Microsoft Paint





Start Paint:

The Canvas:
The area above is called the Canvas.  We will begin to work on the canvas after introducing the other essential assets of the program.  The next section we will cover is the Toolbar.  This is what allows you to make pictures and add text to your canvas.

The Toolbar:
Each icon on the toolbar represent different modes of the program.
By default, the pencil mode is active.   The pencil button is used to draw free-form lines.  You can also draw straight lines by using the mouse and Shift key together.  Go to the paint program and try drawing with the pencil.

Color Palette
Left click to choose the foreground color, and right click selects the background color.  To choose more colors, click on colors the edit colors.
 

The Line button is used to draw a straight lines.  Select the line button from the toolbox.  You will notice that when you select the line button, a line width box will appear.  You can now select the width you would like your line to be.  You can also pick a line color from the color palette.  Left click the color you wish to use as your foreground color.  Right click the color you wish to use as your background color.
Practice drawing several different line widths on your canvas.

The curve button is used to draw curved lines.  You will notice that when you select this button you are also given the line width selection.   You may also choose a line color.  To draw with this button, draw a straight line by dragging the mouse pointer.  Click where you want one arc of the curve to be, and then drag the mouse pointer to adjust the curve.  Each curve must have at least one arc but no more than two.  Repeat this step for a second arc.  Left click gives you the foreground color, where right click gives you the background color.

Practice making curve lines on your canvas. Remember to clear your canvas when you are finished in order to experiment with the other buttons we are going to cover.

The rectangle button is used to create square cornered squares or rectangles.  Click a color from the color palette for the shape's outline.  Again you will notice that you have a choice of fill styles.  The top button represents a thin line with an open center.  If the bottom style button is chosen, the entire rectangle/square will be solid.  To fill the shape with color, choose the color you wish to fill with, then select the paint can from the toolbox and click inside the shape. 

Practice drawing rectangle and squares with different fill styles and colors.  Clear your canvas when you are done.  Your canvas is now ready for drawing polygons.

The polygon button is used to draw multi-sided shapes.  Click the polygon button in the tool box, and then click a color for the polygon outline.  Notice you still have your choice of fill styles.  To keep your lines straight, remember to hold down the shift key as you are drawing your lines.  To draw the polygon, drag the mouse pointer and click at each corner.  Double-click when you are done.

Practice drawing several polygons using different fill styles.  Clear your canvas and lets try out the ellipse button.

The ellipse button is used to draw an ellipse or circle.  Click the ellipse button in the tool box.  Click a color you want for the shapes outline.  To fill the shape, click the color then the paint can.  Click inside the shaped you wish to fill with color.  Notice you have the same option of fill styles at the bottom of your toolbar.  To draw an ellipse, drag the mouse pointer diagonally.  To draw a perfect circle, press and hold down Shift while dragging the mouse pointer.

Practice drawing an ellipse and a circle.  Be sure to clear your canvas before moving on.

The rounded rectangle button is used to create a round-cornered square of rectangular shape.

Practice drawing a round-cornered square or rectangle.  Be sure to clear your canvas when you are through.

The free-form select button is used to select areas of the image for further processing.  You may select part of a picture or an irregularly shaped area by clicking in the tool box and dragging the cursor around the area.  To remove the selection box, click outside the box.

The select button is used to select rectangular areas of the image for further processing.  To select part of a picture or rectangular area, click in the tool box on the select button, then drag the cursor diagonally across the area.  To remove the selection box, click outside the box.

The Eraser button is used to erase parts or all of an image.  Notice that when you select the eraser button, you have style choices to chose from.  Chose the size eraser you will need, then drag the mouse pointer over the area you want to erase.   To undo a change, click Edit, then undo.  This will undo the last change you made.

The pick color button is used to select a color you have previously used in your drawing.  This lets you select a color quickly.  Lets say you have drawn a house and you have blue as your sky background color.  If you wish to select the same color blue you used for the sky, all you have to do is click the eyedropper button, then on the blue you wish to use.  Now you are telling paint that you wish to use the blue again.

The magnifier button is used to enlarge any part of a picture.  Click on the magnifier button and then click the "times" magnification from the bottom of the tool box.  Drag the magnifier over the area to be enlarged.

The brush button is used to paint objects.  To paint, click on the brush button, pick a color for the color palette, then drag the mouse pointer over area to be painted.

The airbrush button is used to spray paint an area.  Use the left mouse button to spray with the foreground color and the right button to spray with the background color.

The text button is used to add text to a graphic image.  Click this button to create a text frame by dragging the mouse pointer diagonally.  You will then choose the font, size and style you want.  Click inside the text frame to begin typing.

The opaque option button is used to specufy that the selection will cover the existing picture, using the foreground and background colors of the selected areas.

The transparent option button is used to specify that the existing picture will show through your selection and that the bacground color of the selected area will not be displayed.

Now that you are the expert, you are going to create a picture in paint.  Go back to the Microsoft Paint Cover page to get your assignment.