What I'm missing is a global overview of how to do graphics in Lazarus/FP. I had a similar problem with the IUP GUI library in C. I have no doubt that the IUP library is very good, and there is a lot of information about how about specific items in the library work. There is no information about how to put the pieces together, nor information about the overall conceptual basis to allow you understand how to fit everything together. If that information was available I wouldn't be using FP now. I am finding FP more integrated and easier to use however I am having a similar problem to IUP using graphics. All I need to do is load, rescale, crop some images and then get the data out. I don't have a handle on the conceptual structure of TImage and its various subcomponents. The waters are also muddied by the fact that there are multiple graphics libraries and what exactly is provide with Lazarus/FP and what is external.
1/ What is available in Lazarus/FP only?
2/ How are those items put together to get functionality?