Overview of Graphics

GDI+ is an application programming interface (API) that forms the subsystem of the Microsoft Windows operating system. GDI+ is responsible for displaying information on screens and printers. As its name suggests, GDI+ is the successor to GDI, the Graphics Device Interface included with earlier versions of Windows.

Managed Class Interface

The GDI+ API is exposed through a set of classes deployed as managed code. This set of classes is called the managed class interface to GDI+. The following namespaces make up the managed class interface:

• System.Drawing

• System.Drawing.Drawing2D

• System.Drawing.Imaging

• System.Drawing.Text

• System.Drawing.Printing

With a Graphics Device Interface, such as GDI+, you can display information on a screen or printer without having to be concerned about the details of a particular display device. The programmer makes calls to methods provided by GDI+ classes. Those methods, in turn, make the appropriate calls to specific device drivers. GDI+ insulates the application from the graphics hardware. It is this insulation that enables a programmer to create device-independent applications.

See also

• Graphics Overview