You don't need complex software like Photoshop to create beautiful art! MS Paint built into Microsoft Windows is the perfect program for you to use to create fun drawings. WikiHow will teach you how to use both old and new versions of the program, as well as some other tips. Get started with Step 1 below!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Classic Paint
Step 1. Draw a sketch with the pencil tool
With the pencil tool, draw a sketch of the image. This will work best if you use a color other than black.
Step 2. Draw the main line
With the pencil tool, draw the main lines of the image. These lines can be faint or or look clean.
Step 3. Fill in the base color
Use the fill tool to fill the base color throughout the image. You have to zoom in to catch all the little gaps that are created.
The fill tool looks like a bucket of poured paint
Step 4. Draw shading lines on the fill
Use the pencil tool to draw a line that forms the edge of the shade area. It's okay if the line overlaps a bit with the black edge, as it's easy to fix later. The color used to draw the line must be the same color to create the shadows and highlights.
Step 5. Add shadows
Use the fill tool to fill in the shaded areas, using a color with a darker value than the base color.
Step 6. Add highlights
Use the fill tool to fill in the highlight areas, using a lighter value color than the base color.
Step 7. Done
You can create more detail and texture but this is a big part of the process. Keep practicing.!
Method 2 of 3: Using New Paint
Step 1. Work on a good file size
Because MS Paint works with very basic pixels, you'll need to increase the canvas size to create really good images. Do this by clicking the resize button and setting the dimensions above 2,000 pixels.
Step 2. Draw a sketch of the image and upload it to the computer
This process will be much faster if you draw an actual sketch and then scan or snap it for processing on a computer. You can also sketch an image in MS Paint, but you will need to sketch in a very light gray.
If you're scanning an image, you can simply open the file in MS Paint to turn it into a beautiful image, but make sure you also have the original sketch saved separately elsewhere (just in case you make a mistake and have to start over)
Step 3. Draw the main line
With the curve tool, make the main outline of the image black. Find a single continuous line (such as the upper arch of the eye) and click on the start and then the end of the line. Then, use the mouse to take the straight lines you've created and drag them into curves to match the sketch. Do this until all the images turn black.
Black color is important. You can always change the color of these stripes later, but for now work on black
Step 4. Clean the line work
Now it's time to erase the sketch! Click select, right click on the image, then invert the colors. Then change the color to black and white by clicking File → Properties. Click OK, let it switch, then switch back to colors the same way. Flip the image back over and you now have clean art.
Keeping a copy of the plain black line is helpful, especially if you made a mistake and had to recover it
Step 5. Fill in the base color
Use the fill tool to fill all the base colors. Make sure you get all the extra tiny pixels that can get stuck between adjacent lines or corners.
Step 6. Add highlights, shadows, and midtones
Now is the fun part. Select all and copy the image. Then, select the area you want to shade (for example, hair). Select the base color and set it to color 2. Then, make color 1 as the shade color. Use any of the tools to give it any shade you like. Don't worry if the black line gets hit! Just do it one area (with the same base color) at a time.
Step 7. Create the "layer"
Now you are going to remove the color that is outside the line! Zoom out so you can see the entire image, click select, right-click the image, and paste in the base you copied earlier. Now click the down arrow under select. Then click the transparent selection. Look!
Step 8. Continue until finished
Keep doing the same process for each area and each shade until you are happy with the image.!
Method 3 of 3: Knowing What You Can Do
Step 1. Work with program limitations
What you should remember is that MS Paint is not Photoshop. Don't expect to be able to get a Photoshop look for images. You can create beautiful images but with a very special look. You should also keep in mind that saved files are of lower quality than programs like Photoshop, so don't expect them to print well at high resolutions.
Step 2. Make the changes you can
Find out what changes you can make to existing images, such as photos. MS Paint isn't Photoshop, but there are some basic fixes it can make. You can do things like:
- Crop the image. Cropping in MS paint is really easier than some of the other programs, as you simply drag around the corners of the image.
- Solve minor problems. Copying small selections to cover minor image problems can be fairly easy to do with MS Paint, as long as you're patient.
- Correcting red eyes. For some dark pixels you can copy-paste, or if you can use the freehand tool, fixing red eye is very easy to do in a program like MS Paint.
Step 3. Experiment with other programs
If you're using MS Paint because you couldn't use a better program, don't worry. There are lots of options out there. Make sure you take a look at these alternative options to help you master digital art:
- One other useful program is a free program called Oekaki. This program is similar to MS Paint but has more features. You don't even need to download anything. Many sites use Oekaki as an in-browser application. The program allows multiple layers just like Photoshop, which means you can create a much better image.
- If you want to use a more robust program but don't want to buy Photoshop, there are other alternatives. Paint Tool Sai, Manga Studio, and other Photoshop-like programs can be purchased for $20-50.
Tips
- Practice and use other tools until you get the hang of it.
- Saving images in GIF format is recommended for flat colors (eg material without shading) and animation,-p.webp" />
- You can also zoom in and out as you work, by pressing "view" then "zoom" in the upper left corner of the screen.
- When using the fill tool, make sure all pixels of the same color are connected. Using the fill tool with this gap in the border will cause other areas to be filled as well.
- Diligence is the mother of good luck!
