---
title: Core Image
framework: Core Image
role: collection
role_heading: Framework
platforms: [iOS 5.0+, iPadOS 5.0+, Mac Catalyst 13.1+, macOS 10.11+, tvOS 9.0+, visionOS 1.0+]
path: coreimage
---

# Core Image

Use built-in or custom filters to process still and video images.

## Overview

Overview Core Image is an image processing and analysis technology that provides high-performance processing for still and video images. Use the many built-in image filters to process images and build complex effects by chaining filters. For a list of all the built-in filters see the Filter Catalog. You can also create new effects with custom filters and image processors; see Custom Filters.

## Topics

### Essentials

- [Processing an Image Using Built-in Filters](coreimage/processing-an-image-using-built-in-filters.md)
- [CIContext](coreimage/cicontext.md)
- [CIImage](coreimage/ciimage.md)

### Filters

- [CIFilter](coreimage/cifilter-swift.class.md)
- [CIRAWFilter](coreimage/cirawfilter.md)
- [CIColor](coreimage/cicolor.md)
- [CIVector](coreimage/civector.md)

### Filter Catalog

- [Blur Filters](coreimage/blur-filters.md)
- [Color Adjustment Filters](coreimage/color-adjustment-filters.md)
- [Color Effect Filters](coreimage/color-effect-filters.md)
- [Composite Operations](coreimage/composite-operations.md)
- [Convolution Filters](coreimage/convolution-filters.md)
- [Distortion Filters](coreimage/distortion-filters.md)
- [Generator Filters](coreimage/generator-filters.md)
- [Geometry Adjustment Filters](coreimage/geometry-adjustment-filters.md)
- [Gradient Filters](coreimage/gradient-filters.md)
- [Halftone Effect Filters](coreimage/halftone-effect-filters.md)
- [Reduction Filters](coreimage/reduction-filters.md)
- [Sharpening Filters](coreimage/sharpening-filters.md)
- [Stylizing Filters](coreimage/stylizing-filters.md)
- [Tile Effect Filters](coreimage/tile-effect-filters.md)
- [Transition Filters](coreimage/transition-filters.md)

### Filter Recipes

- [Applying a Chroma Key Effect](coreimage/applying-a-chroma-key-effect.md)
- [Selectively Focusing on an Image](coreimage/selectively-focusing-on-an-image.md)
- [Customizing Image Transitions](coreimage/customizing-image-transitions.md)
- [Simulating Scratchy Analog Film](coreimage/simulating-scratchy-analog-film.md)

### Custom Filters

- [Writing Custom Kernels](coreimage/writing-custom-kernels.md)
- [CIKernel](coreimage/cikernel.md)
- [CIColorKernel](coreimage/cicolorkernel.md)
- [CIWarpKernel](coreimage/ciwarpkernel.md)
- [CIBlendKernel](coreimage/ciblendkernel.md)
- [CISampler](coreimage/cisampler.md)
- [CIFilterShape](coreimage/cifiltershape.md)
- [CIFormat](coreimage/ciformat.md)

### Custom Image Processors

- [CIImageProcessorKernel](coreimage/ciimageprocessorkernel.md)
- [CIImageProcessorInput](coreimage/ciimageprocessorinput.md)
- [CIImageProcessorOutput](coreimage/ciimageprocessoroutput.md)

### Custom Render Destination

- [Generating an animation with a Core Image Render Destination](coreimage/generating-an-animation-with-a-core-image-render-destination.md)
- [CIRenderDestination](coreimage/cirenderdestination.md)
- [CIRenderInfo](coreimage/cirenderinfo.md)
- [CIRenderTask](coreimage/cirendertask.md)
- [CIRenderDestinationAlphaMode](coreimage/cirenderdestinationalphamode.md)

### Feedback-Based Processing

- [CIImageAccumulator](coreimage/ciimageaccumulator.md)

### Barcode Descriptions

- [CIBarcodeDescriptor](coreimage/cibarcodedescriptor.md)
- [CIQRCodeDescriptor](coreimage/ciqrcodedescriptor.md)
- [CIAztecCodeDescriptor](coreimage/ciazteccodedescriptor.md)
- [CIPDF417CodeDescriptor](coreimage/cipdf417codedescriptor.md)
- [CIDataMatrixCodeDescriptor](coreimage/cidatamatrixcodedescriptor.md)

### Image Feature Detection

- [CIDetector](coreimage/cidetector.md)
- [CIFeature](coreimage/cifeature.md)
- [CIFaceFeature](coreimage/cifacefeature.md)
- [CIRectangleFeature](coreimage/cirectanglefeature.md)
- [CITextFeature](coreimage/citextfeature.md)
- [CIQRCodeFeature](coreimage/ciqrcodefeature.md)

### Image Units

- [CIPlugIn](coreimage/ciplugin.md)
- [CIFilterGenerator](coreimage/cifiltergenerator.md)
- [CIPlugInRegistration](coreimage/cipluginregistration.md)
- [CIFilterConstructor](coreimage/cifilterconstructor.md)

### Protocols

- [CIAreaBoundsRed](coreimage/ciareaboundsred.md)
- [CIMaximumScaleTransform](coreimage/cimaximumscaletransform.md)
- [CIToneMapHeadroom](coreimage/citonemapheadroom.md)
- [CIAreaAverageMaximumRed](coreimage/ciareaaveragemaximumred.md)
- [CIBlurredRoundedRectangleGenerator](coreimage/ciblurredroundedrectanglegenerator.md)
- [CIDistanceGradientFromRedMask](coreimage/cidistancegradientfromredmask.md)
- [CIRoundedQRCodeGenerator](coreimage/ciroundedqrcodegenerator.md)
- [CISignedDistanceGradientFromRedMask](coreimage/cisigneddistancegradientfromredmask.md)

### Reference

- [Core Image Constants](coreimage/core-image-constants.md)

## See Also

### Related Documentation

- [Core Image Filter Reference](apple-archive/documentation/GraphicsImaging/Reference/CoreImageFilterReference.md)
- [Core Image Programming Guide](apple-archive/documentation/GraphicsImaging/Conceptual/CoreImaging/ci_intro.md)