Java 2D Graphics

1.4. Genesis

The Java people at Sun have a crazy ambition to redefine all of computing. Each new version of the Java platform includes vastly expanded capabilities. Between the JDK itself and the extension APIs, Sun seems intent on making Java able to do anything you could possibly want to do with a computer. In order to create the 2D API, the good people at Sun conspired with several industry partners, including the following four companies.

1.4.1. Adobe

Sun's most important partner for the 2D API was Adobe Systems, Inc. These are the people who developed the PostScript language as well as an impressive lineup of graphics and text applications, including Framemaker, Acrobat, Illustrator, and others. Adobe helped Sun design the 2D API. If you're familiar with PostScript, you'll probably see echoes of it in the classes and methods of the 2D API. Adobe's web site is at http://www.adobe.com/.

1.4.2. Ductus

A small company called Ductus provided a key piece of the 2D API's implementation, called a rasterizer. The rasterizer handles the task of representing idealized mathematical shapes on output devices with pixels, like monitors and printers. You can read more about Ductus at their web site, http://www.ductus.com/.

1.4.3. Kodak

Another important partner was Eastman Kodak (http://www.kodak.com/). Sun worked closely with Kodak to develop the imaging and color management classes in the 2D API. Some of the implementation of these classes is based on technology licensed from Kodak. ...