What is the PICTCLIPPING file format?
A .pictclipping file is a graphic image file format native to macOS. Such files are used for storing raster images. A .pictclipping is generated when a highlighted image is dragged to the desktop; as a result, an image clipping file is created.
.pictclipping file format is native to the Mac operating system. The image content is stored as one or more pasteboard flavours (typically .tiff or .png) inside a property list in the data fork; older files may also carry the image as a classic PICT resource in the resource fork. .pictclipping images can be converted to other image formats and then opened with different applications. .pictclipping files can be regarded as a reusable alternative to the clipboard for short-term image storage. A sibling type, .textclipping, stores dragged text in the same way.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .pictclipping is a passive image snippet with no scripting or executable content, so it's safe to open. The only practical notes: it may quietly contain whatever image was dragged (mind sensitive screenshots in old clippings), and it's macOS-only - on Windows/Linux you can't open it natively, so recover the picture by opening it on a Mac (Preview/GraphicConverter) and exporting it. Be wary of Windows "viewers" advertised online for this extension; the format genuinely needs a Mac.
Format details
in a nutshellFULL NAMEmacOS Picture Clippingaka Picture Clipping file, Finder picture clipping
DEVELOPERApple Inc.since Classic Mac OS clippings since System 7.5 (1994); the .pictclipping extension form on Mac OS X / macOS
CATEGORYRaster Image Files
MIME TYPEapplication/octet-stream
TYPEFinder-created clipping holding a fragment of dragged image content (plist in data fork, legacy resource fork)
This extension is also used by…
- Johnson-Grace / AOL ART (.art) compressed image - Unrelated AOL-era compressed image format also abbreviated 'PICT clipping' in some old directories; the .pictclipping extension itself is Apple-specific.
Programs that open PICTCLIPPING files
macOS4 apps
GraphicConverter
Paid Open the clipping in GraphicConverter to view and re-export the embedded picture in any common format. 
Finder / Quick Look
Built-in Select the .pictclipping and press Space for Quick Look to preview the image.
Preview (drag-in)
Built-in Drag the clipping into an open Preview window or an image editor, then File > Export to save it as PNG/JPEG/TIFF.
Any app (drag-to-paste)
Built-in Drag the .pictclipping directly into a Pages/Keynote/Mail document to paste the picture where the cursor is. Technical details
deep spec| File role | Finder clipping holding a dragged image fragment; created by dragging an image selection from an app to the Desktop or a Finder folder window |
| Data fork container | Binary property list (bplist00) or XML plist wrapping one or more pasteboard flavours of the image (typically TIFF or PNG) |
| Legacy resource fork | Older files carry the image as a classic PICT resource in the resource fork with Finder type code; modern macOS may retain both forks for compatibility |
| Encoding | Binary (bplist00 property list) in the data fork; legacy files may additionally carry big-endian QuickDraw/PICT data in the resource fork |
| Embedded image format | Typically TIFF or PNG; compression follows the embedded format (TIFF: LZW or uncompressed; PNG: DEFLATE) |
| Color depth | Up to 32-bit RGBA, following the embedded image format; classic PICT (resource fork variant) supported 1-32 bpp |
| Typical file size | A few KB to a few hundred KB, depending on the size and format of the dragged image fragment |
| Platform | macOS only; Windows and Linux treat the file as an opaque binary without conversion |
| Quick Look support | macOS Finder renders a thumbnail via Quick Look without opening an application |
| Sibling clipping types | .textclipping (dragged text), .webloc (dragged URL/bookmark) - same Finder clipping mechanism with different content types |
| Reuse method | Drag the .pictclipping file back into any compatible app to paste the image, providing persistent clipboard-like storage |
| Format history | Clipping files introduced in Mac OS System 7.5 (1994) as a drag-and-drop persistence mechanism; .pictclipping is the image-specific variant on Mac OS X / macOS |
| Released | Classic Mac OS clippings since System 7.5 (1994); the .pictclipping extension form on Mac OS X / macOS |
| Latest version | Current macOS (Finder feature; no versioned spec) |
| Specification | en.wikipedia.org |
PICTCLIPPING conversions
Possible
.PICTCLIPPING .JPEGGUIDE
Yes, you can get a JPEG from a .pictclipping - the fastest way is to drag the file into Preview on a Mac and…
How to convert
.PICTCLIPPING .JPGGUIDE
Yes - open the clipping in Preview on a Mac and export it as JPEG in a few clicks.
How to convert
.PICTCLIPPING .PDFGUIDE
Yes - open the clipping in Preview on a Mac and use File > Export as PDF or Print > Save as PDF.
How to convert
.PICTCLIPPING .PNGGUIDE
Yes - drag the .pictclipping into Preview on a Mac, then File > Export as PNG.
How to convert
.PICTCLIPPING .TIFGUIDE
Yes, you can convert a .pictclipping to TIF on a Mac using Preview in a few seconds - drag the clipping into…
How to convert
.PICTCLIPPING .TIFFGUIDE
Yes - open the .pictclipping in Preview on a Mac and use File > Export to save it as TIFF.
How to convert
.PICTCLIPPING .GIFGUIDE
Yes, conversion is possible on a Mac using GraphicConverter - drag the clipping in, then export as GIF.
How to convert
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about PICTCLIPPING files.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .pictclipping file?
An image snippet saved by macOS when you drag a picture out of an app onto the Desktop or Finder. It's a reusable clipping you can drag back into a document to paste the picture.
How do I open a .pictclipping file?
On a Mac, press Space for Quick Look to preview it, or drag it into Preview/GraphicConverter to view and re-export it. To reuse it, drag it into a document to paste the image.
How do I get the image out of a .pictclipping?
Open it on a Mac, drag it into Preview (or GraphicConverter), then File > Export and choose PNG, JPEG or TIFF to save a portable copy.
Can I open a .pictclipping on Windows?
Not natively - it's a macOS Finder format that relies on Mac resource forks/property lists, so Windows viewers like IrfanView or ACDSee can't open it. Open it on a Mac and export the image, then move that file to Windows.
How do I create a picture clipping on Mac?
Drag an image (or a selected region of one) out of an app onto the Desktop or a Finder window. macOS saves it as a .pictclipping.
What's the difference between .pictclipping and .textclipping?
Both are Finder clippings made by dragging content to the Desktop: .pictclipping holds an image, .textclipping holds text. .webloc is the same idea for a dragged URL.
References
1Wikipedia - Pasteboard (Apple) / clippingsen.wikipedia.org
2The Eclectic Light Company - clipping files (textClippings, weblocs)eclecticlight.co
