Introduction to QuickTime Compression and Decompression Guide

Describes the QuickTime data compression and decompression technologies.

Organization of This Document

This book consists of the following chapters:

The Image Compression Manager provides an overview of the Image Compression Manager.

Extensions to the Image Compression Manager describes the extensions to the Image Compression Manager introduced in various releases of QuickTime, including support for ColorSync, asynchronous decompression, timecodes, and compressed fields of video data.

Image Compression Characteristics provides a brief overview of the characteristics of image compression algorithms, including discussions of compression ratios, compression speed, and image quality.

Compressors Supplied by Apple discusses the compressors that Apples supplies with the Image Compression Manager. Included also is a detailed discussion of which types of images are most suitable for which compressors, with illustrative graphs of compression ratios.

Working with the Image Compression Manager which describes how to use the Gestalt Manager to determine what version of the Image Compression Manager is available. Various functions you can use to gather information about the Image Compression Manager and the installed compressor components are also discussed.

How to Compress and Decompress Sequences of Images provides a sample program illustrating the processes used to compress and decompress image sequences.

ICM Functions, Data Types, and Constants describes the various functions, data types, and constants your application can take advantage of in working with the Image Compression Manager.

About Image Compressor Components describes the general characteristics of an image compressor component, including its component type.

Using Image Compressor Components describes what the Image Compression Manager does that affects compressors. It also provides sample code that shows how the compressor components prepare for image compression, and how to compress an image or a horizontal band from an image.

Codec Components API lists the data types, functions, and constants in QuickTime that support image compression and decompression.

About the Base Image Decompressor describes the base image decompressor, an Apple-supplied component that makes it easier for developers to create new decompressors.

Using Data Codec Components describes the features of data codec components and shows how to find and control them. A list of useful codec component functions is provided.

Standard Image Compression Dialog Components introduces the standard image compression dialog component and illustrates the two standard dialog boxes.

Working With Standard Image Compression Dialog Components describes in detail how you can use the standard image compression dialog component.

Image Compression Dialog Types and Functions describes the request types and functions associated with the standard image compression dialog components and an application-defined function.

Using Image Transcoder Components describes what image transcoding is and why it is useful, providing an overview of the relationship between applications, QuickTime services, and transcoder components. This chapter also describes the process of creating an image transcoding sequence for the Image Compression Manager and lists the functions applications use to access transcoding services.

Creating Image Transcoder Components describes when and how to create image transcoder components, and provides a code listing with an example transcoder for component authors.

Introduction to QuickTime Compression and Decompression Guide

Organization of This Document

See Also