The Java 2D™ API enhances the graphics, text, and imaging capabilities of the Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT), enabling the development of richer user interfaces and new types of Java™ applications. Along with these richer graphics, font, and image APIs, the Java 2D API supports enhanced color definition and composition, hit detection on arbitrary geometric shapes and text, and a uniform rendering model for printers and display devices. The Java 2D API also enables the creation of advanced graphics libraries, such as CAD-CAM libraries and graphics or imaging special effects libraries, as well as the creation of image and graphic file read/write filters.

When used in conjunction with the Java Media Framework and other Java Media APIs, the Java 2D APIs can be used to create and display animations and other multimedia presentations. The Java Animation and Java Media Framework APIs rely on the Java 2D API for rendering support.

Enhanced Graphics, Text, and Imaging
Early versions of the AWT provided a simple rendering package suitable for rendering common HTML pages, but not full-featured enough for complex graphics, text, or imaging. As a simplified rendering package, the early AWT embodied specific cases of more general rendering concepts. The Java 2D™ API provides a more flexible, full-featured rendering package by expanding the AWT to support more general graphics and rendering operations.

For example, through the Graphics class you can draw rectangles, ovals, and polygons. Graphics2D enhances the concept of geometric rendering by providing a mechanism for rendering virtually any geometric shape. Similarly, with the Java 2D API you can draw styled lines of any width and fill geometric shapes with vir- tually any texture.

Download pdf Programmer’s Guide to the Java 2D - API Enhanced Graphics and Imaging for Java