Paint.NET
Dump the Windows Paint tool in favour of this free alternative featuring layers and image-editing effects - requires the .NET Framework 2.0; Open Sour
Filesize: 3520KB
Licence: Freeware
Restrictions: None
System: XP/ 2000/ Vista/ Win7
Version: 3.5.10 (09/03/11)
Website: http://www.getpaint.net
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PC Utilities review:
We first covered Paint.NET back in PC Utilities 63, but it more than deserves another mention: you won't find many free graphics tools that offer the same range of features, and especially not in such a professional format. The program has recently been updated to version 2.5, bringing with it a range of new functions, further extending the program's usefulness.
Despite the program's name, Paint.NET has more in common with fully-blown image-editing suites like Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro than it does with the humble Windows Paint tool. For example, you can work with multiple layers to build up more complex compositions; and there's an excellent range of effects on offer that can be used to apply universal filters to your photos. New filters in version 2.5 include a very effective Radial Blur tool, and a Sepia toning tool for creating antique-looking images.
Like any image-editing tool worth its salt, Paint.NET includes the usual tools palette, containing various selection tools, drawing brushes, and a Clone Stamp function for seamlessly editing items out of your shots. There's also a good range of adjustment tools, for tweaking the colour, brightness and contrast of your images. You'll even find a decent Levels tool (Layers/ Adjustments/ Levels) for fine-tuning the colour balance in your photos. If you simply want to clean up some snaps, options like the Red Eye Removal and Sharpen filters may prove particularly helpful.
Although Paint.NET is making good progress as a free image-editing tool, it's still got a way to go in some respects. It's still rather slow - though version 2.5 is an improvement over previous releases - and layers aren't as easy to control as we might like. It's also not possible to open more than one image at a time, which makes it much harder to create complex compositions. It's hard to complain too much though, as only The GIMP (www.gimp.org) manages to offer a similar range of features in a freeware package. The package is always being reworked too, and version 2.6 has been pencilled in for release for later this month
Review last modified 16/04/09. Each month PC Utilities magazine reviews scores of great new programs. Have you considered taking advantage of our no-risk subscription offer?
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