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PICT:
A Very MacIntosh Format
 ICT,
which is an abbreviation for PICTure, can contain either vector or bitmap
image information and is found uniquely on Macintosh systems. If this
format was well-designed then it would be a very helpful format to use
in graphic design. Unfortunately, this format is not engineered nearly
as well as the PostScript-based
EPS file format
and PICTs frequently cause problems for imagesetters used to produce film.
A printer or service bureau does not leap for joy when they find a PICT
format graphic in a page-layout document. There are,
however, a few solid uses for this file format:
- One can use PICT graphics in presentation
programs like PowerPoint
on the Macintosh platform.
- When a designer takes a "snapshot" of their
computer's desktop, the snapshot is saved as a PICT. He/she can then
translate the PICT, with an image-editing
program, to use the image on a Web page or, if the use is small
enough, in a professionally printed piece.
- Because EPS files won't output well on inkjet printers
that aren't PostScript enabled, one can use a vector-drawing
program, like Freehand, to translate an EPS vector file to a PICT one
which will print much more clearly.
- EPS files use PICT previews which is what a designer
sees on-screen when importing an EPS image into a page-layout
program. They aren't very pretty on-screen but they help to precisely
place an image.
- This file format is ideal to use in the Mac's Desktop Pattern control
panel to change the desktop's background pattern or photo.
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