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The `!Graphical Kernel System`! (`!GKS`!) is a `F33f`_`[2D computer graphics`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=2D_computer_graphics]`_`f system using `F33f`_`[vector graphics`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Vector_graphics]`_`f, introduced in 1977. It was suitable for making line and bar charts and similar tasks. A key concept was cross-system portability, based on an underlying coordinate system that could be represented on almost any hardware. GKS is best known as the basis for the graphics in the `F33f`_`[GEM`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Graphics_Environment_Manager]`_`f `F33f`_`[GUI`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Graphical_user_interface]`_`f system used on the `F33f`_`[Atari ST`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Atari_ST]`_`f and as part of `F33f`_`[Ventura Publisher`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Corel_Ventura]`_`f.

A draft international standard was circulated for review in September 1983.`:cite-ref-ns-1983-1-0[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-ns-1983-1]`_`f]`:cite-ref-straayer-1983-2-0[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-straayer-1983-2]`_`f]`:cite-ref-dw-1983-3-0[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-dw-1983-3]`_`f] Final ratification of the standard was achieved in 1985, making it the first `F33f`_`[ISO`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=International_Organization_for_Standardization]`_`f graphics standard.`:cite-ref-iso-1985-4-0[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-iso-1985-4]`_`f]`:cite-ref-cw-1985-5-0[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-cw-1985-5]`_`f]

A `F33f`_`[3D`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=3D_computer_graphics]`_`f system modelled on GKS was introduced as `F33f`_`[PHIGS`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=PHIGS]`_`f, which saw some use in the 1980s and early 1990s.

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[Overview`#overview]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[See also`#see-also]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Further reading`#further-reading]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[External links`#external-links]`_`f

-─

>>Overview

GKS provides a set of drawing features for two-dimensional `F33f`_`[vector graphics`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Vector_graphics]`_`f suitable for charting and similar duties. The calls are designed to be portable across different `F33f`_`[programming languages`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Programming_language]`_`f, graphics devices and hardware, so that applications written to use GKS will be readily portable to many platforms and devices.

GKS was fairly common on computer `F33f`_`[workstations`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Workstation]`_`f in the 1980s and early 1990s.`:cite-ref-cw-1986-6-0[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-cw-1986-6]`_`f] GKS formed the basis of `F33f`_`[Digital Research`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Digital_Research]`_`f's `F33f`_`[GSX`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Graphics_System_Extension]`_`f which evolved into VDI, one of the core components of `F33f`_`[GEM`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Graphics_Environment_Manager]`_`f. GEM was the native GUI on the `F33f`_`[Atari ST`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Atari_ST]`_`f and was occasionally seen on PCs, particularly in conjunction with `F33f`_`[Ventura Publisher`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Corel_Ventura]`_`f. GKS was little used commercially outside these markets, but remains in use in some scientific visualization packages. It is also the underlying `F33f`_`[API`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=API]`_`f defining the `F33f`_`[Computer Graphics Metafile`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Computer_Graphics_Metafile]`_`f. One popular application based on an implementation of GKS is the GR Framework,`:cite-ref-gr-7-0[`F5bf`_`[7`#cite-note-gr-7]`_`f] a C library for high-performance scientific visualization that has become a common plotting backend among `F33f`_`[Julia`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Julia_(programming_language)]`_`f users.

A main developer and promoter of the GKS was `F33f`_`[José Luis Encarnação`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=José_Luis_Encarnação]`_`f, formerly director of the `F33f`_`[Fraunhofer Institute`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Fraunhofer_Institute]`_`f for Computer Graphics (IGD) in `F33f`_`[Darmstadt`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Darmstadt]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Germany`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Germany]`_`f.

GKS has been standardized in the following documents:`:cite-ref-iso-cat1-8-0[`F5bf`_`[8`#cite-note-iso-cat1-8]`_`f]`:cite-ref-iso-cat2-9-0[`F5bf`_`[9`#cite-note-iso-cat2-9]`_`f]

• `F33f`_`[ANSI`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ANSI]`_`f standard `!ANSI X3.124`! of 1985.

• `!ISO 7942:1985`! standard, revised as `!ISO 7942:1985/Amd 1:1991`! and `!ISO/IEC 7942-1:1994`!, as well as `!ISO/IEC 7942-2:1997`!, `!ISO/IEC 7942-3:1999`! and `!ISO/IEC 7942-4:1998`!

• The language bindings are ISO standard `!ISO 8651`!.

• GKS-3D (Graphical Kernel System for Three Dimensions) functional definition is ISO standard `!ISO 8805`!, and the corresponding `F33f`_`[C`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=C_(programming_language)]`_`f bindings are `!ISO/IEC 8806`!.

The functionality of GKS is wrapped up as a data model standard in the STEP standard, section `F33f`_`[ISO 10303`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISO_10303]`_`f-46.

>>See also

• `F33f`_`[General Graphics Interface`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=General_Graphics_Interface]`_`f

• `F33f`_`[GSS-KERNEL`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=GSS-KERNEL]`_`f

• `F33f`_`[IGES`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=IGES]`_`f (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification)

• `F33f`_`[NAPLPS`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=NAPLPS]`_`f

>>References

`:cite-note-ns-1983-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-ns-1983-1-0]`_`f "Europe calls the tune on computer graphics". `*`F33f`_`[New Scientist`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=New_Scientist]`_`f`*. 1983-04-21. p. 152. Retrieved 2018-01-18.

`:cite-note-straayer-1983-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-straayer-1983-2-0]`_`f `:citerefstraayer1983`aStraayer, Dave (1983-07-25). "Headway Being Made on Graphics Standards". `*`F33f`_`[Computerworld`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Computerworld]`_`f`*. p. 7. Retrieved 2018-01-01.

`:cite-note-dw-1983-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-dw-1983-3-0]`_`f "Ansi Seeking Comment On Standard for Graphics". `*`F33f`_`[Computerworld`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Computerworld]`_`f`*. 1983-09-12. p. 64. Retrieved 2018-01-18.

`:cite-note-iso-1985-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-iso-1985-4-0]`_`f "ISO 7942:1985". Retrieved 2018-01-18.

`:cite-note-cw-1985-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-cw-1985-5-0]`_`f "Ansi standards draw attention of graphics industry". `*`F33f`_`[Computerworld`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Computerworld]`_`f`*. 1985-03-25. p. 36. Retrieved 2018-01-18.

`:cite-note-cw-1986-6`!6.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-cw-1986-6-0]`_`f "HP library implements GKS". `*`F33f`_`[Computerworld`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Computerworld]`_`f`*. 1986-03-31. p. 73. Retrieved 2018-01-18.

`:cite-note-gr-7`!7.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-gr-7-0]`_`f `:citerefjosef-heinen1985-2019`aJosef Heinen; et al. (1985–2019). "GR Framework". Retrieved 2020-11-16.

`:cite-note-iso-cat1-8`!8.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-iso-cat1-8-0]`_`f Catalogue search results on http://www.iso.org/iso

`:cite-note-iso-cat2-9`!9.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-iso-cat2-9-0]`_`f Catalogue search results on http://www.freestd.us

>>Further reading

• `:citerefhopgood1983`aHopgood, F. R. A. (1983). `*Introduction to the Graphical Kernel System (GKS)`*. London: `F33f`_`[Academic Press`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Academic_Press]`_`f. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 0-12-355570-1.

• `:citereflaflin1999`aLaflin, Susan (August 1999). "The Graphical Kernel System". `*SEM307 Computer Graphics II`*. School of Computer Science, `F33f`_`[University of Birmingham`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=University_of_Birmingham]`_`f. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2007-02-18.

• `:citerefencarna-oencarna-oherzner1987`a`F33f`_`[Encarnação, José L.`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=José_Luis_Encarnação]`_`f; Encarnação, L. M.; Herzner, Wolfgang R. (1987). `*Graphische Datenverarbeitung mit GKS`* (in German) (1 ed.). München / Wien: `F33f`_`[Carl Hanser Verlag`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Carl_Hanser_Verlag]`_`f. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 3446149783.

• `:citerefbechlarsbuhtz1994`aBechlars, Jörg; Buhtz, Rainer (1994). `*GKS in der Praxis`* (in German) (2 ed.). Heidelberg: `F33f`_`[Springer Verlag`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Springer_Verlag]`_`f. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 3540567852.

• `:citereffellner1992`aFellner, Wolf-Dietrich (1992). `*Computergrafik`* (in German) (2 ed.). Mannheim: `F33f`_`[BI Wissenschaftsverlag`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=BI_Wissenschaftsverlag]`_`f. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 3411151226.

• `:citerefgawehn1991`aGawehn, Wilfried (1991). `*Grafikprogrammierung mit C und GKS`* (in German). Mannheim: `F33f`_`[BI Wissenschaftsverlag`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=BI_Wissenschaftsverlag]`_`f. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 3-411-14981-7.

>>External links

• Unofficial source of current implementation information

• GKS at FOLDOC

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