1. A method for communicating between a 3D graphics API and surface memory space having a privatized format and a public format associated therewith in a 3D graphics system, comprising: requesting via the 3D graphics API a first operation upon 3D graphics data to be rendered; determining whether a second operation has been requested; and transforming said 3D graphics data from data formatted according to said privatized format to data formatted according to said public format and copying the publicly formatted data into host system memory pursuant to said first operation if said second operation has been requested.