Ideal Market Segments for Imaging Libraries

Imaging
	Related

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Commercial Imaging
Medical Imaging and Volume Visualization
Digital Content Creation

XIL

Sun's foundation imaging library for C/C++ programmers who need high performance-oriented features such as image tiling, deferred execution, stereoscopic display, multi-processor scalability and color management support via Kodak Color Management System.

Ideal for Solaris C/C++ based new product development.
High level foundation library tuned for large images and fast display rendering.
High performance image processing with image tiling, deferred execution, stereoscopic display and multi-processor scalability.
Color management supported via Kodak Color Management System.

XIL Source Code

The free source code release for the last released version of XIL in Solaris. Since XIL was obsolesced in Solaris 8, it will not be bundled with the next major Solaris release. The source code is released to aid those developers who wish to keep using XIL rather than migrate to one of the other imaging offerings from SUN. The source code release is not a SUN-supported product but developers may feel free to use it in their products with no additional licenses or royalties. The developer must agree to the source code license at down-load time.

Allows your products to keep using XIL for as long as you desire.
Does not include color management (Kodak Color Management System (KCMS) is a licensed product from Eastman Kodak)
Does not include the Visual Instruction Set (VIS) for acceleration on Sparc.
Currently includes makefiles only for Solaris and Linux, but should be easy to port to Windows.
Except for above exceptions, this source code is the same version (1.4.1) as that used for the Solaris 8 release libraries.

mediaLib

A low level media library, with highly optimized drop-in replacements for the applications' inner image processing loops.

Low level of abstraction makes mediaLib perfect for porting legacy applications to SPARC Platforms.
Ideal for applications that require Volumetric Visualization.
Low level media library, with support for imaging, linear algebra, audio/video and graphics.
Acceleration on UltraSPARC achieved using the Visual Instruction Set VIS.
Portable C-optimized Library Available

OpenGL Imaging Extensions

The standard set of imaging extensions for the OpenGL graphics API approved by the OpenGL ARB. These extensions appeal to customers who want to perform imaging and graphics operations in the same OpenGL application.

Ideal for applications that require integration of graphics and imaging.
Low level graphics API with imaging extensions.
C/C++ based industry standard for Graphics.

Java 2D

Provided as part of the Java Development Kit 1.2 Software, Java 2D is a standard set of simple graphics and imaging functionality enabling developers to incorporate high-quality, scalable, platform-independent graphics into Java applets and applications.

Ideal for network, web-based imaging applications.
Simple and compact 2D graphics and imaging solution.
Part of JDK 1.2 Software Core API makes it available on every Java Platform: PC, MAC, workstations, NCs, embedded systems and others.
Provides a powerful, flexible framework for using device and resolution-independent graphics in Java programs.
Integrated with other Java Media APIs, enabling media-rich applications to be deployed on any Java Platform.
Java Technology based new product development.

Java Advanced Imaging (JAI)

An extensible, scalable, high-performance, cross-platform, network-aware Java Media API in development, which will allow advanced imaging applications to be written in Java Technology.

In development for availability Q2 1999.
Java extension API built on Java 2D makes it ideal for cross-platform network-aware Java applications.
JAI is highly extensible, allowing programmers to extend the functionality of the API to include almost arbitrary processing capabilities with minimum complexity in the extension process.
Support for using resolution-independent images makes JAI suitable for progressive rendering.
Rendering independent sources and operations, so that processing operations can be specified in resolution-independent coordinates.
Built on Java Computing Architecture, allows easy collaboration on the net with complementary technologies like Java RMI and JavaBeans.