Paint App For Windows Update Adds Support for Layers and Transparency (windows.com) 32
Windows blog: Today we are beginning to roll out an update for the Paint app to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels (version 11.2308.18.0 or higher). With this update, we are introducing support for layers and transparency! You can now add, remove, and manage layers on the canvas to create richer and more complex digital art. With layers, you can stack shapes, text, and other image elements on top of each other. To get started, click on the new Layers button in the toolbar, which will open a panel on the side of the canvas. This is where you can add new layers to the canvas. Try changing the order of layers in this panel to see how the order of stacked image elements on the canvas changes. You can also show or hide and duplicate individual layers or merge layers together.
We are adding support for transparency as well, including the ability to open and save transparent PNGs! When working with a single layer, you will notice a checkerboard pattern on the canvas indicating the portions of the image that are transparent. Erasing any content from the canvas now truly erases the content instead of painting the area white. When working with multiple layers, if you erase content on one layer, you will reveal the content in layers underneath.
We are adding support for transparency as well, including the ability to open and save transparent PNGs! When working with a single layer, you will notice a checkerboard pattern on the canvas indicating the portions of the image that are transparent. Erasing any content from the canvas now truly erases the content instead of painting the area white. When working with multiple layers, if you erase content on one layer, you will reveal the content in layers underneath.
Identity of MS Paint (Score:2, Interesting)
Once it has features like this, it's no longer MS Paint.
Notepad's identity is being the Windows EDIT control (Text Box).
Wordpad's identity is being the Windows RICHEDIT control, and exposing the OLE/ActiveX features of the operating system for embedded objects.
MS Paint's identity is being a simple demo program to show off the features of GDI, see how it draws those bezier curves! Wowee!
Change the apps, then you've taken away their identities as simple wrappers for the base features of Win32.
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Re: Identity of MS Paint (Score:2)
Probably because they don't want to maintain paint either, just like wordpad. This is a way to keep some developers busy while they get around to killing it.
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In 1985 when Windows was first released,, the primary users of computers, and Windows, were developers. Few developers had ever seen a windowing OS, and couldn't really visualize an EDIT, RICHEDIT, or GDI control. They needed such a demo, it made sense to make these basic programs to show off the capabilities.
Times have changed. Typical Windows users are now professionals, or older people. They no longer need or care about a demo of embedded Windows components. They want a basic set of tools to always be th
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Moot point for me though. I don't plan to use Windows past 8.x, not unless they ditch their built-in malware model, which doesn't look to be happening anytime soon. Unlike a lot of people here, I'm not happy about this. I'd prefer something like Windows 7 with security patches exist in the market. I think something is being lost.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the "Built-in-Malware model" (I guess you mean telemetry) was backported to Win 8.x and Win 7 a looong while ago. If you add to that backported malware the fact that you are not receiving any security patches, you are better off migrating to Win10 and applying the adequate debloat meassures while you transition into whatever you intend to use after The VMS/Windows family of OSs
Also, remmeber that, by ~Sept next year, the only moderately popular browser that still runs in Win7
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Sorry to burst your bubble, but the "Built-in-Malware model" (I guess you mean telemetry) was backported to Win 8.x and Win 7 a looong while ago.
It wasn't even back-ported, it existed in Win7 before Win8 was even released. MS even referenced their telemetry data on how users used the start menu to justify their decision to fuckup the start menu in Win8.
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Change the apps, then you've taken away their identities
No one is crying for the poor disenfranchised MSPaint. They never used its "identity" in the first place.
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Notepad's identity is encapsulated in the groans you make when you realize you are on a machine with no other text editor available.
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Once it has features like this, it's no longer MS Paint.
Once it's not shit, then it's no longer shit. Well when you're right, you're right.
Paint 3D was supposed to replace MS Paint at one point. They backed off on that plan, but it's nice to see that they're doing something at least. Maybe eventually they'll reach the point where Paint.net was ten years ago.
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Surprisingly not a new thing for Microsoft (Score:2)
Still not as good at the original MS Painbrush (Score:2)
basic is good (Score:2)
What i've always liked about Paint, is that I can do basic image manipulation and editing with a minimal amount skill and knowlege of things like layering, transparency, etc. I understand some people may want more features, but those very features can be what makes it more difficult than the effort I want to spend.
Maybe they need a dual version of Paint like the calculator. Basic and "scientific". Basic is Windows 95 Paint and Scientific could be the version with all the bells and whistles.
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The absolute basic is to take a screen cap and draw circles around things, and to open (and save as) the most common file types - jpeg, png, and bmp. And I don't really find that enough.
After that I want at least a semi-intelligent masking tool and gradient fill options. Decent scaling, mirror, and rotation (by arbitrary amounts) is also a pretty common need. This is where Paint currently fails badly on all counts.
Being able to crank out an icon file with transparency would be really nice, but a lack of
Good news, no longer need GIMP (Score:2)
Paint.NET (Score:5, Informative)
MS should have bought Paint.NET and called it a day.
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MS should have bought Paint.NET and called it a day.
And then the rest of the slashdot crowd (except you) would be southing:
MONOPPOLY PRACTICES!
PREDATORY PRACTICES!
HELP DoJ!
YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE!
Paint.NET (Score:5, Informative)
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I'm glad they didn't. This way, Paint.net avoids the enshittification.
I am sure (Score:2)
Why, MS? Why? (Score:2)
Paint has always be a very lightweight program to display images, convert them one-by-one and maybe, maybe, turn it. That's what it's been good for. Do not overload it with crap that makes it look like a wannabe Gimp or Paint.Net without coming close to the functionality or usability while becoming as much of a memory hog as they are.
Don't fix what ain't broken. Try to fix the crap that is.
photopea.com (Score:4, Informative)
photopea.com is a free browser based Photoshop clone. Been using it for years.
Snip & Sketch (Score:2)
I'm just waiting for snip & sketch to gain the ability to add text to your screenshots, and then I'll never need paint
WordPad (Score:2)
why do they deliberately make crap default apps? (Score:2)