How to Edit in Microsoft Paint

Tinkering around with a photograph, sketch or painted image may seem like the domain of a graphic designer, but when you take advantage of the Windows Paint graphics software, you become the artist. Paint, a basic sketching program included with every installation of the Windows operating system, puts the digital paintbrush in your hand, enabling you to edit images. Transform an image to something entirely different or make a few slight tweaks with just a couple of clicks in Paint.

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Paint. Click the "Paint" button in the top-left corner of the window. Select "Open." Browse to the picture to edit and double-click the file name. The image opens in the Paint workspace.

2. Click one of the colored squares in the "Colors" section of the ribbon/toolbar at the top of the screen. Click the "Text" tool, which looks like an "A" in the "Tools" section. Click the picture and select a font and text size.

3. Type a word or phrase on the picture, such as a caption or the date, time and location of where the picture was taken.

4. Select the "Eraser" tool in the "Tools" section. Hover the cursor over an area of the picture to erase, such as a dust speck, and click the left mouse button. Note that this will erase that part of the image and leave a white erased spot behind.

5. Select a new paint color square from the "Colors" section. Click the "Brushes" button and choose the "Natural pencil" tool. Click the "Size" button and select the thinnest line at the top.

6. Click the picture and draw a line on the image. Change paint colors, brush heads and sizes to add additional lines.

7. Switch to a new paint color square. Click the "Brushes" button and select the "Airbrush" tool. Click the cursor repeatedly on the image, adding a glitter/confetti effect. Change paint colors and keep clicking for more glitter.

8. Click the "Resize" button on the "Image" section of the toolbar. Make sure the "Maintain aspect ratio" box is checked. Type a new number into either the "Horizontal" or "Vertical" box under the "Resize" section. The corresponding box will automatically adjust. Click the "OK" button and the image changes size.

9. Click the Paint button. Select "Save As." Type a new name for the picture, to preserve the original, and save the image to the computer.

References

• Windows: Using Paint