This draft replaces the previously released Java^TM 2D White Paper and Programmer's Guide. As it is a work in progress, it may contain incomplete or inaccurate information. If discrepancies exist between this document and the Java 2D API in the Beta 4 Java Development Kit (JDK^TM) software, please rely on the information in the JDK software.

The examples in this document have not all been tested. Please see the Java 2D web pages at http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/2D for validated sample code.

This guide describes the features provided by the Java 2D API and illustrates how you can use the Java 2D API classes to enhance your applications. This information is organized into seven chapters:

Overview --introduces the packages and key classes in the Java 2D API.

Rendering with Graphics2D--describes the Java 2D API classes in the java.awt package and how to set up the Graphics2D rendering context.

Geometries--describes the Java 2D API classes in the java.awt.geom package and how to define and manipulate 2D shapes and areas.

Fonts and Text Layout--describes the Java 2D API classes in the java.awt.font package, how to specify and retrieve font information, and how to display and manipulate international text using the Java 2D text layout APIs directly.

Imaging--describes the Java 2D API classes in the java.awt.image, java.awt.image.codec, and java.awt.image.renderable packages and how to display and manipulate images and offscreen buffers.

Color--describes the Java 2D API classes in the java.awt.color package and color management.

Printing--describes the Java 2D API classes in the java.awt.print package and the Java 2D API printing model.