Core Image is an image processing technology built into Mac OS X v10.4 that leverages programmable graphics hardware whenever possible to provide near real-time processing. The Core Image application programming interface (API) provides access to built-in image filters for both video and still images and provides support for creating custom filters.
Developers who are designing an application that supports video or still image processing, or who want to write an image processing filter that can be used by other applications, will find this document useful.
This document is organized into the following chapters:
“Core Image Concepts” describes the Core Image model, the organization of the API, and defines the key concepts you need to use the Core Image API.
“Using Core Image Filters” shows how to set up and use Core Image to obtain a list of available filters and their attributes, process an image, apply transition effects, image dynamical systems, and apply filters to video.
“Creating Custom Filters” describes how to write your own filter and use it in your application. It also discusses issues related to executable and nonexecutable filters.
“Packaging Filters as Image Units” explains how to package a filter as an image unit so that other applications can load and use the filters that you write.
Apple offers the following additional resources for graphics and imaging:
Core Image Reference Collection provides a detailed description of the objects and methods available in the Core Image API.
Core Image Filter Reference describes the image processing filters that Apple provides with Mac OS X and shows how images appear before and after processing with a filter.
Core Image Kernel Language Reference describes the language for creating kernel routines for custom filters.
Image Kit Programming Guide contains information on how to use the Core Image additions to the Image Kit framework (introduced in Mac OS X v10.5) to provide a user interface for browsing Core Image filters and setting their input parameters.
NSCIImageRep has Application Kit additions that allow Core Image to operate with the NSImage model.
Quartz 2D Reference Collection is a complete reference for the Quartz 2D data types that are also used in the Core Image framework.
Quartz 2D Programming Guide contains information on how to create Quartz 2D images and color spaces, and how to perform 2D drawing with Quartz.
The OpenGL website (www.opengl.org) provides information on the OpenGL Shading Language (glslang). You can go there to obtain information on the glslang syntax, a subset of which is used to specify the kernel routines used for custom filters.
Quartz Composer User Guide, describes how to use the Quartz Composer development tool, provided with Mac OS X v10.4 and later, for processing and rendering graphical data. You can use Quartz Composer to experiment with built-in Core Image filters, without the need to write any code. You can also use Quartz Composer to test kernel routines (see “Use Quartz Composer to Test the Kernel Routine”).
Core Video Reference contains a detailed description of the Core Video API.
Core Video Programming Guide describes the Mac OS X digital video model and shows how to use the Core Video API.
Last updated: 2008-06-09