Microsoft's announcement that Paint will be removed from the next version of Windows 10 made fans of the historic program very angry, so much so that Microsoft was forced to clarify that the classic Paint will still remain available as a free download from the store. Just think that MS Paint has existed for more than 30 years, released with Windows 1.0 in 1985 and has remained practically the same to this day as a program for drawing and manipulating images.
In the years of Windows 95 and XP, Paint was for many the first program that was opened to test the computer.
This news makes me take the cue to discover the best alternatives to Microsoft Paint and, therefore, the most valid programs that can be installed on Windows PC to draw and touch up photos, which can be downloaded for free.
READ ALSO: Top 20 programs for editing and managing images and photos
First of all, off the charts, it should be noted that the old Microsoft Paint was published as a free web application, usable via the internet on the Jspaint.ml website.
1) Microsoft Paint 3D
The evolution of Microsoft Paint, its new version, is Paint 3D, which can be downloaded for free from the Windows 10 Store for some time now, with a modern interface, easily identifiable tools and, above all, with the ability to make the design of three-dimensional shapes.
Overall, Paint 3D is a very good program worth trying, even if there are other better and more powerful alternatives.
2) My Paint
MyPaint is a free and open source alternative to MS Paint that has been available for Windows, Mac and Linux PCs for some time now.
The program focuses more on the painting aspect rather than image manipulation and comes with many features incorporated into a simple user interface.
There are, therefore, many drawing styles and pencil and brush strokes, carbon or ink simulation and the possibility of creating custom strokes and brushes.
MyPaint supports all major file formats, has support for managing levels, as well as an "unlimited canvas" offering the possibility of drawing in an infinite sheet.
MyPaint is basically a free and relatively more fundamental alternative to Corel Paint.
I had already talked about this application in the past describing MyPaint a program for hand drawing on PCc and painting with the mouse.
3) IrfanView
Irfanview has always been my favorite program to open photos on Windows PC, also because it includes basic tools for editing images that are always useful.
Released in 1996 for Windows 95, IrfanView can function as a lightweight image editor for drawing, rotating images, making them smaller, converting formats, changing colors and other things.
4) Paint.NET
Paint.NET is a very popular free photo editing software, with an interface very similar to that of Microsoft Paint, but which can be considered a small Photoshop, full of functions for photo editing.
Unlike MS Paint, Paint.NET has support for layers, mixing, transparency and many special effects.
Online you can find many guides and tutorials to do anything with Paint.NET that I have mentioned in the past among the best free photo editor programs, for photo editing and graphics.
5) Pint
Another good alternative to Paint is Pinta, an open source and free drawing program, developed for Linux, but also available for download for Windows PC.
This drawing program is based on Paint.net, supports levels, provides an unlimited whiteboard, includes special effects and easy-to-use drawing tools.
6) Krita
If you are looking for a professional level program, Krita is undoubtedly the one to try because it allows both to create simple drawings and to draw real works of art thanks to the numerous tools available.
Krita is certainly one of the best programs for drawing on the PC and digital painting, aimed at artists, illustrators and designers, but also usable as a powerful alternative to Microsoft Paint.
7) Fotor, Pixlr and the photo editing web applications for making changes to photos are excellent substitutes for traditional programs, which can be used on a PC without having to install anything, directly by opening the relative websites.
Finally, as regards photo editing and graphic processing, I refer to the article with the Best alternative graphics programs to Photoshop .
