Which MIME types are related to file extension ".pic"?
The .pic file extension is associated with 9 MIME types:
image/x-pict, image/vnd.radiance, image/pict, text/troff, application/octet-stream, image/x-lotus-pic, image/x-ilbm, image/x-macpaint, image/x-mtv.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .pic Files
PIC files are a versatile type of file that can store images or text instructions depending on their MIME type.
They may represent graphics used in classic Mac systems, high dynamic-range images, Unix drawing commands, or even raw screen captures.
- image/x-pict or image/pict – These MIME types refer to the QuickDraw/PICT format used in older Apple Macintosh environments.
- image/vnd.radiance – This type is for Radiance RGBE images used in lighting simulation and rendering, offering high dynamic-range imaging.
- text/troff – Here, the file is a text file that uses the pic drawing language for generating simple diagrams on Unix-like systems.
- application/octet-stream – In this case, the file might be a raw data capture such as an IBM Storyboard screen capture.
- image/x-lotus-pic – This MIME type is linked to Lotus Picture files from Lotus applications.
- image/x-ilbm – This identifies an Interleaved Bitmap file, common in some older computing platforms like the Amiga.
- image/x-macpaint – This is associated with the MacPaint file format used for early bitmap images on Macintosh computers.
- image/x-mtv – This type denotes bitmaps from the MTV ray tracer, used in specific graphics applications.
- Main use case: Displaying graphics and images in legacy or specialized image software.
- Other uses: They can also be text-based diagram instructions in Unix troff, or raw screen captures, depending on the MIME type.
- Supported software: Programs like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, MacPaint, or Lotus applications may open these files. Some require format-specific viewers or converters.
Relationship between file extension and MIME type
A file extension is a suffix at the end of a filename that indicates what type of file it is. File extensions help both users and operating systems identify what application should be used to open the file.
File extensions are typically separated from the filename by a period (dot) and consist of 2-4 characters, though they can be longer. For example, in the filename "document.pdf", ".pdf" is the file extension.
File extensions are closely related to MIME types, as they both serve to identify the format of a file. However, while MIME types are used primarily by web browsers and servers, file extensions are used by operating systems and applications.
Associated MIME types
image/x-pict, image/vnd.radiance, image/pict, text/troff, application/octet-stream, image/x-lotus-pic, image/x-ilbm, image/x-macpaint, image/x-mtv
FAQ
What is a MIME type?
A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.
MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.
MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.
How do I find the MIME type for a file?
You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.
Why can one extension have multiple MIME types?
Different programs and historical usage may assign various MIME identifiers to the same file format. Listing them together helps maintain compatibility across tools.