---
title: Graphics modes
framework: quicktime-file-format
role: article
role_heading: Article
path: quicktime-file-format/graphics_modes
---

# Graphics modes

QuickTime files use graphics modes to describe how one video or graphics layer should be combined with the layers beneath it.

## Overview

Overview Graphics modes are also known as transfer modes. Some graphics modes require a color to be specified for certain operations, such as blending to determine the blend level. QuickTime uses the graphics modes defined by Apple’s QuickDraw. The most common graphics modes are and ditherCopy, which simply indicate that the image should not blend with the image behind it, but overwrite it. QuickTime also defines several additional graphics modes. The following table lists the additional graphics modes supported by QuickTime.  |  |  |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |  |  |

## See Also

### Graphics and colors

- [Matrices](quicktime-file-format/matrices.md)
- [RGB colors](quicktime-file-format/rgb_colors.md)
- [Balance](quicktime-file-format/balance.md)