
While Microsoft Paint does not have a standard oval selection tool, it is still possible to cut out an oval shape in Paint. This can be done by using the Free-Form Selection tool to crop the image in the desired way. Alternatively, you can use the Shapes toolbar to select an oval shape, resize it, and then crop the image. If you are looking for a more precise oval crop, there are tools available at art and craft stores, but these can be expensive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Software | Microsoft Paint |
| Tools | Free Form Selection, Shapes, Outline, Fill, Size |
| Steps | Select the shape, bold the edges, choose the color, erase, save the image |
| Tips | Avoid curving too sharply near the folds, use an existing oval shape as a template, use specialized art and craft store tools for a perfect oval |
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What You'll Learn

Use the Free-Form Selection tool
Although there is no standard oval selection tool in Paint, you can use the Free-Form Selection tool to crop an image into an oval shape. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
First, open MS Paint on your computer. You can do this by searching for it in the Windows search box. Once Paint is open, you will need to select the Free-Form Selection tool. This tool allows you to make custom selections, rather than being limited to standard shapes like rectangles or circles.
To create an oval shape, carefully click and drag your cursor around the perimeter of the desired area. Try to keep the selection as oval-like as possible, avoiding sharp curves or points. If you need to adjust your selection, you can always go back and refine it by adding or subtracting from the selected area.
Once you have your oval selection, you can then proceed with cropping the image. Make sure you are happy with the shape and size of your selection before cropping, as it can be difficult to adjust once the crop is made. After cropping, you can further refine the shape of your oval by erasing any unwanted areas outside the selection.
Finally, save your cropped image by going to the "File" menu in the top-left corner and selecting "Save As". Choose a location and filename for your image, and you're done!
With these steps, you can use the Free-Form Selection tool in Paint to create custom oval crops for your images. While it may take some practice to get the oval shape just right, this method provides a flexible way to crop images without being restricted to predefined shapes.
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Trace an existing oval
Tracing an existing oval shape is a straightforward way to create an oval in Paint. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
First, open a new MS Paint drawing with a landscape orientation and standard dimensions of 7.5 inches by 10 inches. You can paste an existing image with an oval shape into this new document. It is recommended to use the 4-way Moving Arrow to centre the image on the drawing board, and the 2-way Stretching Arrow to adjust its size.
Next, choose a bright colour not found in the image, such as green or red, and use the Curve Line Tool, Line Tool, Shape Tools, Pencil Tool, or Eraser Tool to trace the oval shape. Work with a 2-pixel line. If you cannot finish tracing before closing the programme, be sure to save the project as a 24-bit Bitmap file so you can return to it later.
Now, change your traced colour to black using the Eraser/Replacer Tool. Use the Selection Tool, specifically the rectangular option, to draw a selection box around the entire drawing board. Right-click inside the selection and choose 'INVERT COLORS'. Change the properties to black and white by opening the File Menu and altering the drawing colour.
You should now have a black line traced oval shape on a white background. Save your work.
It is worth noting that, while Paint does not have a standard oval selection tool, you can use the Free-Form Selection tool to crop pictures into ovals.
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Use a dedicated oval-cutting product
If you want to cut out a perfect oval shape, you can use a dedicated oval-cutting product available at art and craft stores. These products will give you a precise oval shape, but they can be expensive (around $80). This option is worth considering if you need to cut a large number of ovals that must be exactly perfect.
If you don't require a large number of perfect ovals, you can achieve decent results without spending money on a dedicated product. With some practice and a few simple tools, you can cut out ovals that will meet your needs. All you need are a pencil, ruler, scissors, and some paper to practice with.
First, fold your paper in half and then fold it in half again in the other direction, similar to how you would create a paper snowflake. Next, measure half the width you want your oval to be from the folded corner and mark that distance on the longer fold with your pencil. Then, measure and mark half the height of your desired oval on the shorter fold.
Now comes the tricky part: drawing a curved line that connects the two marks. Unfold your paper carefully, being mindful not to curve too sharply near the folds, as this will result in a football or diamond shape instead of an oval. If you need help avoiding a sharp curve, try drawing a straight perpendicular line for about the first 1/4 inch.
If your oval doesn't look quite right after unfolding, don't worry. You can make corrections by trimming the paper to round it out more or placing another paper underneath and tracing corrections with your pencil. Remember to keep the paper folded while trimming to ensure a symmetrical shape. With patience and practice, you'll be able to cut out ovals confidently without relying on a dedicated product.
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Bold the edges of the oval
To bold the edges of the oval, start by selecting the 'Shapes' toolbar. Here, you will find the 'Oval' option, which will load the shape onto your cursor. Next, navigate to the 'Outline' and 'Fill' tools, where you will find the 'Size' tool. Clicking on this will bring up a drop-down menu with various size options for your oval's edges. Choose the boldest option to achieve the boldest edges for your oval shape.
After selecting the desired edge size, the next step is to choose a colour for your outline. Click on the 'White' colour option next to the size options. Your oval shape's edges will now appear in bold white.
Now, you can proceed to use the eraser tool to remove any unwanted portions of the image outside the oval. The white outline will make it easier to match the eraser's path. Once you have erased the unnecessary sections, you can save your image by clicking on 'File' in the top left corner and selecting 'Save As' from the drop-down menu.
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Save your image
Once you have created your oval, you will want to save your image. This process will depend on the version of Paint you are using.
For Microsoft Paint, the traditional image editing program that comes standard on Windows computers, go to the File menu and select Save. Choose a location to save your file, give it a name, and select PNG or JPEG as the file format. This will ensure your image has a transparent background and can be easily used in other programs.
If you are using Paint 3D, the updated version of Paint with additional features, the process is similar. Go to the Menu and select Save As. Choose a location to save your file, and select PNG as the file format to preserve the transparency. You can also save your file as a 3D image, which will allow you to edit it further in Paint 3D later.
It is always a good idea to save your work frequently while you are editing. This will prevent any accidental loss of work should your program crash or your computer shut down unexpectedly. Use the shortcut Ctrl+S on your keyboard to quickly save your progress.
Additionally, you may want to save different versions of your image as you work. This can be helpful if you want to experiment with different edits or effects and need to return to an earlier state. To do this, use the Save As option and give each version a unique name. For example, you could add a number or a brief description of the changes made, such as "oval-cutout-1," "oval-cutout-edited," etc.
By following these steps, you will be able to effectively save and manage your images with cut-out oval shapes.
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Frequently asked questions
Unfortunately, Microsoft Paint does not have a standard oval selection tool. However, you can use the Free-Form Selection tool to crop the image in the way you want.
Yes, you can use the Shapes toolbar and select the Oval option. Then, drag the cursor around the image to cover the area you want to include within the oval crop.
Go to the toolbar next to the box labelled Shapes and click on the Size tool. A drop-down menu will appear with different size options. Choose the boldest option for your oval image.
You can use an online circle cropper tool, which is free and does not require registration. Alternatively, you can use other image manipulation software such as GIMP.
Click on the File button in the top left corner of the tool window. From the drop-down menu, select Save As and save your image in your desired location.











































