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Apple QuickTake Software

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Apple QuickTake Software
Apple QuickTake Software screenshot
Apple QuickTake 200 Software CD for Mac OS, version 1.0, 1997, part number 691-1338-A
Developer(s) Apple Computer, Inc.
Initial release 1994
Type Camera driver and image transfer software
Platform Macintosh (System 7); Windows 3.1
Media 3.5-inch floppy disks; CD-ROM (QuickTake 200)

Apple QuickTake Software is the software Apple supplied with its QuickTake digital cameras to transfer pictures to a Macintosh or a Windows PC, control the camera from the computer and convert the pictures to other formats. Each camera came with its own set: QuickTake 1.0 and the QuickTake Setup control panel for the Apple QuickTake 100, PhotoFlash 2.0 and QuickTake Image Access for the Apple QuickTake 150, and Camera Access for the Apple QuickTake 200. The Windows packages for the 100 and 150 had their own QuickTake for Windows program.[1][2][3]

QuickTake 100

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The Macintosh software came on floppy disks: QuickTake Install Disk 1 onwards, with a separate QuickTake for Power Macintosh disk. The Installer puts the QuickTake 1.0 application and its support files on the startup disk.[1] QuickTake 1.0 shows the pictures in the camera as a slide table, moves them to the Macintosh, crops, rotates and rescales them, changes their bit depth, and saves them in several formats. Its Camera menu also names the camera, sets the camera's clock, takes pictures and erases the camera.[1] The QuickTake Setup control panel puts a camera icon on the desktop. The pictures can then be opened or dragged off it like files, the camera renamed, its sleep time set, its clock set automatically and its memory erased.[1]

Apple's requirements were a Macintosh with a 68020 or later processor, System 7.0.1 with Tune-Up 1.1.1 or later, 4 MB of RAM with 8 MB of virtual memory or 8 MB of RAM, a high-density floppy drive and 10 MB of disk space.[1] The first Macintosh package, M1644LL/A, needed an extra QuickTake for PwrMac 1.0 disk to run on a Power Macintosh; the later M1644LL/B package did not.[4] After a system software upgrade, QuickTake 1.0 may refuse to open until the Shared Library Manager is reinstalled from the Installer's Customize list.[1] QuickTake 1.0 also fails with QuickTime 2.1; Apple's fix was QuickTime 2.5.[5]

QuickTake for Windows install disk F690-0794-A
QuickTake for Windows Install Disk, F690-0794-A

The Windows edition, QuickTake for Windows, saves pictures as TIFF, BMP, PCX, JPEG or QuickTake files and talks to the camera over an RS-232C port at up to 57,600 bps. Apple listed MS-DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 and a 386 or later PC with 4 MB of RAM.[6] The QuickTake Serial Ports utility tests the link and sets its speed.[7] Version 1.5 of QuickTake for Windows came with the QuickTake 150.[8]

QuickTake 150

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The Macintosh camera came with four disks holding PhotoFlash 2.0, the QuickTake Image Access control panel and the camera drivers. Image Access mounts the camera on the desktop like a disk, so that pictures can be dragged off it; PhotoFlash is an image editor that also controls the camera, and supports AppleScript, Frontier and QuicKeys.[2][9] Apple's support pages call the set "QuickTake 2.0 software", and Apple released a PhotoFlash 2.0 to 2.0.1 updater on 29 August 1995.[10] The Windows camera came with QuickTake 1.5 and the PhotoNow! TWAIN driver.[8] The QuickTake 150 software also works with a QuickTake 100.[11]

The software must be installed with Apple's Installer; copies dragged to the hard disk do not work.[2] Under Mac OS 8.5 the QuickTake 150 installer puts back an older QuickTime PowerPlug (version 2.0); take the newer PowerPlug out of the Extensions folder before installing and return it afterwards.[12]

QuickTake 200

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The QuickTake 200 software is on CD-ROM. The Apple QuickTake 200 Software CD, version 1.0 (691-1338-A), holds the QuickTake 200 Installer and Read Me, a QuickTake 200 plug-in in a Goodies folder, a floppy disk image of the software with Disk Copy, and the PictureWorks NetCard installer; its files are dated February 1997.[13] The installer adds the Camera Access application, the QuickTime IC system extension and the drivers; the package also included Adobe PhotoDeluxe 1.0, Adobe PageMill 2.0 and PictureWorks NetCard 1.0.[14]

Camera Access transfers and names pictures, uploads pictures from the computer back to the camera, makes QuickTime movies from stills, captures live video from the camera, and launches other programs through its Dispatcher.[3] Apple asked for a 68040 or PowerPC Mac OS computer with System 7.5, QuickTime 2.0, 16 MB of RAM and a CD-ROM drive.[3] The Read Me notes that the plug-in works with Photoshop 3.0 and later but not with PhotoFlash, that Camera Access cannot read compressed TIFF files, and that sound is not recorded with video.[15] Apple did not support the QuickTake 200 under Windows.[16]

Picture formats

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What the cameras store
Camera In the camera Saved by Apple's software as
QuickTake 100 Compressed raw data, 640 × 480 or 320 × 240; 115,200 or 28,800 bytes per picture[17] Macintosh: PICT with QuickTake compression ("PICT QuickTake"), PICT, TIFF. Windows: QuickTake (.QTK), TIFF, BMP, PCX, JPEG[18][6]
QuickTake 150 Compressed raw data, 640 × 480, at 1.5 or 0.75 bits per pixel[19] Macintosh: PICT QuickTake, PICT, TIFF, JPEG, EPS. Windows: QuickTake, TIFF, BMP, PCX, JPEG[9][8]
QuickTake 200 JPEG on the SmartMedia card[14] PICT, TIFF, JPEG and EXIF[14]

A PICT QuickTake file needs QuickTime and the QuickTake Image extension to open. Mac OS X has no QuickTake decompressor, so QuickTake 100 and 150 pictures have to be converted under Mac OS 9 or earlier before Mac OS X can read them.[20] On Windows the .QTK file is not a standard PICT file, and Apple's advice was to save as JPEG or TIFF for other programs.[21]

Using the cameras today

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  • Dave Coffin's dcraw decodes the QuickTake 100 and 150 raw formats (qtkt and qtkn).[22] Colin Leroy-Mira's protocol notes point to libgphoto2 for decoding QuickTake 150 thumbnails.[17]
  • Wikipedia lists gPhoto and JQuickTake for connecting the 100 and 150 to a modern computer through a USB serial adapter.[23]
  • Colin Leroy-Mira's Quicktake for Apple II downloads, decodes and displays pictures from the QuickTake 100, 150 and 200 on an Apple II with 128 KB of memory, and can delete pictures and set the name and clock of the 100 and 150. It needs two Super Serial Cards for the 100 and 150 on an Apple IIe; on an Apple IIgs a standard AppleTalk cable works.[22]
  • The QuickTake 200's cards can be read directly in a SmartMedia reader; see Apple QuickTake accessories#Memory card.

Apple stopped supplying the original software, and its support pages said replacement disks were no longer available from Apple.[10] Copies are preserved on archive.org: QuickTake for Windows 1.5, QuickTake 1.0 for Windows, QuickTake 150 software for Windows and the QuickTake 200 Software CD.

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 100 User's Guide for Macintosh, 1994, part number 030-6161-A, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 100 Users Guide for Macintosh 1994.pdf. System requirements p. 2; installing the software and the disks p. 6-7; reinstalling the Shared Library Manager after a system upgrade p. 8; working with pictures p. 20-34; Chapter 4, menu commands, p. 41-50; Appendix D, QuickTake Setup, p. 63-64.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 150 User's Guide for Macintosh, 1995, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 150 Users Guide for Macintosh 1995.pdf. Preface on the PhotoFlash manuals p. ix; four QuickTake disks, QuickTake Image Access and PhotoFlash p. 5; system requirements p. 2; reinstalling p. 8; QuickTake Image Access and PhotoFlash p. 26-41; Windows transfers and the PICT QuickTake (.QTK) format, Appendix C, p. 53-55.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 200 For Mac OS users, 1997, part number 034-0023-A, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 200 Users Guide for Mac OS 1997.pdf. System requirements p. 2; installing the software p. 5; Chapter 3, Camera Access, p. 31-60, including uploading pictures to the camera p. 39, making movies p. 48-53 and the Camera Access Dispatcher p. 55; Appendix D, opening DOS .JPG files, p. 79-80.
  4. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake 100: Power Macintosh Compatible", Tech Info Library article 14991 (TA31427), in the archive.org collection Apple's Technical Information Library Articles, https://archive.org/details/APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES, file TA30000-TA39999.
  5. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake 100 & System 7.5.3 Incompatibility (10/96)", Tech Info Library article 19990 (TA35661), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Apple Computer, "QuickTake 100 for Windows: Description (6/94)", Tech Info Library article 15604 (TA31906), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999. Source for: file formats TIFF, BMP, PCX, JPEG and QuickTake; RS-232C connection up to 57,600 bps; MS-DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, a 386, 486 or Pentium with a serial port, 4 MB of RAM and 10 MB of disk recommended; the 1.44 MB floppy.
  7. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake 150: Windows Troubleshooting (4/95)", Tech Info Library article 17650 (TA33653), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Apple Computer, Apple Facts, October 1995, QuickTake 150 entry, https://vintageapple.org/applefacts/pdf/Apple_Facts_9510_10.95_October_1995.pdf (retrieved 2026-10-02). Source for: PhotoFlash 2.0 for Macintosh; QuickTake 1.5 and the PhotoNow! TWAIN driver for Windows; file formats EPS, PICT, TIFF, JPEG and QuickTake on the Macintosh and BMP, PCX, JPEG, TIFF and QuickTake on Windows.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 150 data sheet, March 1995, L00578B, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 150 Data Sheet 1995.pdf. Source for: PhotoFlash 2.0 features (camera control, image enhancement, catalogue, AppleScript, Frontier and QuicKeys support); PhotoFlash file formats (PICT, TIFF, EPS, JPEG, Photoshop, Photo CD and QuickTake); QuickTake Image Access; system requirements.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Apple Computer, "Support for QuickTake Digital Cameras", Tech Info Library article TA37837, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999. Source for: the original software being unavailable from Apple; the PhotoFlash 2.0 to 2.0.1 update of 29 August 1995; the article "QuickTake 2.0 Software: List of Files Installed".
  11. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake 100: Compatible With QuickTake 150 Software? (1/96)", Tech Info Library article 19300 (TA35046), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999.
  12. ↑ Apple Computer, "Mac OS 8.5: QuickTime PowerPlug Version", Tech Info Library article TA38741, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999.
  13. ↑ Archive.org item 691-1338-AApple_QuickTake_2000_Software_for_Mac_OS._v1.0_1997_CD, disc image and file listing (.toast.TREE.txt) of the Apple QuickTake200 Software volume, and the disc photograph File:Apple QuickTake 200 Software CD 691-1338-A.jpg (retrieved 2026-10-02).
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Apple Computer, Apple QuickTake 200 data sheet, February 1997, L02204B, hosted as File:Apple QuickTake 200 Data Sheet 1997.pdf. Source for: Camera Access, the QuickTime IC system extension and drivers; the Photoshop Acquire compatible plug-in; the bundled Adobe PhotoDeluxe 1.0, Adobe PageMill 2.0 and PictureWorks NetCard 1.0; the system requirements.
  15. ↑ Apple Computer, "Apple QuickTake 200: Read Me Document", Tech Info Library article 21027 (TA36545), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999.
  16. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake Cameras: Not Supported Using Windows 95", Tech Info Library article 20172 (TA35799), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Colin Leroy-Mira, "The Apple Quicktake 100 and 150 serial communication protocol", colino.net, 29 October 2023, https://www.colino.net/wordpress/archives/2023/10/29/the-apple-quicktake-100-150-serial-communication-protocol/ (retrieved 2026-10-02). Community reverse-engineering notes. Source for: QuickTake 100 picture sizes of 115,200 and 28,800 bytes; ADPCM data from the 100 and RADC data from the 150; the qtkt and qtkn file headers that dcraw reads; thumbnails of 80 × 60 pixels.
  18. ↑ Apple Computer, Apple Facts, October 1994, QuickTake 100 entry, https://vintageapple.org/applefacts/pdf/Apple_Facts_9410_10.94_October_1994.pdf (retrieved 2026-10-02). Source for: file formats PICT, TIFF and QuickTake on the Macintosh and BMP, PCX, JPEG, TIFF and QuickTake on Windows.
  19. ↑ Apple Computer, "QuickTake 150: Image Quality Differences (8/96)", Tech Info Library article 20291 (TA35897), APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA30000-TA39999.
  20. ↑ Apple Computer, "Mac OS X: Unable to Open QuickTake 100, 150 Pictures", Tech Info Library article TA26494, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TA20315-TA29994.
  21. ↑ Apple Computer, QuickTake for Windows 1.5 README.TXT, archive.org item quicktake_windows_1.5 (retrieved 2026-10-02).
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Colin Leroy-Mira, "Quicktake for Apple II", colino.net, https://www.colino.net/wordpress/quicktake-for-apple-ii/ (retrieved 2026-10-02). Source for: Quicktake for Apple II supporting the QuickTake 100, 150 and 200; its requirements (an Apple II with 128 KB and a Super Serial Card, two for the 100 and 150 on an Apple IIe); a standard AppleTalk cable on the Apple IIgs; conversion to double hi-res; a QuickTake 100 high-quality picture of 118 KB; the use of dcraw's QTKT and QTKN decoders by Dave Coffin.
  23. ↑ "Apple QuickTake", Wikipedia, section "Using QuickTake", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_QuickTake (retrieved 2026-10-02).


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