- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7
- Date added: November 07, 2009
- Total Downloads: 4,876,265
- Downloads last week: 30,273
- See full specifications
A newer version of Paint.NET is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 892 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 an image and photo editing software. The software contains 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.
What's new in this version:
- New: Refreshed user interface with new icons and visual styling. On Windows 7 and Vista, it is enhanced for Aero and "glass".
- New effect: Blurs -> Surface Blur, by Ed Harvey
- New effect: Distort -> Dents, by Ed Harvey
- New effect: Distort -> Crystalize, by Ed Harvey
- New: Russian translation.
- Performance and memory usage have been extensively optimized throughout the entire program.
- .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is now required, which has many... see all new features
More popular Image Editing Software downloads
- 161,400 downloads 1. IrfanView
- 148,645 downloads 2. PhotoScape
- 37,450 downloads 3. Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended
- 30,339 downloads 4. FastStone Image Viewer
- 11,589 downloads 5. GIMP
- See all Image Editing Software downloads
User reviews of Paint.NET 3.5
- Average user rating: 0 stars Not yet available
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 2 of 2 user reviewsSee all 2 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Paint.NET 3.5
Pros: A lot better than I was expecting. Works great with my tablet, too!
It has a lot more to offer than expected.Cons: None, there's no lag or anything immediately wrong, especially since it is freeware.
Summary: Paint.NET offers more than Pencil, regular Paint of course, and is simply less confusing than Photoshop. I recommend it to anyone.
-
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Paint.NET 3.5
Pros: By far the most powerful free photo editor, bar none...
Cons: Nothing worth mentioning for freeware
Summary: i used to use photoshop, but actually found it quite confusing for an amateur user like myself so I changed to PainNET which is much easier to use, while still allowing giving a bit of prosumer functionality.
Changed computer and didn't e... read more >> - See all 2 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
Previous Versions:
