Microsoft Paint which was introduced as a graphic editing application in Windows 3.1 has finally got a new and refurbished look after years. With the latest Windows 11 operating system, our favorite MS Paint has got a brand new design, new UI, and some new features too. Microsoft Paint now has a simplified toolbar. There is now a Fluent header in the place of the menu ribbon which contains all the available options like File, Edit, brushes.
Microsoft Paint Tips and Tricks for Windows 11 users
We have recently covered a topic on how to use MS Paint in Windows 11 and today, in this post, I will be sharing some cool tips and tricks for MS Paint which you might not know.
- Flip or Rotate a part of your image
- Convert images
- Set image as your Desktop background
- Email your image directly
- Make a straight line using the pencil tool
- Change the brush size
- Invert colors
- Undo/Redo Shortcuts
- Transparent Background Selection
- Add custom colors to the color pallete.
1] Flip or Rotate a part of your image
You can easily rotate or flip a particular part of your image in just a few clicks. Open the Paint app from the Start menu or by typing Paint in the Search option in your taskbar. Copy and paste the image you want to edit or open it using the File option in the main menu ribbon. Now select the part of the picture you want to flip or rotate, right-click and select the option. That’s it.
2] Convert images
We often need to change our image format and use some image converters for that but not many of us know that we can convert the image format using MS Paint. To convert any image, open the image in MS Paint and click on File–>Save As and select the format you want.
MS Paint can save your image in PNG, JPEG, BMP, and GIF format but if you want to save it in some other formats, you can check them from the file explorer while saving the image. This way, you can convert your image to the desired format without needing any third-party software.
3] Set image as your Desktop background
If you are liking the image you’ve just edited on MS Paint, you can directly save it as your Dekstop background. Just click on the File option in the main menu ribbon and click on Set as desktop background, you will then get the options Fill, Tile, and Center. Select the one you want and that’s it. You don’t really need to go all the way to the Desktop Personalization settings for changing your desktop background.
4] Email your image directly
Same as we can set any image as our desktop background directly from MS Paint, we can also share it via email directly from the app itself. When you are done editing the image, click on File–>Share. It will instantly open your Outlook account and will automatically attach the image as an attachment in the email. Select the recipient’s contact and click on Send.
5] Make a straight line using the pencil tool
It is pretty difficult to make a straight line using the pencil tool in MS Paint. For me, it’s always a little curved. But here’s a trick. You can make an absolutely straight line using the pencil tool in MS Paint by pressing the Shift key on your keyboard. Select the pencil tool, press and hold the shift key on the keyboard and then draw the line.
6] Change the brush size
The brushes in MS Paint were not named in the previous versions, but with the updated interface, we now have all 9 brushes with the names- brush, calligraphy brush, calligraphy pen, airbrush, oil brush, crayon, marker brush, natural pencil, and watercolor brush. You can change the brush size from the size tool placed right before the color palette. You can also increase the brush size by pressing the Ctrl+Numpad Plus button.
7] Invert Colors
You can simply invert the colors in an image in just a few clicks. Open the image in MS Paint, select the area you want to invert colors for, right-click and click on Invert Color. You can also use the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+I. If you want to undo the change, simply press Ctrl+Z or click the undo button placed right next to the Save option in the main menu.
8] Undo/Redo Shortcuts
While there is a undo button given in the main menu right next to the Save option, you can also do that with your keyboard. The shortcut for Undo is Ctrl+Z and the shortcut keys for Redo is Ctrl+Y in MS Paint.
9] Transparent Background Selection
You can select a part of an image with a transparent background in MS Paint. However, it is not really precise but can still work for some. Before you select any part, go to the Select option (the square button right before the resize button) and click on the downwards arrow. Select Transparent Selection and now select any part of the image. It will select the image without its background.
10] Add custom colors to the color pallete
The color palette in MS Paint has 20 colors by default. If you want any color other than these twenty, you can click on the Edit Colors button beside the pallet. The third row in the color palette is empty and you can add your own custom colors there. Click on Edit Colors, arrange the cursor to set the color you want, and click on Add to Custom Colours tab. You will then see your custom color in the third row of the palette.
So these were some of the MS Paint Tips and Tricks for Windows 11 Users. Do let us know if we missed any important ones.
What’s new in Microsoft Paint in Windows 11?
The look of the Paint app has changed completely. You will see the rounder corners, changed toolbar icons and symbols, and a new UI. You will also see a drop-down menu for brushes with different types of brushed mentions and a new round color palette. It’s way better now and feels like all new.
Read next: Windows 11 Tips and Tricks.
