ImageGear for C and C++ on Windows v19.4 - Updated
MAC PICT
User Guide > File Formats and Compressions > File Formats > File Formats Reference > MAC PICT

Full Name Mac PICT
Format ID IG_FORMAT_PCT = 30
File Extension(s) *.pct, *.pict
Data Type Metafile (2D raster, 2D geometry)
Data Encoding Binary
Color Profile Support No
Multi-Page Support No
Alpha Channel Support Supports single alpha channel for read only. Alpha channel has to be 8-bit image.
ImageGear Platforms Support WIN32, WIN64, MAC, UNIX

ImageGear Supported Versions:

ImageGear Supported Features:

ImageGear Read Support:

ImageGear Write Support:

ImageGear Filter Control Parameters:

Filter Control Parameter Type Default Value Available Values Description
FORCE_VERSION AT_BOOL FALSE TRUE, FALSE TRUE means saving of PCT in version 1.

Comments:

The PICT is one of the most widely-supported graphics file formats for the Macintosh.

PICT files begin with a fixed length header containing application-specific data, followed by fields that store the image size and location. If it is a PICT2 file, an additional header follows that contains the original resolution data of the image.

The bitmap data in the PICT2 format is referred as a Pixmap, from older terminology where Pixmap meant a bitmap with color.

The PICT file uses "opcodes". These are similar to the fields found in most file formats, and are associated with data that describes different shapes, lines, fill patterns, etc.

The lengthy list of opcodes is followed by the bitmap or "pixmap" data that describes the image data's address and resolution. The color table follows the opcodes. Next, source and destination rectangles are defined by their top left and lower right coordinates.

The pixel data, stored in the "PixData" field, is the last data to appear in the file. Each value is an index to the color table. This data is represented by 1, 2, or 4 bits.

References Used

Brown, C. Wayne, and Barry J. Shepherd. Graphics File Formats: Reference and Guide. Greenwich, CT.: Manning Publications, 1992.

Kay, David C. and John R. Levine. Graphics File Formats. Windcrest Books, 1992.

Murray, James D. and William vanRyper. Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1994.