MacDraw: Objects Shifting or Distorted when Pasted

When you copy objects from MacDraw or Claris CAD (any version) into another program using the PICT format, the objects may import into the other program incorrectly. Any method of copying objects that uses the PICT format may exhibit problems, including copying/pasting via the clipboard, saving as a PICT file, or using Publish and Subscribe. (All subsequent references to saving to PICT include all three of these PICT methods). Symptoms include: objects may shift apart or become misaligned; polygons, bezigons and freehands may become distorted, especially smoothed objects; dashing, gradient fills and other attributes may be missing or incorrect when copied to the other program; line widths may be rounded to the nearest whole point. These problems can happen when copying objects to any other application on a Macintosh or PC, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and PageMaker.

This information was provided by Claris Corporation on 16 March 1998, and incorporated into Apple Computer's Tech Info Library.
Solution:
The issues are due to limitations of the PICT format. As such, they are an inherent system level limitation, and there is no fix. However, you can minimize the shifting issue in MacDraw or Claris CAD by setting the AutoGrid on, and using a ruler setting of 36 or 72 divisions per inch BEFORE you create your drawing. If you align objects to this grid after drawing, you will align only one part of the object to the grid (like the upper left corner). You won't align all the object handles to the grid. This is why aligning after drawing is not a fix.

These PICT format limitations can be avoided by saving as an EPSF file, then importing the EPSF into the destination application. MacDraw Pro 1.0/1.5 and Claris CAD 2.0v3 can save as an EPSF file, if the EPSF translator is installed. MacDraw II cannot save as an EPSF, but MacDraw II files can be imported into MacDraw Pro and Claris CAD. Of course, using EPSF is only a viable option if the destination application supports EPSF, and if the image will be printed on a Postscript printer.

Explanation:
Issue - Shifting of objects, objects become distorted

In a PICT file, the position of objects is limited to 1/72 of an inch. MacDraw and Claris CAD have much higher precision in placing objects. When you take objects from MacDraw and Claris CAD into the clipboard, a PICT file or a Publisher Edition file, the placement of objects is shifted to the nearest 1/72 of an inch. This can cause objects to shift apart.

Note: This does NOT mean that PICT has a "resolution" of 72dpi. PICT is an object-based file format, and as such does not have an inherent resolution. What this does mean is that objects are placed to the nearest 1/72 of an inch.

In addition to the placement of the object as a whole, the placement of each of the object handles that define the object is rounded to the nearest 1/72 of an inch in a PICT. You can see the object handles of a line, rectangle, arc or oval by clicking on the object. You can see the object handles of a polygon, bezigon or freehand by selecting the Reshape command. When the object handles get shifted to the nearest 1/72 of an inch, the object may become distorted. This is especially noticeable with smoothed objects.
Problem - object attributes, including dashing or gradients, are missing or incorrect

The PICT file format is "weak" by today's graphic standards. That is, graphic programs have features that are not fully supported by the standard PICT format. To get around this problem, a PICT file has a customizable section, called the "Header", that is unique to each application. Dashing, rotation and other features not supported by the regular PICT are supported in the header information. If you save to PICT and the destination application cannot read the source program's PICT header information, this information will be lost when the PICT is copied to the destination program.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012