Libart

Libart is a free software graphics library of functions for 2D graphics supporting a superset of the PostScript imaging model. Libart was designed to be integrated with graphics, artwork, and illustration programs. It is written in optimized C and is fully compatible with C++. With a small footprint of 10,000 lines of code, it is especially suitable for embedded applications.

Libart provides a vector graphics-based API. Cairo obsoletes almost all uses of libart.

Libart supports a very powerful imaging model, basically the same as SVG and the Java 2D API. It includes all PostScript imaging operations, and adds antialiasing and alpha-transparency.

History
Libart was a library for high-performance 2D graphics. Prior to being replaced with Cairo, it had been used as the anti-aliased rendering engine for the Gnome Canvas and for Gill, the Gnome Illustration app.

Gdk-pixbuf used to be a wrapper around libart.

A component of Libart, containing all functions needed for printing and running GNOME Canvas, was released under the LGPL. The version maintained under the GPL contained enhancements for unspecified specific applications.

Notable usage

 * Eye of GNOME depends on libart
 * GNOME Canvas uses Libart as its rendering API.
 * GIMP used Libart for vector rendering.
 * Dia can use Libart for antialiasing and PNG export.