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MacPaint is a key step in the history of UX (and visual design!) I built a super simple way to use MacPaint 1.0 in workshops and lectures. Try it: juliendorra.com/macintosh/

22/10/25, 9:50 am1 repost4 likes

Julien Dorra

@juliendorra.com

22 Oct 2025

It’s also pure fun: draw in a retro way and explore the creative constraints of 1-bit illustrations.

Julien Dorra

@juliendorra.com

22 Oct 2025

It uses the insanely great Infinite Mac as the embedded emulator—and adds useful tools around it: - One-click shortcut to open MacPaint - Crisp fullscreen by default, perfect for the original 1-bit UI. (more below!)

Julien Dorra

@juliendorra.com

22 Oct 2025

- Real-size display option to match the 9” Macintosh CRT screen. Uses a custom list to guess your physical display size, with calibration for purists. Great to feel the constraints Bill Atkinson, Jeff Raskin, and Susan Kare faced when designing the UI. (even more below!)

Julien Dorra

@juliendorra.com

22 Oct 2025

- Save clean screenshots of the Macintosh display. Save in MacPaint and name your drawing, the screenshots use that name (in-browser OCR). - Save a timelapse of your drawing as a super-light MP4 (in-browser ffmpeg). Easiest MacPaint timelapse I know (I used it to make the video in this post.)