Use Microsoft Paint
Microsoft Paint is a program that comes standard with most versions of Microsoft Windows. Paint allows you to open, edit and save many different types of image files. You can also create images in Paint. Once you know some of the basic steps of using Paint, you can learn to use it in many creative ways. Read on to learn use Microsoft Paint.
Instructions
1. Launch Microsoft Paint. Click "Start," point to "Programs" or "All Programs," click on "Accessories" and then "Paint." If you are using Windows Vista, click "Start" and type "Paint" in the "Start Search" box. Click on "Paint" in the "Programs" list.
2. Open an existing image by clicking "File" in the toolbar, clicking "Open" and navigating to the picture you want to edit. You can also click "Edit" in the toolbar and then clicking "Paste From," and navigating to your image. The "Paste From" option is helpful because you can create a background in Paint or open another image in Paint, use the "Paste From" option to open another image on top of your current image, and then drag the second image to a smaller size on the current image.
3. Use the "Selection Tools," which are the top two buttons on the left, to cut out selections of your image. To use the "Freeform" selection tool, click on the icon, which will look like a star or kidney shape. Left click on your image in a spot you want to begin cutting. Hold down the mouse button and drag the mouse around the image creating your desired outline shape. To use the rectangular selection tool, click on the button, left-click the image in a spot you want to begin cutting, and drag the mouse diagonally to enclose your image. Now you can cut or copy the area desired and paste it elsewhere.
4. Click on the "Eraser" tool and choose an eraser size from the options at the bottom left. You can erase desired parts of the image. Click the "Fill" tool, which looks like a can of paint. Choose a color from the palette, and click on a color in the image. Everything in the area of the image that you click that is the same color will be filled with the color you chose.
5. Click on the "Eyedropper" tool to pick up a color from your image. Click on the "Eyedropper" tool, and then click on a specific spot that is the color you want to pick up. Your "Fill" tool will then be selected, and you can "pour" that color onto another area. You can also click on the "Pencil," "Brush" or "Airbrush" tool after selecting a color and use those tools to draw or paint with your selected color.
6. Click on the "Magnifying Glass" tool to zoom in on your image. This will allow you to make more precise changes. Click on the "Text" tool to enter text in your image. The "Rectangle," "Polygon", "Ellipse" and "Rounded Rectangle" drawing tools allow you to add "Auto Shapes." Simply click on the shape you desire, click on your image where you want the shape to be, and drag it to the size you want.
7. Browse the toolbar menus for more options. The menus are very similar to most Microsoft menus, such as the "File" menu. The "Image" menu will allow you to flip, rotate, stretch and make many other changes to your image. When you are done, you can save your image by clicking "File" from the toolbar and clicking "Save." Give your image a name and save it wherever you like.
