Microsoft Paint is an iconic application. It may sound limiting in more ways than one today, but back then it was the default painting app for most Windows users. We’ve compiled a list of 6 of the best for Windows 10 out of several free digital painting apps available.
Microsoft had planned to discontinue the Paint app but decided against it. There was a lot of chatter around the web. Either way, Paint lives on, but there are better digital painting apps you can try for better results.
Let’s check them out.
1. Paint.NET
Paint.NET is based on the popular .NET framework and hence the name. The user interface is dated and will remind you of the original MS Paint application that came with the Windows installation. However, underneath that is a powerful toolset that loads fast.
There are lots of tools to choose from and brushes for painting. You can add shapes, work with layers, make different adjustments to colors, and add effects that act as filters in the modern photo editing apps we love on smartphones. There is support for plugins that can enable additional features, such as support for more file types.
2. 3D Paint
Part of Microsoft’s plan to deprecate Paint was to replace it with Paint 3D, which comes preinstalled with all versions of Windows. Think of Paint 3D as a bigger sibling with more skills, more experience and extra tools under the hood.
As the name suggests, there is a library of 3D images of different objects and shapes that you can add and play with. It also supports 3D text if you have a message you want to convey. It is an updated version of Paint with more effects, brushes, tools and some 3D images to choose from.
3. GIMP
GIMP is an open source GNU image editor touted as a free Adobe Photoshop alternative. There are many tools and options, but the good thing is that the UI can be customized to remove the clutter of the interface. It’s not the most user-friendly painting app on Windows though, but it’s well supported by the developers and has a huge community to help you learn.
It’s a powerful painting app with advanced features like photo retouching, customizable brushes, gradients, and even an animation pack. Then there are the plugins you can install to enhance the utility. GIMP will take some getting used to and patience to learn everything it has to offer, but it will be well worth it.
4. Art weaver
Artweaver has a great collection of brushes. You can find a brush for calligraphy, crayons and others. Similarly, Artweaver has a number of other tools under its arsenal. The UI loads pretty fast but looks old.
Artweaver is a powerful application that is easy to use. Good enough for learning digital painting and creating beautiful works of art. The app has a free version and you can pay for the Plus version to unlock more features.
5. Irfanview
Irfanview doesn’t have all the features we’ve seen in some of the Windows painting apps above. In this respect, it is closer to Paint, but offers many effects and filters that you can apply instantly. These can be effective in producing fast results with minimal effort.
You can use the popular image editor to show the slides. It’s a team player, so you can open images already open in Irfanview directly in other image editors. In case you need advanced editing features.
6. Criterion
Last but not least on the list, Krita. It allows you to create your workspace where UI elements can be moved or removed based on your current project. It also supports dark mode which makes the UI customizable and functional.
Krita is a powerful image and image editing application. It has the usual sets of brushes, pencils and fillers to choose from. Play with layers or apply different filters; the choice is yours. Artists designed and displays Krita for artists. Therefore, you feel at home when you use it to paint your heart.
Paint Your World
These are digital painting apps that will allow you to take your hobby to the next level. While there are paid solutions, you can try the free ones first and then gradually switch to them as per your need.
Next: Want to add an image on top of another image in Paint? Learn how to add a picture on top of a picture in Paint and Paint 3D.
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