Microsoft Paint Adds Photoshop-Style Project Files
▼ Summary
– Microsoft is adding Photoshop-like project file saving to Paint in Windows 11, allowing users to save creations as editable files with layers.
– These new Paint project files, with a .paint extension, are currently being tested with Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary Channels.
– Opacity sliders are being introduced for the pencil and brush tools in Paint, enabling users to adjust transparency directly on the canvas.
– A quick markup feature is being added to the Snipping Tool, providing annotation tools like a highlighter, pen, and eraser, plus re-cropping capability.
– AI-powered write, summarization, and rewrite features are being added to Notepad for Copilot Plus PC users, using local models without requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Microsoft continues to enhance its classic Paint application with powerful new capabilities, bringing it closer to professional-grade creative tools. The latest updates introduce Photoshop-style project files and advanced editing features, significantly expanding what users can accomplish with the built-in Windows 11 app.
A standout addition is the ability to save work as an editable project file, similar to Adobe’s PSD format. Currently available to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary Channels, this feature allows artists and designers to preserve their layered compositions and return to them later without losing any progress. According to Dave Grochocki, principal product manager lead for Windows inbox apps, these files use a .paint extension and store all layer information internally.
Alongside project files, Microsoft has integrated opacity sliders for the pencil and brush tools. Users can now fine-tune transparency levels directly from the canvas, offering greater control over shading, blending, and artistic effects. This brings a layer of sophistication previously reserved for more advanced software.
The Snipping Tool also receives attention with a new quick markup feature. This toolbar includes a highlighter, pen, and eraser, making it simpler to annotate and refine screenshots without switching applications. Users can even re-crop images on the fly for better precision.
In a related development, Notepad is gaining AI-assisted writing tools for Copilot Plus PC users. Functions like summarization, rewriting, and composition are now available locally, free of charge, without requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription. The feature intelligently switches between local and cloud processing depending on the task.
(Source: The Verge)
