Paint.NET
Free image and photo editing software for Windows.
Overview
Paint.NET is a freeware raster graphics editor program for Microsoft Windows, developed on the .NET Framework. Paint.NET was originally created by Rick Brewster as a Washington State University student project, and has evolved from a simple replacement for the Microsoft Paint program into a powerful yet simple image and photo editor. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.
✨ Key Features
- Simple, intuitive user interface
- Support for layers, blending, and transparency
- Unlimited undo history
- Large library of special effects (blurs, sharpening, distortions)
- Extensible with third-party plugins
- Active online community for support and tutorials
- Fast performance
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Extremely easy to use and learn
- Fast performance on a wide range of hardware
- Highly extensible via a large plugin library
Unique Value: Provides a fast, free, and easy-to-use image editor for Windows that is significantly more powerful than MS Paint but less complex than GIMP or Photoshop.
🎯 Use Cases (5)
✅ Best For
- Quickly editing screenshots and other simple images
- Performing basic photo touch-ups without the complexity of advanced software
- Extending functionality with plugins for specific tasks like creating sprites
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Professional photography workflows (no RAW support)
- Advanced, non-destructive editing
- Vector graphics
🏆 Alternatives
Much more user-friendly than GIMP for basic tasks, and more powerful than basic editors, with a strong community and plugin support.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
Free tier: The classic version is free. A paid version is available on the Windows Store to support development.
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