PICT Background Remover

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Image background removal refers to the process of eliminating or altering the backdrop of an image while retaining the principal or intended subject. This technique can significantly enhance the subject's prominence and users often apply it in photography, graphic design, e-commerce, and marketing.

Background removal is a potent technique used to highlight the subject of a photo more effectively. E-commerce websites frequently use this to remove unwanted or messy backgrounds from product images, making the product the sole focus of the viewer. Similarly, graphic designers use this method to isolate subjects for use in composite designs, collages, or with various other backgrounds.

There are several methods for background removal, depending on the complexity of the image and the skills and tools available to the user. Most common methods include the use of software tools like Photoshop, GIMP, or specialized background removing software. The most common techniques include use of Magic Wand tool, Quick Selection tool, or Pen tool for manual outlining. For complex images, tools such as channel masks or background eraser can be used.

Given the advancements in AI and machine learning technologies, automatic background removal has become increasingly efficient and precise. Advanced algorithms can accurately differentiate subjects from the background, even in complex images, and remove the backdrop without human intervention. This capability is not only a significant time-saver but also opens up possibilities for users without advanced skills in graphic editing software.

Image background removal is no longer a complex and time-consuming task exclusive to professionals. It is a powerful tool to direct viewer attention, create clean and professional images, and facilitate a multitude of creative possibilities. With the continuously expanding possibilities of AI, this space offers exciting potential for innovations.

What is the PICT format?

Apple Macintosh QuickDraw/PICT

The PICT image format, developed by Apple Inc. in the 1980s, was designed primarily for graphical applications on Macintosh computers. As a critical part of the Mac OS's graphics infrastructure, PICT served not just as an image format but also as an intricate system for storing and manipulating vector graphics, bitmap images, and even text. The versatility of the PICT format, allowing it to store a wide range of graphical data types, made it a fundamental tool in the development and rendering of graphics on early Macintosh platforms.

At its core, the PICT format is distinguished by its complex structure, which is designed to accommodate both vector and raster graphics within a single file. This duality allows PICT files to contain detailed illustrations with scalable vectors, alongside rich, pixel-based images. Such a combination was particularly advantageous for graphic designers and publishers, offering them a high degree of flexibility in creating and editing images with precision and quality that was unparalleled at the time.

A key feature of the PICT format is its use of opcodes, or operational codes, which command the Macintosh QuickDraw graphics system to perform specific tasks. QuickDraw, being the engine behind the rendering of images in the Mac OS, interprets these opcodes to draw shapes, fill patterns, set text properties, and manage the composition of bitmap and vector elements within the image. The encapsulation of these instructions within a PICT file allows for the dynamic rendering of images, a feature that was ahead of its time.

The PICT format supports a wide variety of color depths, ranging from 1-bit monochrome to 32-bit color images. This broad support enabled PICT files to be highly versatile in their application, catering to different display capabilities and user needs. Furthermore, PICT's integration with the QuickDraw system meant that it could efficiently utilize the color palettes and dithering techniques available on Macintosh computers, thereby ensuring that images looked their best on any given display.

Compression in PICT files is achieved through various methods, with PackBits being a commonly used technique for reducing the file size of bitmap images without significant loss of quality. Additionally, vector elements within a PICT file inherently require less storage space compared to bitmap images, contributing to the format's efficiency in handling complex graphics. This aspect of PICT made it particularly suitable for applications requiring the storage and manipulation of high-quality images with manageable file sizes.

Text handling is another facet where the PICT format excels, allowing text to be embedded within an image while retaining font style, size, and alignment specifications. This capability is facilitated by the format's sophisticated use of opcodes to control text rendering, making PICT files ideal for documents requiring integrated graphical and textual elements. The ability to combine text and graphics so seamlessly was a significant advantage for publishing and design applications.

The PICT file usually begins with a 512-byte header, reserved for file system information, followed by the actual image data which starts with a size and frame definition. The frame defines the bounds of the image, effectively setting the workspace in which the graphics and text are to be rendered. Following the frame definition, the file delineates into a series of opcodes, each followed by its specific data, defining the various graphic elements and operations to be performed.

While the PICT format excelled in flexibility and functionality, its proprietary nature and the evolution of digital graphics eventually led to its decline. The advent of more open and versatile formats, capable of handling complex graphics with better compression algorithms and cross-platform compatibility, such as PNG and SVG, made PICT less prevalent. Despite this, the PICT format remains an important milestone in the history of digital graphics, embodying the innovative spirit of its era and the drive towards integrating vector and bitmap graphics seamlessly.

One of the most compelling aspects of the PICT format was its forward-thinking design in terms of scalability and quality preservation. Unlike purely bitmap-based formats, which lose clarity when scaled, the vector components within a PICT file could be resized without compromising their quality. This feature was particularly beneficial for printed materials, where the ability to scale images up or down to fit varying layouts without degradation was crucial.

In the educational and professional realm, PICT files found a niche where their unique capabilities were highly valued. For instance, in desktop publishing and graphic design, where precision and quality were paramount, PICT offered solutions that other formats at the time could not. Its ability to handle complex compositions of text, graphics, and images with high fidelity made it the go-to format for a wide range of applications, from newsletters and brochures to intricate graphic designs.

Technical obstacles, however, underscored the PICT format's challenges in broader compatibility and adaptability beyond the Macintosh ecosystem. As digital technology advanced, the need for more universally compatible formats grew. The necessity to easily share graphics across different platforms and operating environments led to the gradual decline in PICT's popularity. Furthermore, the increasing prominence of the Internet and web publishing demanded image formats optimized for fast loading times and wide compatibility, criteria where formats like JPEG and GIF offered better solutions.

Despite its eventual obsolescence, the PICT format played a formative role in shaping the development of digital imaging and graphic design. It demonstrated early on the importance of having a versatile format capable of handling diverse types of graphic data efficiently. Moreover, the philosophical underpinnings of PICT -- particularly its integration of vector and bitmap graphics -- have influenced the design of subsequent image formats and graphic systems, underscoring its lasting impact on the field.

In retrospect, while the PICT format may no longer be widely used, its legacy endures in the principles it championed and the innovations it introduced. The emphasis on versatility, quality, and the harmonious blending of different graphic elements within a single file set a precedent that continues to inform the evolution of digital graphics. Thus, while newer formats have surpassed PICT in terms of popularity and utility, the foundational ideas behind PICT continue to resonate within the realm of graphic design and digital imaging.

Looking forward, the lessons learned from the development and use of the PICT format underscore the ever-evolving nature of digital imaging technology. The progression from PICT to more advanced formats reflects the industry's continuous pursuit of efficiency, compatibility, and quality in digital imagery. As such, understanding the history and technical intricacies of PICT not only offers insights into the history of computer graphics but also highlights the importance of adaptability and innovation in navigating the future of digital media.

Supported formats

AAI.aai

AAI Dune image

AI.ai

Adobe Illustrator CS2

AVIF.avif

AV1 Image File Format

AVS.avs

AVS X image

BAYER.bayer

Raw Bayer Image

BMP.bmp

Microsoft Windows bitmap image

CIN.cin

Cineon Image File

CLIP.clip

Image Clip Mask

CMYK.cmyk

Raw cyan, magenta, yellow, and black samples

CMYKA.cmyka

Raw cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and alpha samples

CUR.cur

Microsoft icon

DCX.dcx

ZSoft IBM PC multi-page Paintbrush

DDS.dds

Microsoft DirectDraw Surface

DPX.dpx

SMTPE 268M-2003 (DPX 2.0) image

DXT1.dxt1

Microsoft DirectDraw Surface

EPDF.epdf

Encapsulated Portable Document Format

EPI.epi

Adobe Encapsulated PostScript Interchange format

EPS.eps

Adobe Encapsulated PostScript

EPSF.epsf

Adobe Encapsulated PostScript

EPSI.epsi

Adobe Encapsulated PostScript Interchange format

EPT.ept

Encapsulated PostScript with TIFF preview

EPT2.ept2

Encapsulated PostScript Level II with TIFF preview

EXR.exr

High dynamic-range (HDR) image

FARBFELD.ff

Farbfeld

FF.ff

Farbfeld

FITS.fits

Flexible Image Transport System

GIF.gif

CompuServe graphics interchange format

GIF87.gif87

CompuServe graphics interchange format (version 87a)

GROUP4.group4

Raw CCITT Group4

HDR.hdr

High Dynamic Range image

HRZ.hrz

Slow Scan TeleVision

ICO.ico

Microsoft icon

ICON.icon

Microsoft icon

IPL.ipl

IP2 Location Image

J2C.j2c

JPEG-2000 codestream

J2K.j2k

JPEG-2000 codestream

JNG.jng

JPEG Network Graphics

JP2.jp2

JPEG-2000 File Format Syntax

JPC.jpc

JPEG-2000 codestream

JPE.jpe

Joint Photographic Experts Group JFIF format

JPEG.jpeg

Joint Photographic Experts Group JFIF format

JPG.jpg

Joint Photographic Experts Group JFIF format

JPM.jpm

JPEG-2000 File Format Syntax

JPS.jps

Joint Photographic Experts Group JPS format

JPT.jpt

JPEG-2000 File Format Syntax

JXL.jxl

JPEG XL image

MAP.map

Multi-resolution Seamless Image Database (MrSID)

MAT.mat

MATLAB level 5 image format

PAL.pal

Palm pixmap

PALM.palm

Palm pixmap

PAM.pam

Common 2-dimensional bitmap format

PBM.pbm

Portable bitmap format (black and white)

PCD.pcd

Photo CD

PCDS.pcds

Photo CD

PCT.pct

Apple Macintosh QuickDraw/PICT

PCX.pcx

ZSoft IBM PC Paintbrush

PDB.pdb

Palm Database ImageViewer Format

PDF.pdf

Portable Document Format

PDFA.pdfa

Portable Document Archive Format

PFM.pfm

Portable float format

PGM.pgm

Portable graymap format (gray scale)

PGX.pgx

JPEG 2000 uncompressed format

PICON.picon

Personal Icon

PICT.pict

Apple Macintosh QuickDraw/PICT

PJPEG.pjpeg

Joint Photographic Experts Group JFIF format

PNG.png

Portable Network Graphics

PNG00.png00

PNG inheriting bit-depth, color-type from original image

PNG24.png24

Opaque or binary transparent 24-bit RGB (zlib 1.2.11)

PNG32.png32

Opaque or binary transparent 32-bit RGBA

PNG48.png48

Opaque or binary transparent 48-bit RGB

PNG64.png64

Opaque or binary transparent 64-bit RGBA

PNG8.png8

Opaque or binary transparent 8-bit indexed

PNM.pnm

Portable anymap

PPM.ppm

Portable pixmap format (color)

PS.ps

Adobe PostScript file

PSB.psb

Adobe Large Document Format

PSD.psd

Adobe Photoshop bitmap

RGB.rgb

Raw red, green, and blue samples

RGBA.rgba

Raw red, green, blue, and alpha samples

RGBO.rgbo

Raw red, green, blue, and opacity samples

SIX.six

DEC SIXEL Graphics Format

SUN.sun

Sun Rasterfile

SVG.svg

Scalable Vector Graphics

SVGZ.svgz

Compressed Scalable Vector Graphics

TIFF.tiff

Tagged Image File Format

VDA.vda

Truevision Targa image

VIPS.vips

VIPS image

WBMP.wbmp

Wireless Bitmap (level 0) image

WEBP.webp

WebP Image Format

YUV.yuv

CCIR 601 4:1:1 or 4:2:2

Frequently asked questions

How does this work?

This converter runs entirely in your browser. When you select a file, it is read into memory and converted to the selected format. You can then download the converted file.

How long does it take to convert a file?

Conversions start instantly, and most files are converted in under a second. Larger files may take longer.

What happens to my files?

Your files are never uploaded to our servers. They are converted in your browser, and the converted file is then downloaded. We never see your files.

What file types can I convert?

We support converting between all image formats, including JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG, BMP, TIFF, and more.

How much does this cost?

This converter is completely free, and will always be free. Because it runs in your browser, we don't have to pay for servers, so we don't need to charge you.

Can I convert multiple files at once?

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