- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7
- Date added: November 19, 2009
- Total Downloads: 4,957,916
- Downloads last week: 10,821
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 895 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on November 09, 2009
If all you want is a quick image retouch, Photoshop is overkill. Paint.NET, on the other hand, is an open-source freeware editor with all the essentials, including tools to crop, rotate, and resize images, adjust colors, and create collages. It supports common image formats--JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and others--but not high-resolution RAW files. There are enough basic and intermediate effects and features to keep image-tweakers happy, including a red-eye removal tool that has seen dramatic improvements. Unlike most free image editors, Paint.NET supports layers, history, and has an actions manager. The pleasing interface boasts semitransparent windows for ease of use.
Version 3.5 addresses many performance quibbles and offers some interface tweaks for the Aero-theme users, but fans of the "dancing ants" may not like the gray-overlay changes made to the selection tools. The useful tools under Effects on the menu bar have seen many additions since version 3, including surface blurs, dents, and crystalize.
The new version automatically downloads and installs the program's prerequisites, including the latest Microsoft .Net version and Windows Installer. It will update in the background now, too, so you can continue to use the program until it's ready to restart. Longtime users should notice that the program starts up about 20 percent faster, according to the publisher. Regardless of minor problems, Paint.NET is far more advanced than Microsoft Paint, and given its free price, it's a must-have for anyone needing to fix images.
Watch the CNET video review of Paint.NET:
Publisher's description
From dotPDN :Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plug-ins.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.2 stars out of 895 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 28 user reviewsSee all 28 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Paint.NET 3.5.1
Pros: It is very interesting.
Cons: None of one.
Summary: I like all the application of this product
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Version: Paint.NET 3.5.1
"I cannot review or recommend this app, it fails 2 run"
Pros: I cannot review or recommend this app, it fails 2 run
Cons: I cannot review or recommend this app, it fails 2 run.
Summary: I wouldnt advise trying to install this until I lean why it fails during the upgrade and when the installler in downloaded seperaty
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Version: Paint.NET 3.5.1
"Wonderful for quick editing!"
Pros: Its quick and easy, simple features like crop aren't complicated like in photoshop.
Cons: Can't really think of any at the moment.
Summary: I like to use this program for quickly putting the copyright on my photographs. Its wonderful.
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Version: Paint.NET 3.5.1
Pros: I like the ease of use and multiple layers.
Cons: Nothing I don't like about it.
Summary: I have been using PDN for a few years now and I can't see using anything else.
The effects from the forum is fantastic and always updated as well as PDN.
It is not a CPU hog on my computer and it runs smooth on Vista x64.
I highly ... read more >> -
Version: Paint.NET 3.5.1
"Wonderful program FOR MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEMS"
Pros: Paint.NET is far ahead of Windows paint....but it's optimized for multiprocessor systems (see help website). So....
Cons: it hogs CPU (5 yr old PC). I capture/edit screen images (to MyNotesKeeper/great pgm) but have to save/reopen image files (ie, min. CPU usage). Would like ability to print all layers at once (create multi-image pdf file using "PDFredirect"/great pgm).
- See all 28 user reviews Write review
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