Editing Macintosh II (section)

=== Color Graphics Capabilities ===

The Macintosh II's color graphics system represented a quantum leap from the monochrome displays of earlier Macintosh computers. The system's graphics capabilities were provided through expansion cards, allowing users to choose the level of graphics performance that matched their needs and budget:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Graphics Card !! Resolution !! Colors !! Video RAM !! Price
|-
| Apple High-Resolution Video Card || 640×480 || 256 from 16.7 million || 256 KB || $599
|-
| Apple Two-Page Display Card || 1152×870 || Monochrome || 256 KB || $799
|-
| Third-party cards || Various || Up to 24-bit color || 1-8 MB || $500-$3000
|}

The standard Apple High-Resolution Video Card supported 8-bit color depth, displaying 256 colors simultaneously from a palette of 16.7 million colors. This capability made the Macintosh II ideal for graphic design, desktop publishing, and multimedia applications. The system's open architecture allowed third-party manufacturers to develop more advanced graphics cards, with some supporting true 24-bit color and higher resolutions.