Graphical Kernel System

graphics, standard (GKS) The widely recognised standard

ANSI X3.124 for graphical input/output. GKS is worked on by

the ISO/IEC group JTC1/SC24. It provides applications

programmers with standard methods of creating, manipulating,

and displaying or printing computer graphics on different

types of computer graphics output devices. It provides an

abstraction to save programmers from dealing with the detailed

capabilities and interfaces of specific hardware.

GKS defines a basic two-dimensional graphics system with:

uniform input and output primitives; a uniform interface to

and from a GKS metafile for storing and transferring

graphics information. It supports a wide range of graphics

output devices including such as printers, plotters,

vector graphics devices, storage tubes, refreshdisplays, raster displays, and microfilm recorders.

(1999-04-01)