Microsoft Paint Takes After Photoshop With Layers, Transparent PNGs
Last week, Microsoft announced it was introducing a background removal tool to Paint, hoping to bring the long-standing app closer to the likes of Photoshop and Canva.
Now, the painting software is continuing to enhance its functions with the addition of layers and support for PNG transparency.
With this update, Windows Insiders will gain the ability to add, remove, and effectively manage layers on the canvas—opening up new possibilities for creating richer and more complex digital art.
Love that Windows 11 Paint app now has layers. Avaliable to #WindowsInsiders in Dev and Canary pic.twitter.com/yzbYeB1JjZ
— techosarusrex (@techosarusrex) September 18, 2023
Layers allow users to stack different elements, including shapes, text, and various image components, on top of one another.
To access these tools, one simply has to click on the newly added Layers button in the toolbar. This action will open a convenient panel on the side of the canvas, offering full control over layers.
Here, individuals can add new layers to the canvas and easily modify their order by showing, hiding, duplicating, or merging individual layers, providing flexibility and control over the digital artwork.
MICROSOFT PAINT HAS TRANSPARENCY and LAYERS in latest update
— FireCube (@FireCubeStudios) September 18, 2023
Download available in the Microsoft Insider Hub: https://t.co/1YaFi44IE6 pic.twitter.com/7WRMf3iHBZ
Additionally, this upgrade also comes with support for transparency, including the ability to open and save images in the transparent PNG format.
When working on a single layer, there’ll be a checkerboard pattern on the canvas, indicating the areas of the image that are transparent.
More importantly, erasing any content from the canvas will now genuinely erase the content instead of just painting the area white. Though with multiple layers, erasing content on one layer will reveal the content in the layers beneath it.
This image has transparency. It was made in Paint. Paint 11.2308.18 is now rolling out with support for layers and transparency. pic.twitter.com/8XsP0UhnjN
— ChangeWindows (@ChangeWindows) September 18, 2023
This combination of layers, transparency, and various tools empowers users to create exciting new images and artwork, especially when merged with the background removal feature.
These tools are currently available to Windows Insiders, though it’s expected that they will eventually roll out to all Windows users in the near future.
[via Engadget and Ars Technica, cover image via Windows Insider Blog]
This article was crafted with assistance from an AI engine, and has been manually reviewed & edited.
