old MacPaint Images to a modern format

[leosadvs]

i want to transfer some draws from my plus to my g4, i have the macpaint files here (the g4) but i dont know how to open it.. i try with photoshop but doesnt work

 

[TheNixer]

Are you running Classic?

 

[leosadvs]

yes, but i can't run macpaint on it

 

[porter]

There used to be a program called GraphicsConvertor that did all the formats.

The binary format is dead simple, a fixed length header of 512(from memory) bytes followed by the bitmap for an imagewriter at 576x720.

Try GIFConvertor, http://www.kamit.com/gifconverter/doc/gifc-Support.html#Heading170

 

[Dennis Nedry]

There used to be a program called GraphicsConvertor that did all the formats.

I believe you're looking for GraphicConverter, without the s. This is still alive and updated as far as I'm aware.

 

[MrStyle]

GraphicConverter

 

[equant]

As has already been suggested, GraphicConverter is a very good option. As an alternate option, I've had success with NetPBM. There's a macptopbm binary that is hit or miss. For that matter GraphicConverter sometimes has trouble with the older MacPaint screen captures.

 

[slomacuser]

Preview.app opens MacPaint files with no problem! if it doesn't work add the ".ptng" extension ...

 

[CaryMG]

lol

You're psychic slomacuser !

I was just about to recommend "PreView" as it opens and converts to .PICTs.

:b&w:

 

[benjgvps]

Quicktime Pro, just put .pict on the end of the filename and it should open.

 

[Daxeria]

There's a free MacPaint plugin for Photoshop on this page:

http://www.telegraphics.com.au/sw/

 

[equill]

My avatar is in MacDraw, which is as fine as MacPaint in AppleWorks 6. If I feel adventurous, and if I fancy a .jpg, I can go thence to PhotoShop 4 or 5. And now I read that there is a MacPaint plug-in to allow a step to be skipped.

de

 

[leosadvs]

great tips!.. thanks! the photoshop plug-in is great!

 

[Mac128]

great tips!.. thanks! the photoshop plug-in is great!

Does it open them perfectly converted? i.e. it looks identical to the way it appeared on the Plus?

If so, a standard file format that has been supported intact from its inception in 1984! Amazing!

Another way to transfer is to Print them using LaserWriter driver v7.0 which came with System 6.0.8. It is compatible all the way back to System 2.0/Finder 4.1. Simply open in MacPaint and print to PostScript file. This works for any application, not just MacPaint, for which files many have no modern conversion options. The resulting postscript file readily opens under Preview or Adobe Acrobat. NOTE: it must be v7.0 as earlier versions do not produce compatible PS files.

In addition to working on the original Mac, it will also work under Mini vMac.