| Full Name | MSP (MS Paint) |
| Format ID | IG_FORMAT_MSP = 25 |
| File Extension(s) | *.msp |
| Data Type | Raster Image |
| Data Encoding | Binary |
| Color Profile Support | No |
| Multi-Page Support | No |
| Alpha Channel Support | No |
None
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This was a popular format for storing line drawing and clip art images created with Windows applications, but has recently begun to be replaced by the Windows bitmap format (also supported by ImageGear see BMP).
For versions earlier than 2.0, the format begins with a 32-byte header and immediately proceeds with the bitmap data. The header information includes: the version of the file, the size and aspect ratio of the bitmap, and the width and height and aspect ratio (in pixels) of the output device used to render the bitmapped image. The bitmap data is uncompressed.
Files made with Version 2.0 and later always use RLE compression. In these files a "scan-line map" follows the header and precedes the data. It gives offsets to each scan line for instances when a particular scan line needs to be examined. All previous lines can remain compressed, while the needed line is located.
See RLE Compression under the ImageGear Supported Compressions Reference section for more information.
Murray, James D. and William vanRyper. Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1994.