annotation application using Core Image Filters. Demonstrates creation and usage of Image Units.
Cocoa Sample Code 2005-08-01
CIColor Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions to support Cocoa color information.
Cocoa Reference 2006-05-23
CIColor Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to manage color values and color spaces for Core Image filters.
Cocoa Reference 2006-12-05
CIColorTracking (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An Objective-C applicaton that implements a GPU-based technique to find the location of a uniquely colored object in a scene
Cocoa Sample Code 2008-04-24
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 Reference 2007-03-16
CIFilter Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that processes image data and produces a Core Image image as output.
Cocoa Reference 2007-12-11
CIFilter Core Animation Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Layer Kit.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
CIFilter Image Kit Additions (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the category that extends Core Image filters for use with Image Kit.
Cocoa Reference 2006-12-06
CIFilterGenerator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that supports chaining together image processing filters.
Cocoa Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-07
CIImage Additions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes additions for manipulating Cocoa images.
Cocoa Reference 2007-06-08
CIImage Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that represents an immutable Core Image image.
Cocoa Reference 2007-10-31
CIImageAccumulator Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that enables feedback-based image processing.
Cocoa Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-05
CIKernel Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that operates on individual pixels using a kernel routine.
Cocoa Reference 2006-12-05
CIPlugIn Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that is responsible for loading image units.
Cocoa Reference 2006-12-05
CIPlugInRegistration Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the protocol used to load Core Image image units.
Cocoa Reference 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 Reference 2006-12-07
CITransitionSelectorSample2 (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Showing all available Core Image transitions in a scrollable NSOpenGLView
Cocoa Sample Code 2006-09-18
CIVector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to pass parameter values to Core Image filters.
Cocoa Reference 2006-12-07
Cocoa CG aliasing demo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to draw both aliased and anti-aliased text and graphics using Quartz and Cocoa.
Cocoa Sample Code 2003-07-17
Cocoa CG arc demo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to draw both aliased and anti-aliased arcs using Quartz and Cocoa.
Cocoa Sample Code 2003-07-17
Cocoa Drawing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa to draw your application's user interface.
Cocoa Guides 2009-01-06
CocoaSlides (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An image browser written using AppKit's Core Animation-based compositing and animation functionality
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-11-02
Color Management Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces basic concepts and defines color spaces.
Cocoa Guides 2005-07-07
Color Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how applications specify colors and how users choose colors in Cocoa.
Cocoa Guides 2009-03-04
ColorBars (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to enumerate, select, capture, manipulate, draw to, and release displays using the CGDirectDisplay API.
Cocoa Sample Code 2003-01-14
ColorMatching (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Performs simple color matching of images using ColorSync or the QuickTime 6.4 Graphics Importers.
Cocoa Sample Code 2003-12-18
Core Animation Cookbook (HTML) (PDF)
Demonstrates common Core Animation tasks.
Cocoa Guides 2008-03-11
Core Animation Function Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C functions that support Core Animation.
Cocoa Reference 2007-07-24
Core Animation Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the main components and services of Core Animation.
Cocoa Guides 2008-11-13
Core Animation properties and Reference Counting (HTML)
QA1565: Describes a discrepancy between the property declarations in Core Animation and the actual behavior.
Cocoa Technical Q&As 2008-11-24
Core Animation QuickTime Layer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows the use of controls in a Layer over a Core Animation QTMovieLayer
Cocoa Sample Code 2007-09-26
Core Animation Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for Core Animation.
Cocoa Reference 2008-06-26
Core Animation Release Notes (HTML)
Describes features, issues, and workarounds related to Mac OS X v10.5 and its support of Core Animation.
Cocoa Release Notes 2007-05-31
Core Image Kernel Language Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the symbols for writing image-processing kernels.
Cocoa Reference 2008-06-09
Core Image Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview and explains how to use and create image filters and image units.
Cocoa Guides 2008-06-09
Core Image Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for using and creating filters for image processing.
Cocoa Reference 2006-12-05
CTMClip (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Shows how to manipulate the Quartz 2D Current Transform Matrix (CTM) for image drawing with clipping.
Cocoa Sample Code 2003-01-14
CTMDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Shows how to manipulate the Quartz 2D Current Transform Matrix (CTM) for image drawing without clipping.
Cocoa Sample Code 2003-01-14