How To Use New Paint App In Windows 11

The new Microsoft Paint app in Windows 11 comes with a fresh look and refined features, while maintaining the simplicity that users have come to love. It’s not just an app for basic image editing but also a great tool for doodling, creating artwork, or performing simple graphic tasks. This guide will cover everything you need to know about using the new Paint app in Windows 11, from its interface to its advanced features.

1. Getting Started with Paint in Windows 11

Opening the Paint App

There are several ways to open the Paint app on your Windows 11 system:

Method 1: Start Menu

•   Click the Start button or press the Windows key.
•   In the search bar, type Paint and select it from the search results.

  Method 2: Run Command

•   Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
•   Type `mspaint` and press Enter.

Method 3: Pin to Taskbar or Start Menu

•   Open Paint via the Start menu or search.
•   Once open, right-click the Paint icon in the taskbar, then select Pin to taskbar for easy future access.

2. The Paint App Interface

The revamped Paint interface in Windows 11 is more modern and visually appealing, while still retaining familiar elements.

Main Components

1.Title Bar: Displays the file name and offers window management options.

2.Menu Bar: The File menu allows you to create new files, open existing ones, save images, and print.

3.Ribbon Toolbar: The ribbon houses various tabs (Home, View, etc.) that contain tools and options for image editing.

4Drawing Area: The large blank area where you can create, edit, or view images.

5.Status Bar: Displays details such as the image dimensions, zoom level, and cursor position.

3. Basic Functions in Paint

Creating a New Project

1. Open the Paint app.

2. Click File > New, or press Ctrl + N to start with a blank canvas.

Opening an Existing Image

1. Click File > Open or press Ctrl + O.

2. Browse for the image you want to open, select it, and click Open.

Saving Your Work

After editing or creating a new image:

1. Click File > Save or press Ctrl + S.

2. Select the file format (JPEG, PNG, BMP, etc.), name your file, and choose a save location.

3. Click Save.

Exporting an Image

To save your image in a different format or create a copy:

1. Click File > Save As.

2. Choose the desired file type from PNG, JPEG, BMP, or GIF.

4. The Home Tab Tools

The Home tab in the Paint app is where you’ll find the core tools for drawing, editing, and manipulating images.

Clipboard Section

1.Paste: Allows you to paste content from the clipboard onto your canvas.

2.Cut, Copy: Used to cut or copy selected parts of the image to the clipboard.

Image Section

1.Resize: Click this to change the size of the image. You can resize by percentage or pixels, and maintain the aspect ratio by checking the box.

2.Rotate: Lets you rotate the image 90 degrees or flip it horizontally or vertically.

3.Select: You can make a rectangular or free-form selection to crop or manipulate certain parts of the image.

4.Crop: Use this to crop the image to a selected area.

Tools Section

The Tools section includes a variety of drawing and editing instruments:

1.Pencil: Used for freehand drawing with thin, precise lines.

2.Fill: Fills a selected area with a solid color.

3.Text: Allows you to insert and customize text in your image.

4.Eraser: Used to erase parts of your drawing or image.

5.Color Picker: Select a color from the image to use as the current foreground color.

6.Magnifier: Zoom in and out to make precise edits.

7.Brushes: There are several brush types such as calligraphy, airbrush, oil, watercolor, and more, offering different textures and effects for freehand drawing.

Shapes Section

Paint includes a library of predefined shapes like rectangles, circles, arrows, and stars. To use:

1. Select a shape from the Shapes section.

2. Click and drag on the canvas to create the shape.

3. You can customize the fill color, outline, and thickness of the shape.

Colors Section

In the Colors section, you can select the foreground and background colors for your tools.

1.Color 1: This is the primary color for most tools (e.g., brush, pencil).

2.Color 2: This is the background color used for shapes or text boxes.

You can also click Edit Colors to create custom colors and save them to your palette.

5. Advanced Image Editing in Paint

Using Layers and Transparency

Although Paint doesn’t offer traditional layering like advanced image editors, you can still simulate layers by:

1. Selecting parts of the image with the Select tool and moving them around to different locations.

2. Using the Transparency feature (when selecting content) to remove the background around selections.

Adding Text to Images

1. Click on the Text tool in the toolbar.

2. Click anywhere on the canvas to create a text box.

3. You can adjust the font, size, bold, italic, and underline styles from the contextual menu that appears after selecting the text tool.

Resizing and Skewing Images

You can resize or skew your image to fit a certain aspect ratio:

1. Click on Resize in the Image section.

2. Choose to resize by percentage or pixels.

3. To skew the image, adjust the horizontal or vertical skew settings.

Working with Selections

1.Rectangular Selection: Click and drag to select a rectangular portion of the image.

2.Free-form Selection: Draw a custom shape around the part of the image you want to select.

• Once selected, you can cut, copy, move, or rotate the selected portion.

6. View Tab Features

The View tab provides options to adjust how you see your canvas and work more effectively on detailed projects.

1.Zoom In/Out: Zoom in to work on finer details or zoom out for a broader view.

2.Show Gridlines: Turn gridlines on or off to align elements more precisely.

1.Rulers: Enable rulers to get exact measurements for your shapes and objects on the canvas.

2.Full Screen: Switch to full-screen mode for a distraction-free experience.

7. Tips for Effective Use of Paint in Windows 11

1. Customize Brushes

Try out the various brush types and combine them to create unique textures and effects. For instance, using the watercolor brush on top of an oil brush stroke can create interesting visual effects.

2. Utilize the Color Picker

If you are editing a photo or creating artwork with multiple colors, use the Color Picker to maintain consistency by selecting and reusing colors from your image.

3. Use Magnifier for Detailed Work

When working on intricate details or small areas, use the **Magnifier** tool to zoom in and make precise edits.

4. Combine Shapes and Text

Create banners, posters, or infographics by combining shapes and adding text to enhance your designs.

 

5. Leverage Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow by using shortcuts such as:

1.Ctrl + C: Copy

2.Ctrl + vm: Paste

3.Ctrl + Z: Undo

4.Ctrl + R: Resize

5.Ctrl + P: Print

6.Ctrl + A: Select all

8. Saving and Sharing Your Work

After completing your project, save your work and share it as follows:

1.Saving: Go to File > Save As, choose a file format (e.g., PNG, JPEG), and click Save.

2.Sharing: You can also copy the image directly to the clipboard and paste it into emails, documents, or social media platforms.

9. Using Paint for Specific Tasks

Basic Photo Editing

Even though Paint isn't an advanced photo editor, it is capable of basic photo manipulations like cropping, resizing, and adding text overlays.

Creating Custom Graphics

Paint is an excellent tool for creating custom graphics, such as simple logos, banners, or social media posts. You can experiment with different shapes, brushes, and text options to craft your design.

Sketching and Drawing

For casual users and hobbyists, Paint is a fun platform for sketching ideas, doodling, and creating simple artwork.

Conclusion

The new Paint app in Windows 11 provides a user-friendly experience with a modern interface and essential tools for quick and straightforward image editing. Whether you are creating digital artwork, editing photos, or designing graphics, Paint has enough features to accomplish a wide range of tasks while remaining simple and accessible to all types of users. With its new look and updated features, Microsoft Paint is still a go-to app for creative tasks in Windows 11.