---
title: "draggingImageForItems(at:with:offset:)"
framework: appkit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "appkit/nscollectionview/draggingimageforitems(at:with:offset:)-7rc4k"
---

# draggingImageForItems(at:with:offset:)

Returns an image to use for dragging the specified items.

## Declaration

```swift
func draggingImageForItems(at indexPaths: Set<IndexPath>, with event: NSEvent, offset dragImageOffset: NSPointPointer) -> NSImage
```

## Parameters

- `indexPaths`: The set of doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Foundation/NSIndexPath objects corresponding to the items being dragged.
- `event`: The mouse-down event that began the drag operation.
- `dragImageOffset`: The offset value to use when positioning the image. On input, the point is doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Foundation/NSZeroPoint, which centers the returned image under the mouse. Custom implementations can return a different point that repositions the drag image by the specified offset values.

## Return Value

Return Value The image to use for the dragged items.

## Discussion

Discussion The default implementation of this method creates an image using the visible portions of the dragged items. The resulting image is a snapshot of the dragged items as they currently appear in the collection view but rendered with additional transparency to indicate they are part of a drag operation. This method also updates the dragImageOffset parameter to an appropriate point for dragging the resulting image. If the delegate implements the collectionView(_:draggingImageForItemsAt:with:offset:) method, the collection view method obtains the drag image from that method instead. If the delegate does not implement that method, the collection view uses the image returned by this method.