This package was described in the 2nd edition of "LaTeX: A Document Preparation System", but the LaTeX project team declined to produce the package. For a long time, LaTeX has included a "pict2e package" that merely produced an apologetic error message.

The new package extends the existing LaTeX picture environment, using the familiar technique (cf. the graphics and color packages) of driver files. The package documentation (pict2e.dtx) has a fair number of examples of use, showing where things are improved by comparison with the LaTeX picture environment. This package was implemented by Hubert Glein and Rolf Niepraschk.