Pinta is a free, open-source bitmap image editor inspired by Paint.NET. Works on Linux, Windows, and macOS. Features 35+ effects, unlimited layers, 3600% zoom, and 55+ languages.
Not just a perfect Paint.NET alternative, but also a powerful drawing tool for Linux.
Pinta is a free, open-source, and cross-platform bitmap image editor and drawing software, inspired by Paint.NET on Windows. It was originally created by Jonathan Pobst in 2010, with the goal of providing a simple yet powerful image editing tool that allows users to quickly draw and edit images without the steep learning curve of professional software.
Whether you are a Linux, Windows, or macOS user, you can enjoy the convenient editing experience Pinta offers. Let's explore this seemingly simple yet feature-rich image editing tool together.
✨ Features
Although Pinta is lightweight (only about 50MB), its features are quite comprehensive, fully capable of meeting daily image editing and drawing needs.
Basic Features
- Drawing Tools: Provides simple and intuitive drawing tools, allowing you to freely draw lines, rectangles, ellipses, and other basic shapes.
- Image Adjustments: Includes over 35 image adjustments and effect filters, such as brightness/contrast, hue/saturation, curves, levels, and more.
- Multi-language Support: Supports over 55 languages, covering nearly all major language systems worldwide.
Advanced Features
- Complete History: Pinta tracks your full operation history, allowing you to undo or redo any action at any time.
- Multi-layer Support: Supports unlimited layers, helping you separate and group image elements.
- Customizable Workspace: Whether you prefer docked windows, floating windows, or a mix of both, Pinta adapts to your workflow.
- Multi-tab Support: Open and edit multiple images simultaneously, making it easy to switch and work between different images.
Here is a comparison table of Pinta's main features:
| Feature Category | Specific Features | Practicality |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing Tools | Hand-drawing, rectangle, circle, line, text addition | Basic daily drawing needs |
| Image Adjustments | Brightness/contrast, hue/saturation, curves, levels, auto-levels | Basic photo correction |
| Special Effects | Blur, sharpen, stylize, distort, artistic effects, rendering, and over 35 effects | Creative effect application |
| Layer Management | Create, delete, copy, merge layers; adjust blend modes and opacity | Complex image composition |
| History | Unlimited undo and redo | Recover from mistakes |
| Zoom & Measurement | Up to 3600% zoom with ruler functionality | Precision editing and accurate measurement |
📝 User Guide: From Beginner to Expert
First Use and Interface Overview
After installing and launching Pinta for the first time, you will see a clean yet well-organized interface:
- Top Menu Bar: Contains main menus including File, Edit, View, Image, Adjustments, Effects, and Help.
- Left Toolbar: Houses all drawing and editing tools.
- Right Panel: Displays Layers and History tabs.
- Center Area: The canvas editing area.
Basic Editing Techniques
Resizing an Image
- Click "Image" -> "Resize" in the menu.
- You can scale by percentage, constrain proportions, or set a fixed size.
- After confirming, the image will be resized according to the specified parameters.
Using Layers
- Click the "Add New Layer" button in the Layers panel.
- Draw or edit on the new layer without affecting other layers.
- Toggle layer visibility with the eye icon, and drag layers to adjust their stacking order.
Applying Effects and Adjustments
- Select the image area to apply the effect (if no selection is made, it applies to the entire image).
- Click the "Adjustments" or "Effects" menu and select the desired function.
- Adjust parameters until satisfied, then click "OK" to apply.
Advanced Tips
- Precision Editing: Leverage Pinta's up to 3600% zoom capability for pixel-level precision editing.
- Batch Processing: Although Pinta itself does not support batch processing, you can open multiple tabs simultaneously.
- Master Keyboard Shortcuts: Learning keyboard shortcuts can greatly boost your efficiency.
⚔️ Pinta vs. Similar Tools
| Feature | Pinta | GIMP | Paint.NET | Krita | MS Paint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | Low⬆️ | High | Low | Medium | Very Low |
| Feature Richness | Medium | High | Medium-High | High | Low |
| Layer Support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cross-Platform | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Resource Usage | Low | High | Low | Medium-High | Very Low |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
🚀 Download and Installation
Windows Installation
- Visit the official download page: https://www.pinta-project.com/.
- Download the latest Windows installer.
- Run the installer and follow the wizard to complete installation.
Linux Installation
Ubuntu/Debian-based distributions:
sudo apt install pintaConclusion
Pinta, as a free, open-source, and cross-platform image editing software, strikes an excellent balance between simplicity and feature richness. It is especially suitable for users who need more power than their system's built-in paint tool but don't require the full functionality of professional software like GIMP or Photoshop.
Note: This is the English translation of the original Chinese version.