By John Campbell
Ever since Windows 95 came out the redoubtable applet, Paint has remained the same. Now in Windows 7, it has undergone a facelift using the new “Ribbon” interface currently a feature of Office 2007.
Its sister applet, WordPad has undergone a similar transformation. Before looking closer the “new” Paint let’s compare the two opening screens, the older version of Paint and the new version in Windows 7.
The Two Versions of Paint
Looking Closer at Paint’s Window
This illustration shows you the main features of the new Paint.
The new Paint Window
The Quick Access Toolbar
This is located at the top of Paint’s screen.
By default it contains Save, Undo and Redo buttons as well as a down arrow button that opens the Customize Quick Access Toolbar.
Quick Access Toolbar
This toolbar can be customized and extra buttons added. You can also re-locate it. The illustration below shows you how to add extra buttons and re-locate it.
The New Menu Bar
The Menu Bar
The Menu Bar contains the Paint button and two tabs, Home and View. Each opens a Ribbon Bar.
The Paint button opens the new version of the File menu.
The New Menu Bar
The Ribbon Bar
At first the Ribbon Bar may appear a little confusing with its host of buttons.
The Home Ribbon Bar
However there is logic in its arrangement. It is divided into six sections or boxes. They are:
- Clipboard
- Image
- Tools
- Shapes
- Size
- Colors
In each of these boxes, Paint groups all related tasks within the same box.
For example in the Clipboard box you will see Paste, Cut and Copy.
Tip! You can identify each button’s function by simply passing the mouse pointer across it.
Paint obligingly displays a pop-up message telling you what the button does.
Identifying buttons
Tip! Some of the buttons in the Ribbon bar have a small down facing arrow. Clicking this opens a sub-set of buttons.
Extra Menu options
The View Tab
While most of Windows 7 Paint’s tools are found in the Home Ribbon, others are available through the View tab.
Clicking this tab opens a smaller Ribbon bar which contains three boxes or sections Zoom, Show or Hide and Display.
View Tab
Saving your Paint Picture
You can save your Paint creations in different formats. Move the mouse pointer onto Save As. In the side menu choose the format you want.
Save Options
As mentioned before, rusted on users of the older Paint may take some time orienting themselves with the new features but the effort spent in doing this will certainly pay dividends.
Paint is now a more usable application.
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