View source for MacPaint

{{Short description|Graphics editing software by Apple Computer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox software
| logo                   =
| screenshot             = MacpaintWP.png
| caption                = A picture in MacPaint 1.0
| developer              = [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]], [[Claris]]
| released               = {{Start date and age|1984}}
| latest_release_version = 2.0
| latest_release_date    = {{Start date and age|1988|01|24}}
| programming language   = [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal]]
| operating_system       = [[Classic Mac OS]]<br />([[Classic Mac OS|System 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]]<br/>[[System 6]]<br/>[[System 7]])
| genre                  = [[Raster graphics editor]]
| license                = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| discontinued           = yes
}}
{{Infobox file format
| name          = MacPaint image
| icon          = 
| extension     = {{code|.pntg}}<ref name="apple-utis">{{cite web |url=https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Miscellaneous/Reference/UTIRef/Articles/System-DeclaredUniformTypeIdentifiers.html |title=System-Declared Uniform Type Identifiers |work=Uniform Type Identifiers Reference |publisher=[[Apple Inc]] |access-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619145637/https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Miscellaneous/Reference/UTIRef/Articles/System-DeclaredUniformTypeIdentifiers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| type code     = PNTG<ref name="apple-utis"/>
| uniform type  = com.apple.macpaint-image<ref name="apple-utis"/>
| magic         = 
| owner         = [[Apple Computer]]
| genre         = [[Image file]]
| container for = 
| contained by  = 
| extended from = 
| extended to   = 
| standard      = 
}}
'''MacPaint''' is a [[raster graphics editor]] developed by [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]] and released alongside the original [[Macintosh 128K|Macintosh]] [[personal computer]] on January 24, 1984.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2010-07-18 |title=MacPaint and QuickDraw Source Code |url=https://computerhistory.org/blog/macpaint-and-quickdraw-source-code/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=CHM |language=en |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316203008/https://computerhistory.org/blog/macpaint-and-quickdraw-source-code/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was sold bundled with its [[word processor|word processing]] counterpart, [[MacWrite]], for [[United States dollar|US$]]195.<ref>{{cite magazine | last = Young | first = Jeffrey S. | title = MacPaint: The Electronic Easel | magazine = [[Macworld]] | pages = 50–61 | volume =1 |issue = 1| date = April 1984 | url = https://archive.org/details/MacWorld_8404_April_1984_premier/page/n51/mode/2up}}</ref> MacPaint was notable because it could generate graphics that could be used by other applications. It taught consumers what a graphics-based system could do by using the [[computer mouse|mouse]], the [[Clipboard (computing)|clipboard]], and [[QuickDraw]] picture language.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of MacPaint |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/macpaint |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=PCMAG |language=en |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411233458/https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/macpaint |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nyt" /> Pictures could be cut from MacPaint and pasted into MacWrite documents.<ref name="nyt">.{{cite news | last = Sandberg-Diment | first = Erik  | title = Software for the Macintosh: Plenty on the way | work = [[New York Times]] | date = January 31, 1984 | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=technology&res=9406E1DD173BF932A05752C0A962948260&scp=9&sq=MacPaint&st=nyt | url-access=limited}}</ref>

The original MacPaint was developed by [[Bill Atkinson]], a member of Apple's original Macintosh development team.<ref name="time">{{cite magazine | last = Elmer-DeWitt | first =Philip | title = Let us now praise famous hackers: a new view of some much maligned electronic pioneers | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | page = 76 | date = December 3, 1984}}</ref> Early development versions of MacPaint were called MacSketch, still retaining part of the name of its roots, LisaSketch.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hertzfeld | first = Andy | title = Revolution in the Valley | publisher = [[O'Reilly Media|O'Reilly]] | year = 2005 | pages = 153–155 | isbn = 0-596-00719-1}}</ref> It was later developed by [[Claris]], the software subsidiary of Apple which was formed in 1987. The last version of MacPaint was version 2.0, released in 1988. It was discontinued by Claris in 1998 because of diminishing sales.<ref name="discontinued">{{cite magazine | last = Walsh | first = Jeff | title = Claris puts old Mac applications out to pasture | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_zjsEAAAAMBAJ/page/n39/mode/2up | magazine = [[InfoWorld]] | volume=19| issue=47| page = 35 | date = November 24, 1997}}</ref>

== Development ==
MacPaint was written by [[Bill Atkinson]], a member of Apple's original Macintosh development team.<ref name="time"/> The original MacPaint program consisted of 5,804 lines of [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal]] [[source code|computer code]], augmented by another 2,738 lines of [[Motorola 68000|68000]] [[assembly language]].{{sfnp|Hertzfeld|2005|page=174}} MacPaint's user interface was designed by [[Susan Kare]], also a member of the Macintosh team.<ref name="kare">{{cite magazine | last = McGeever | first =C  | title = Q&A: Susan Kare: 'I Never Planned to Be a Guiding Force in the Macintosh Design' | magazine = [[InfoWorld]] | volume=6| issue=37 | page = 64 | date = September 10, 1984| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hy8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64}}</ref> Kare also beta-tested MacPaint before release.<ref name="kare"/>

MacPaint allows users to edit a 576-by-720 pixel, 72-dpi bitmap (slightly wider than the screen, and slightly more than twice as tall as the screen). A drawing canvas occupies most of the screen real estate, offering a viewport into a portion of the bitmap, with toolbars and pattern palettes around it.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

MacPaint uses two offscreen [[data buffer|memory buffers]] to avoid flicker when dragging shapes or images across the screen.<ref name="buffer">{{harvp|Hertzfeld|2005|page=171}}</ref> One of these buffers contained the existing pixels of a document, and the other contained the pixels of its previous state.<ref name="buffer"/> The second buffer was used as the basis of the software's [[undo]] feature.<ref name="buffer"/> In April 1983, the software's name was changed from MacSketch to MacPaint.{{sfnp|Hertzfeld|2005|page=172}} The original MacPaint was programmed as a single-document interface. The palette positions and sizes were unalterable, as was the document window. This differed from other Macintosh software at the time, which allowed users to move windows and resize them.

=== FatBits ===
The original MacPaint did incorporate a double zoom function. Instead of a zoom function, a special magnification mode called FatBits was used. FatBits showed each pixel as a clickable rectangle with a white border. The FatBits editing mode set the standard for many future editors.{{sfnp|Hertzfeld|2005|page=147}} MacPaint included a "Goodies" menu which included the FatBits tool. This menu had been named the "Aids" menu in prerelease versions, but was renamed "Goodies" as public awareness of the [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] epidemic grew in the summer of 1983.{{sfnp|Hertzfeld|2005|pages=155-156}}<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=Atkinson |first=Bill |title=MacPaint: Version 1.5 |date= April 1985|url=http://archive.org/details/mac_Paint_2 |access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref>

== Release and version history ==
MacPaint was first advertised in an 18-page brochure in December 1983, following the earlier announcement of the [[Macintosh 128K]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digibarn.com/collections/ads/apple-mac/index.htm|title=Apple Macintosh 18 Page Brochure|publisher=DigiBarn Computer Museum|access-date=April 24, 2006|archive-date=April 28, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428071658/http://www.digibarn.com/collections/ads/apple-mac/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Macintosh was released on January 24, 1984,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> with two applications, MacPaint and [[MacWrite]]. For a special post-election edition of ''[[Newsweek]]'' in November 1984, Apple spent more than US$2.5 million to buy all 39 of the advertising pages in the issue. The Newsweek advertisement included many pages dedicated to explaining how MacWrite and MacPaint worked together.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guidebookgallery.org/ads/magazines/macos/macos10-newsweek|title=1984 ''Newsweek'' Macintosh ads|publisher=GUIdebook, [[Newsweek]]|access-date=April 24, 2006|archive-date=April 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430171546/https://guidebookgallery.org/ads/magazines/macos/macos10-newsweek|url-status=live}}</ref> After launch, a ''[[New York Times]]'' reviewer noted how MacPaint unfolded numerous graphic possibilities for the personal computer; he went further to say  "it is better than anything else of its kind offered on personal computers by a factor of 10."<ref name="nyt"/>

[[File:MacPaint 2.0 screenshot.png|thumb|MacPaint 2.0 running on System 7]]
MacPaint 2.0 was released on January 11, 1988, by [[Claris]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Apple Computer unit introduces enhanced versions of MacDraw, MacProject, MacWrite and MacPaint | agency = [[Reuters]] | date = January 11, 1988}}</ref> It added many improvements to the software, including the capability to open and use up to nine documents simultaneously.<ref name="claris">{{cite magazine | last = Martinez | first = Carlos Domingo | title = MacPaint (Software Review) | magazine = [[MacUser]] | page = 103 |date=July 1988 | url=https://archive.org/details/MacUser8807July1988/page/n103/mode/2up| volume=4| issue=7}}</ref> The original MacPaint operated as a single-document application with an immovable window. MacPaint 2.0 eliminated this limitation, introducing a fully functioning document window, which could be sized up to 8 x 10".<ref name="claris"/> Several other features were introduced, such as a Zoom tool, MagicEraser tool for undo actions and stationary documents.<ref name="claris"/> MacPaint 2.0 was developed by David Ramsey, a developer at Claris.<ref name="ramsey">{{cite news | title = Apple fires key programmer | work = Newsbytes | date = July 4, 1989}}</ref> MacPaint 2.0 was sold for US$125, with a US$25 upgrade available for existing users of MacPaint.<ref name="claris"/> Claris discontinued technical support for the original MacPaint in 1989.<ref name="claris2">{{cite news | title = Claris restricts tech support | work = [[MacWEEK]] | page = 1 | date = February 7, 1989}}</ref> Claris stopped selling MacPaint in early 1998 because of diminishing sales.<ref name="discontinued"/>

Since 2010, MacPaint 1.3's [[source code]] (written in a combination of [[Assembly language|Assembly]] and [[Pascal (programming language)|Pascal]]) has been available through the [[Computer History Museum]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.computerhistory.org/highlights/macpaint/ | title = MacPaint and QuickDraw Source Code | work = [[Computer History Museum]] | date = July 20, 2010 | access-date = July 20, 2010 | archive-date = August 22, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120822153909/http://www.computerhistory.org/highlights/macpaint/ | url-status = live }}</ref> along with the [[QuickDraw]] source code, a library to draw bitmapped graphics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2010/07/apple_donates_macpaint_source_code_to_computer_history_museum.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209010310/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2010/07/apple_donates_macpaint_source_code_to_computer_history_museum.html |archive-date=2012-02-09 |publisher=businessweek.com |date=2010-07-20 |title=Apple Donates MacPaint Source Code To Computer History Museum |first=Erik |last=Hesseldahl}}</ref> due to the support of Steve Jobs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/06/the-quest-to-save-todays-gaming-history-from-being-lost-forever/ |first=Kyle |last=Orland |title=The quest to save today's gaming history from being lost forever |website=[[Ars Technica]] |date=2015-06-01 |access-date=2016-01-17 |quote="[Jobs] sent a one line e-mail saying it was a good idea, and it was done the next day," Spicer recalled. "Having an internal advocate is key." |archive-date=January 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117181209/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/06/the-quest-to-save-todays-gaming-history-from-being-lost-forever/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

MacPaint inspired other companies to release similar products for other platforms;<ref>{{cite magazine | last = Bartimo | first = J | title = Programs Paint a Rosy Picture | magazine = [[InfoWorld]] | pages = 38–39 | date = October 8, 1984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ci8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38 | volume=6| issue=41}}</ref> within a year a half-dozen [[clone (computing)|clone]]s existed for the Apple II and IBM PC.<ref name="bartimo19850225">{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6C4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30 | title=Macintosh: Success And Disappointment | magazine=[[InfoWorld]]| volume=7| issue=8| date=1985-02-25 | access-date=27 January 2015 | last=Bartimo| first=Jim | pages=30}}</ref> Some of these included [[Broderbund]]'s [[Dazzle Draw]] for the Apple II, Mouse Systems' [[PCPaint]] for the PC, and [[IBM]]'s Color Paint for the [[IBM PCjr]].<ref name="newbreeds">{{cite magazine | last = Elmer-Dewitt | first = Philip | title = The New Breeds of Software | magazine = Time | date = March 18, 1985 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,963402,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080510084626/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,963402,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = May 10, 2008 | access-date=April 26, 2008}}</ref>

An unofficial update by Mac Aspect called MacPaint X was released for Mac OS X as a [[donationware]] beta in 2008. It was intended as a simple drawing program for learning to draw on a computer or for quick sketches on Apple's then current operating systems.<ref name="lowendmac">{{cite web | url = https://lowendmac.com/2014/macpaint-faq/ | date = March 16, 2014 | access-date = September 10, 2025 | title = MacPaint FAQ | first = Daniel | last = Knight }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://sites.google.com/site/macaspect/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211180631/http://sites.google.com/site/macaspect/ | title = Development For OS X | access-date = September 10, 2025 | archive-date = December 11, 2008 }}</ref>

== Version history ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Version
! Release date
! Release information
|-
! 1.0
| January 24, 1984
| Initial release with System Software 1.0<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://macgui.com/usenet/?group=26&id=4731 |title=Apple's new MacIntosh: specs |access-date=January 21, 2010 |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509090904/https://macgui.com/usenet/?group=26&id=4731 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! 1.3
| May 1984<ref>{{cite web | title = Macintosh MacPaint: Fill | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | date = March 9, 1998 | url = http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=776&coll=ap | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120530062042/http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=776&coll=ap | url-status = dead | archive-date = May 30, 2012 | access-date = April 26, 2008 }}</ref>
| Released with System Software 1.1<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://macgui.com/usenet/?group=26&id=6697 |title=Mac Finder..etc.. upgrade available FREE |access-date=January 21, 2010 |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509091816/https://macgui.com/usenet/?group=26&id=6697 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! 1.4
| September 1984
| Released with [[Macintosh 512K]]
|-
! 1.5
| April 1985
| Released with System Software 2.0<ref>{{Cite web|title=Apple Macintosh before System 7|url=https://www.earlymacintosh.org/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=www.earlymacintosh.org|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329015657/https://earlymacintosh.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! 2.0
| January 1988<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://macgui.com/usenet/?group=14&id=10855 |title=MacExpo: Bursting at the seams |access-date=January 21, 2010 |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509130729/https://macgui.com/usenet/?group=14&id=10855 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Last release
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=MacPaint_Evolution.txt MacPaint Evolution from folklore.org]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/highlights/macpaint/ Source code of MacPaint in the Computer History Museum]
* [http://www.macpaint.org/ Macpaint.org, a historical collection of Macpaint images]

{{Apple software}}{{Raster graphics editors}}
{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macpaint}}
[[Category:Raster graphics editors]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS software]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS-only software made by Apple Inc.]]
[[Category:Assembly language software]]
[[Category:Discontinued software]]
[[Category:1984 software]]
[[Category:Proprietary software]]