Paint.NET is a free image and photo editing software for Windows that provides powerful features in an accessible, intuitive interface. Originally developed as a college senior design project, Paint.NET has grown into a capable image editor used by millions for everyday photo editing and graphic creation.
The layer-based editing system enables complex compositions by stacking multiple image elements. Blend modes control how layers interact visually. Layer opacity and masks provide fine control over visibility and effects. Unlimited undo history allows experimentation without fear of losing progress.
Selection tools include rectangle, ellipse, lasso, and magic wand selections. The recolor tool changes specific colors throughout an image. Clone stamp copies areas for removing objects or duplicating elements. The gradient tool creates smooth color transitions.
Built-in effects include blur, sharpen, distort, artistic, and stylize categories. Adjustments handle brightness, contrast, curves, levels, hue/saturation, and color balance. The noise reduction effect removes grain from photographs. Red-eye removal fixes flash photography issues.
Paint.NET supports layers in its native .pdn format maintaining full editability. Export options include JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and other formats with quality settings. Plugin support through DLL files adds effects, adjustments, and file type support from an active community.
The interface groups tools logically with floating palettes for colors, layers, and history. Multi-threaded performance leverages modern multi-core processors for responsive editing even with large images. Regular updates add features and maintain Windows compatibility.