How to use: PAINT.NET

iDan · Feb 24, 2010

To download click HERE

Minimum System Requirements.

* Windows 7 (recommended),
or Windows XP SP2,
or Windows Vista
* 800MHz processor (dual-core recommended)
* 512MB of RAM
* 1024 x 768 screen resolution
* 200+ MB hard drive space
* Optional: 64-bit mode requires a 64-bit CPU and a 64-bit edition of Windows

Paint.NET also depends on Microsoft's .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, which is automatically installed if it isn't already on the system.
Please note that Paint.NET uses your hard drive to store temporary files related to undo/redo history. Because of this, actual disk space requirements will depend on the actions you perform on an image, and on the size of the image.

About Paint.NET:
The program is 100% free to use and is an open source program. An open source program means that other users can help add to the program to make sure you have better effects and plug-ins. This is a good program for all of you who are a little skeptical about Photoshop or Gimp. The GUI is rather easy and they have their own website for all tutorials and plug-ins to better off you.

Step One:
-Downloading the program.

Step Two:
-Open the folder which you downloaded Paint.NET and extract Paint.NET.3.5.3.Install to your desktop. (To extract, you can either right click and select "Extract to the specified folder" or drag and drop it to your desktop).

Step Three:
-Once you have the file extracted to your desktop, we are going to install the program. Depending upon your operating system, you may be prompted with a security screen. Click yes and the installation process has begun.

Step Four:
-Select the "Custom" option instead of the "Quick" option.

Step Five:
-Once you've done that, please click next and I agree.

Step Six:
-After you agreed to their agreement, click next and you should be on this screen. This is all personal preference, and you may select whatever you would like.

Step Seven:
-You're going to pick the destination which you would like the program to be placed. I have mine in C:\Program Files\Paint.NET

Step Eight:
-After you selected your destination, click next and then next again, and your installation will begin.

Then select the box to Start Paint.NET and click finish on the bottom right.

You should now see the Paint.NET GUI. Looks pretty simple, right?
Start to play around with all the buttons and get a feel for the program.

That is where all the help that you need is going to be.

Paint.NET's Forums: http://paintdotnet.forumer.com/
Paint.NET's Tutorials Section: http://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=29
Paint.Net's Plugin Section: http://paintdotnet.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=16

You're probably wondering, how the hell do I add a plugin? Well it's quite simple and here's the steps on how to do so.

You must close out of the Paint.NET program for this to take effect. Same deal with installing fonts, you must be closed out of Paint.NET for it to take effect.

Go to where you decided to have the destination of your Paint.NET folder. Mine is located here:

You then want to open the folder and then click on the effects folder on the top. This should be empty since you have yet to download any effects.

I just pasted all my effects from my external hard drive into my computer effects so that this can start to work.

To find your effects you want to click here and then practice which each and every ones does.

I hoped my tutorial helped. I feel you can do nearly the same things you can with photoshop with this program. Have fun creating creating graphics ladies and gentlemen.

Be sure to check out the links above to improve your skills.