Here are some snippets to help with performing different tasks using Core Animation.

Images

• Convert NSImage to CGImageRef

  - (CGImageRef)nsImageToCGImageRef:(NSImage*)image;
  {
      NSData * imageData = [image TIFFRepresentation];
      CGImageRef imageRef;
      if(!imageData) return nil;
      CGImageSourceRef imageSource = CGImageSourceCreateWithData((CFDataRef)imageData, NULL);
      imageRef = CGImageSourceCreateImageAtIndex(imageSource, 0, NULL);
      return imageRef;
  }
  

Scaling

• Scale Up Five Times

  CATransform3D transform = CATransform3DMakeScale(5.0f, 5.0f, 5.0f);
  [layer setTransform:transform];
  

• Scale Down to Half Size

  CATransform3D transform = CATransform3DMakeScale(0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f);
  [layer setTransform:transform];