- Rectangle Select
You may use this to define a rectangle or square selection region. Read more at Selection Tools.
Move Selected Pixels
You may use this to move pixels that are currently selected as a result of using the various Selection Tools. Read more at Move Tools.
Lasso Select
You may use this to draw a freeform selection region. Read more at Selection Tools.
Move Selection
You may use this to move the selection without affecting the pixels that are selected. Read more at Move Tools.
Ellipse Select
You may use this to draw an ellipse or circle selection region. Read more at Selection Tools.
Zoom
This tool can be used to zoom in (left click), zoom out (right click), or zoom the whole canvas around a particular region (draw a rectangle).
Magic Wand
You may use this to select areas of the active layer that are similar in color.
Pan
Using this tool you can scroll, or pan through the image. This functionality is also usable from any other tool at any time: simply hold down the spacebar and then click and drag with the mouse.
Paint Bucket
This tool is useful for filling in areas of similar color with a different color.
Gradient
This tool can be used for drawing gradients and fading between images (using the transparency mode).
Paintbrush
This tool is selected by default when you start Paint.NET, and is useful for many kinds of freeform drawing.
Eraser
You may use this tool to erase areas of the image (it sets the transparency to 0).
Pencil
This allows you to edit the active layer pixel-by-pixel. Read more at Pixel Tools.
Color Picker
You can use this tool to pick up a color from the active layer and set it as the current primary or secondary color. Read more at Pixel Tools.
Clone Stamp
This tool is useful for copying regions of pixels between layers, or within the same layer.
Recolor Tool
This tool is useful for replacing one color with another.
Text Tool
This tool can be used for placing text on the image.- Line / Curve Tool
You may draw straight lines and curved lines with this tool. - Rectangle
This can be used to draw rectangles and squares. Read more at Shape Tools. - Rounded Rectangle
This can be used to draw rounded rectangles and rounded squares. Read more at Shape Tools. - Ellipse
This can be used to draw ellipses and circles. Read more at Shape Tools. - Freeform Shape
This can be used to draw a shape with a freeform outline. Read more at Shape Tools.
Now on to the Colors Window.
The picture just about says it all. PAINT.NET usually starts up in the LESS window mode. Just click the more button in the colors window to enlarge it like the one shown.About the Layers Window.
This window allows you to manage the multiple layers that an image may contain in Paint.NET. There is always one active layer, and all drawing affects only that layer. Each layer may be given a name, and may have a blending mode and opacity set. You may also make a layer visible or invisible by setting the checkbox appropriately.
You may think of the layers of an image as representing a stack of transparency sheets placed one on top of the other. Images that are on lower layers will show through to the top, but only if the layers on top do not include them.
Add New Layer
This will add a new, completely transparent layer to the image. It will have a generic name that indicates what layer position it has been placed at, such as "Layer 4."- Delete Layer
This will delete the active layer from the image. You may not delete a layer if it is the only one in the image. - Duplicate Layer
This will take the active layer, duplicate its contents and attributes, and place it in the image after the original layer. - Merge Layer Down
This will take the current layer and merge it into the layer below it. - Move Layer Up
This will move the current layer to a higher position in the layer order. - Move Layer Down
This will move the current layer to a lower position in the layer order. - Layer Properties
This will bring up the properties for the active layer. From here you may give the layer a different name, toggle its visibility, and set its blending properties.
There is only one window left to talk about. The History Window.
This window is where all of the actions you have performed on an image since it was opened will be shown. It consists of a list of actions, and a toolbar for rolling back or forward through the effects of the actions.
Every time you perform an action that changes the image, or when you create or modify a selection, it will be reflected in the History Window. If you have undone any actions, they will show up at the bottom with a grey background and may be redone by using the Redo facility. If you perform a new action, any actions that are redoable will be erased to make way for the new action.
Rewind (Undo All)
This will undo every action that you have performed. If there are many actions in the list, this may take some time to finish.- Undo
This will undo only the last action you performed. - Redo
This will redo the last action that was undone. - Fast Forward (Redo All)
This will redo all the actions that have been undone.
Now for the 3 things people ask me the most. Click the links for the answers.
Where do I get PLUGINS? (More effects)
How do install PLUGINS?
How do I get more FONTS?
