Using an Image for the Layer’s Content

Using an Image for the Layer’s Content

Because a layer is just a container for managing a bitmap image, you can assign an image directly to the layer’s contents property. Assigning an image to the layer is easy and lets you specify the exact image you want to display onscreen. The layer uses the image object you provide directly and does not attempt to create its own copy of that image. This behavior can save memory in cases where your app uses the same image in multiple places.

The image you assign to a layer must be a CGImageRef type. (In OS X v10.6 and later, you can also assign an NSImage object.) When assigning images, remember to provide an image whose resolution matches the resolution of the native device. For devices with Retina displays, this might also require you to adjust the contentsScale property of the image. For information on using high-resolution content with your layers, see Working with High-Resolution Images.