Any Windows user is very familiar with Paint , a two-dimensional drawing and image editing software. This tool has evolved with each new version of the Windows operating system until the arrival of Paint 3D in Windows 10. That marked the beginning of a new chapter.
The great leap that the appearance of Paint 3D brought about is the possibility of carrying out the same operations that Paint allowed, only with three-dimensional objects. Among other things, users can rotate objects or adjust their location in all three dimensions.
Currently, Paint 3D is part of the three-dimensional package designed by Windows along with the Vista 3D mixed reality viewer, Holograms and 3D Builder.
Is Paint 3D the replacement for Paint? When it was launched in 2016, everything pointed to that being the case. In fact, many of the basic functions of this program were included in the 3D version: shapes, brushes, text, canvas… To all these possibilities, Paint 3D added a few new ones.
Obviously, Paint 3D is "more" than Paint, since it can do almost everything Paint XNUMXD can do, plus it can paint, transform, model, and share three-dimensional objects. All through very simple and intuitive handling.
It's true that with the arrival of Paint in three dimensions, Microsoft seriously considered retiring Paint altogether . However, Microsoft developers ultimately decided that both tools could coexist, ensuring that their uses were clearly defined and separate.
Main Paint 3D tools
Much of what the 2D version of Paint contains we will also find in 3D. It is a panoply of very innovative tools, but at the same time very easy to use. These are some of the most prominent:
Brushes and 2D shapes
Let's start with the basics: drawing. It's practically the same tool we use in Paint, with which you can choose from various types of pencils, brushes, and paintbrushes for freehand drawing. However, Paint 3D has some improvements, such as the ability to choose transparency levels and a more diverse color palette, with bright, matte, and metallic colors.
In the 2D shapes section, we'll find the same features as in Paint, but in a revised and expanded version. The tab opens with a huge number of pre-designed symbols and shapes. Some were already present in classic Paint, and others are new, such as straight or curved paths with three, four, and five points.
3D shapes
This is Paint 3D's star feature. With it, we can access the program's three-dimensional functions from different perspectives. For example, using 3D Doodle, we can create simple strokes and give them volume, while 3D Objects allows us to experiment with basic shapes. There's also the 3D Models option, which displays five pre-designed figures, showcasing the creative possibilities of this tool.
In addition, the 3D View gives us the perspective of the depth axis , which is fundamental for working in three dimensions.
stickers and effects
The Stickers tab offers a range of interesting aesthetic possibilities, both for two-dimensional drawings and three-dimensional objects. Here you'll find stickers with simple shapes, textures to decorate the background of your drawings, and custom stickers that allow you to upload images in different formats.
On the other hand, the Effects section gives us the opportunity to unleash our creativity using color filters and playing with reflections and the orientation of light.
texts and canvas
Again, two functions that don't differ much from traditional Paint: on the one hand, adding plain text or, as a new feature, 3D text. There are plenty of fonts to choose from, all those supported by Windows. You can also select the size and other details.
As in Paint 2D, the canvas is also an element for creating. Among other things, we can change its size or transparency.
magic selection
Perhaps the most spectacular tool in Paint 3D is the Magic Select. With it, you can select the part of an image you want to cut out and remove it from the background. When you do this, the selection is automatically highlighted on a separate layer, while the background is filled to hide the resulting gap. Yes, it's like magic.
Library and History
Paint 3D's history stores all the designs and creations made by the user. It 's a large archive. But it also includes a really interesting feature: the recording option that saves all the movements we've made, step by step.
In addition to our own designs, the program includes a vast online database of designs, neatly categorized by theme and type: the Library. All of them are available for free use or modification.