MacPaint

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MacPaint

Screenshot of MacPaint 1.0
Developed by Apple Computer, Claris
Latest release 2.0 / 1988
OS System 1,2,3,4,5
System 6
System 7
Genre Bitmap-based image editing
License Proprietary

MacPaint is a bitmap-based graphics painting software program developed by Apple Computer and released with the original Macintosh personal computer on January 22, 1984. It was sold separately for US$195 with its word processor counterpart, MacWrite.[1] MacPaint was notable because of the graphical possibilities it allowed on computers. This was in part capable because of the mouse and the graphical user interface. Pictures from MacPaint could be placed into MacWrite documents using simple copy and paste commands.[2]

The original MacPaint was developed by Bill Atkinson, a member of Apple's original Macintosh development team.[3] Early development versions of MacPaint were called MacSketch, still retaining part of the name of its roots, LisaSketch.[4] 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.[5]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Development

MacPaint was written by Bill Atkinson, a member of Apple's original Macintosh development team.[3] The original MacPaint consisted of 5,804 lines of Pascal computer code, augmented by another 2,738 lines of 68000 assembly language.[6] MacPaint's user interface was designed by Susan Kare, also a member of the Macintosh team.[7] Kare also beta tested MacPaint before release.[7]

MacPaint uses two offscreen memory buffers to avoid flicker when dragging shapes or images across the screen.[8] One of these buffers contained the existing pixels of a document, and the other contained the pixels of its previous state.[8] The second buffer was used as the basis of the software's undo feature.[8] In April 1983, the software's name was changed from MacSketch to MacPaint.[9] The original MacPaint was programmed as a single-document interface. The palette positions and sizes were unalterable, as was the document window. This was different from other Macintosh software at the time, which allowed the users to move windows and resize them.

The original MacPaint did not incorporate a zoom function. Instead of a zoom function, a special magnification mode called Fat Bits was used. Fat Bits showed each pixel as a clickable rectangle with a white border. The Fat Bits editing mode set the standard for many future editors.[10] MacPaint included a "Goodies" menu which included the Fat Bits tool. This menu was named the "Aids" menu in prerelease versions, but was renamed "Goodies" as public awareness of the AIDS epidemic grew in the summer of 1983.[11]

[edit] Release

MacPaint was first advertised in an 18-page brochure in December 1983, following the earlier announcement of the Macintosh 128k.[12] The Macintosh was released on January 24, 1984 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 dedicating to explaining how MacWrite and MacPaint worked together.[13] 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."[2]

[edit] Later versions

MacPaint 2.0
MacPaint 2.0

MacPaint 2.0 was released on January 11, 1988 by Claris.[14] It added many improvements the software, including the capability to open and use nine documents simultaneously.[15] The original MacPaint operated as a single document application with a non-movable window. MacPaint 2.0 eliminated this limitation, introducing a fully functioning document window, which could be sized up to 8 x 10".[15] Several other features were introduced, such as a Zoom tool, MagicEraser tool for undo actions and stationary documents.[15] MacPaint 2.0 was developed by David Ramsey, a developer at Claris.[16] MacPaint 2.0 was sold for US$125, with a US$25 upgrade available for existing users of MacPaint.[15] Claris discontinued technical support for the original MacPaint in 1989.[15] Claris stopped selling MacPaint in early 1998 because of diminishing sales.[5]

[edit] Influence

MacPaint inspired other companies to release similar products for the IBM PC platform.[17] Some of these included Broderbund's DazzleDraw for the Apple II, which cost US$50.[18] Mouse Systems' PC Paint was released for the IBM PC, and cost US$100.[18] IBM released their painting package for the IBM PCjr, which was called Color Paint and cost US$100.[18]

[edit] Version history

MacPaint Version Release Date Release Information
1.0 January 24, 1984 Initial release with System Software 1.0[citation needed]
1.3 May 1984[19] Released with System Software 1.1[citation needed]
1.4 September 1984 Released with Macintosh 512k
1.5 April 1985 Released with System Software 2.0[citation needed]
2.0 January 1988 Last release

[edit] References

  1. ^ Young, J.S. "MacPaint: The Electronic Easel", Macworld, 1984, pp. 50-61. 
  2. ^ a b Sandberg-Diment, Erik. "Software for the Macintosh: Plenty on the way", New York Times, January 31, 1984. 
  3. ^ a b Elmer-DeWitt, Philip. "Let us now praise famous hackers: a new view of some much maligned electronic pioneers", Time, December 3, 1984, p. 76. 
  4. ^ Hertzfeld, Andy (2005). Revolution in the Valley. O'Reilly, pp. 153-155. ISBN 0596007191. 
  5. ^ a b Walsh, Jeff. "Claris puts old Mac applications out to pasture", InfoWorld, November 24, 1997, p. 35. 
  6. ^ Hertzfeld (2005), p. 174
  7. ^ a b McGeever, C. "Q&A: Susan Kare: 'I Never Planned to Be a Guiding Force in the Macintosh Design'", InfoWorld, September 10, 1984, p. 64. 
  8. ^ a b c Hertzfeld (2005), p. 171
  9. ^ Hertzfeld (2005), p. 172
  10. ^ Hertzfeld (2005), p. 147
  11. ^ Hertzfeld (2005), pp. 155-156
  12. ^ Apple Macintosh 18 Page Brochure. DigiBarn Computer Museum. Retrieved on 2006-04-24.
  13. ^ 1984 Newsweek Macintosh ads. GUIdebook, Newsweek. Retrieved on 2006-04-24.
  14. ^ "Apple Computer unit introduces enhanced versions of MacDraw, MacProject, MacWrite and MacPaint", Reuters, January 11, 1988. 
  15. ^ a b c d e Martinez, Carlos Domingo. "MacPaint (Software Review)", MacUser, July 1988, pp. 103. 
  16. ^ "Apple fires key programmer", Newsbytes, July 4, 1989. 
  17. ^ Bartimo, J. "Programs Paint a Rosy Picture", InfoWorld, October 8, 1984, pp. 38-39. 
  18. ^ a b c Elmer-Dewitt, Philip (March 18, 1985). The New Breeds of Software. Time. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  19. ^ Macintosh MacPaint: Fill. Apple Inc (March 9, 1998). Retrieved on 2008-04-26.

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