Color depth is a compile time option, instead of run time option, to help keep Mini vMac simple and small. However, regardless of the chosen color depth, Black and White is also available, and can be selected from the "Monitors" control panel. If you want gigantic true-color visuals in a 68k Mac emulator BasiliskII is probably your best bet unless there's some specific piece of software you're trying to use that works better under vMac.
Download the sources and the pre-built Mini vMac binary from the downloads page. This binary is built to emulate a Macintosh Plus, and so does not support colour. Install Unarchiver and StuffIt for Linux to deal with StuffIt files.
I needed both because Unarchiver sometimes inexplicably refused to extract files, while StuffIt sometimes segfaulted. This video explains how to show color in Mini vMac IIx with system 6. First you'll need is the system 6 startup disk, then drag in one of your own disks and launch Disk First Aid.
Mini vMac is the software of choice for that, as it emulates a Macintosh Plus - the fourth model of Macintosh. With Mini vMac, you don't get a 68040 with color graphics and a virtual hard drive. 36.04 (Stable) Macintosh II Variations These variations emulate a Macintosh II with a 640x480 display with 256 colors (using the "-m II" build option).
The main Download page has many more options. About Summary: The Mini vMac emulator collection allows modern computers to run software made for early Macintosh computers, the computers that Apple sold from 1984 to 1996 based upon Motorola's 680x0 microprocessors. Mini vMac is part of the Gryphel Project.
First, use the 'P' command of the Mini vMac Control Mode (type Control-P, usually) in an existing variation of Mini vMac 36 or later to copy its options, and paste them here: The above choice is the only one required. Change at least one of the options below to customize your variation. Subscriber Code (without this a demo is created).
Does anybody know of a colour version of Mini vMac that can boot System 7.0.1? I have a few games, some that are in colour, and am sick of playing them in black and white. Now you can use "classic mac" software on your PC! Note that you cannot write changes to floppies due to copy protection. I will explain how to use hard disk in the next guide.
I am planning to post instructions to get color display in Mini vMac later. By the way: to properly shut down the emulator select "Shut down" in "Special" menu.