If you like to use photo editing software but don't have the cash for Adobe Photoshop or Macromedia Fireworks then you might be interested in Paint.net. Paint.net is a free photo editing program that anyone can download and use on a Windows machine. The program is very powerful and a great alternative to the more expensive photo editing software's. You can get a copy for free at www.getpaint.net.
So what is Paint.net and where did it come from? Well it is a free-ware photo editing program that has many powerful tools much like Photoshop. It was started as an undergraduate college senior design project which Microsoft mentored. The program is currently being maintained and worked on by some of the alumni of the program who originally worked on it. Paint.net is meant to be a replacement for paint which comes with Windows, Paint.net has grown into a rather powerful photo editing software tool and the best part is its free!
Paint.NET has many of the powerful features that expensive commercial applications have, including the ability to use layers and has unlimited undo which comes in handy if you decide you don't like changes you have made to a photo. The program isn't quite as developed as some of its commercial predecessors but the programmers are constantly making it better, and they listen to user suggestions for making the program work better. The program is written in C# and a small amount C++ for some of the installation and shell-integration files. Paint.net will work on Windows XP / 2003 / Vista / XP64 / Vista64.
Paint.net has a simple intuitive user interface, which basically means the programmers made the program very easy to use and learn without taking much time or effort unlike Photoshop. They also made sure that it was much like the old Paint so users felt comfortable making the switch. The program also features laying capabilities which normally only comes with expensive or complicated professional software. The layers make for great composition of photos in an easy fashion. Think of layers as many transparency slides that when put on top of each other make for one complete project.
Paint.net also has some powerful tools for the users to take advantage of like the gradient tool and the magic wand tool that can make selecting regions of similar color a snap. Also the program has an unlimited history which means that you can undo all changes you have made to the project. This is also true for redoing an event you can redo anything you have undone, and the history is only limited by available disk space on your machine.
Paint.net also has some special effects functions that have been added in for perfecting your images and adding some flare. You have the choice of blurring, red-eye removal, distortion, noise, and embossing are all easy to use functions that can make your images 100% better and all are easy to learn. They also give you the ability to change brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, curves, and levels. Also included is a tool that can change any image to black and white quickly and easily.
The program is totally open source so it's free to download and you can also get every line of the code behind Paint.net if you want it. The program works pretty well, its not Photoshop but it is easy to use and way better than paint. It's a great free upgrade to your Windows paint; it does lack a lot of things that are included in Photoshop CS but look at the price difference hundreds of dollars to FREE!
If you go to the www.getpaint.net you will find loads of information on the program and a forum to share input, fixes, and ideas on the program. You can download the program for free here or at www.filehippo.com/download_paint.net/ (at file hippo you can get older versions as well incase you want that sort of stuff). There is also a great site for Paint.net tutorials here (http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/doc/2.6/Help/en/Tutorials.html) check it out and it might help you to create some cool graphics.
Go get a copy of Paint.net and try it out, now even the poor people can have a great tool for their photo imaging projects. This is a great free tool and it is constantly being improved, so go test it out you will be impressed!
