Mastering Ms Paint: Keep Your Background Intact

Microsoft Paint has introduced updates that allow users to create transparent backgrounds. This has caused some confusion, with some users reporting that the eraser tool now removes the white background as well as the drawing mark. While it is not possible to make the white background transparent in MS Paint, there are ways to work around this issue. For example, you can cut out the desired image and paste it onto a different background, or you can use the Transparent selection tool to ignore the white background when copying and pasting images. Alternatively, you can use the Paintbrush tool to paint over any white edges that remain around the pasted object.

Characteristics and Values Table for 'How to Not Erase a Background in MS Paint'

Use Paint 3D for Windows 10

Windows 10 comes with an updated version of MS Paint called MS Paint 3D. This app is pre-installed on Windows 10 PCs and can be accessed by clicking the Windows Start menu and then clicking the Paint 3D icon.

To open an image, click 'Open' and then 'Browse Files'. Select the image you want to edit and click 'Open'. Next, click 'Canvas'. This will add a transparent canvas behind your current image instead of white space. You can then use the Magic Select tool to select the foreground and then delete the background.

If you want to be more precise, use the selection tool to mark specific areas of the image for background removal. After making your selection, click the "Remove Background" option again. You can then save your document.

Paint 3D also has AI-based features that allow users to remove backgrounds from images without the need for third-party software.

Click 'Open' and select your image

To get started with editing your image in MS Paint, you first need to open the program. You can find it in the Start menu or by searching for "Paint" in the Windows search bar. Once you have the program open, you can click "Open" in the top-left corner of the screen. This will allow you to browse your files and select the image you want to edit.

When you have found the image, simply double-click on the file name, and it will open in the Paint workspace. Now you can start editing your image. If you want to select a specific part of the image to edit, you can use the "Select" tool. This will allow you to draw a rectangle around the part of the image you want to edit. You can also use the "Free-form selection" tool to trace around an object in the image.

If you want to keep the background of your image and only edit certain parts, there are a few methods you can use. One way is to use the "Transparent selection" tool, which will ignore the white background when you copy and paste the image into another program. You can also use the "Rectangular selection" tool to select the part of the image you want to keep and then adjust the canvas size to fit around your selection.

Another way to preserve the background is to use the "Color 2" tool. First, click on a blank area of the white background to capture its colour in the "Color 2" box. Then, use the paintbrush tool to paint over any white edges that remain around the object you want to preserve.

Click 'Canvas' and untick 'Resize image with canvas'

If you want to avoid erasing the background in MS Paint, there are a few methods you can try. One common issue that users face is the accidental removal of the background when using the eraser tool. To prevent this, you can try the following steps:

Firstly, ensure that you are using the correct version of MS Paint. If you have Windows 10, use the "Paint 3D" version, as the traditional MS Paint does not support background transparency. You can find Paint 3D in the Start menu or by searching for it in the Windows search bar.

Once you have the correct version, open your desired image file for editing. Click on the Canvas tab, which is usually identified by a hash or pound icon in the toolbar at the top of the app. Within the Canvas settings, you will find the option to "Resize image with canvas". Simply untick or remove the checkmark from this option.

By unticking "Resize image with canvas", you are telling the software to keep the background intact and not erase it when using the eraser tool. This setting ensures that your background remains while you edit the image itself.

In addition to this method, there are a few other approaches to maintaining the background in MS Paint. One approach involves using the Transparent Selection tool, which allows you to select and preserve specific parts of the image while ignoring the white background. This tool can be found in the Select menu, usually located in the toolbar at the top of the Paint window.

Another strategy involves using the Color 2 and eyedropper tools to match the background color and paint over any unwanted white edges. This method is useful if you want to seamlessly blend the background with the edges of your image.

While MS Paint has its limitations, these techniques can help you avoid accidentally erasing the background of your images. With careful use of the software's tools and settings, you can create and edit images while preserving the desired background.

Use the 'Transparent selection' tool

The Transparent Selection tool in MS Paint is a handy feature that allows you to select and copy an image without including its background. This tool is useful for making minor edits to images and can be particularly helpful when you want to move text or objects onto a different background without the distraction of a white frame.

To use the Transparent Selection tool in MS Paint, start by opening the desired image file in the program. You can do this by right-clicking on the image and selecting "Open with" and choosing MS Paint. Once your image is open in MS Paint, follow these steps:

• Click on the "Select" menu: Locate the "Select" menu in the toolbar at the top-left corner of the screen. Click on it to open a drop-down menu.
• Choose "Transparent Selection": In the drop-down menu, you'll find the "Transparent Selection" option, typically at the bottom. Click on it, and you'll see a checkmark appear, indicating that it's selected.
• Select your desired image area: With "Transparent Selection" enabled, choose either "Rectangular Selection" or "Free-form Selection" from the "Select" menu. These options allow you to draw a box or freeform shape around the specific part of the image you want to select.
• Separate the image from the background: Once you've made your selection, right-click on it. You'll notice a dashed rectangle appearing around your chosen area. Now, you can select "Cut" or "Copy" from the right-click menu to separate the selected image from its background.
• Paste onto a new background: Open a new Paint file or choose a different background image. Simply paste your copied image onto the new background, and it will appear without its original background.

It's important to note that the Transparent Selection tool in MS Paint has its limitations. While it's great for simple edits, it may not produce high-quality results for more complex or detailed images. Additionally, there have been reports of bugs with this feature, especially in the Windows 11 version of Paint, where the transparent areas sometimes turn white instead of retaining their original colour.

Use the 'Rectangular selection' tool

To start, open Microsoft Paint. You can do this by typing "Paint" in the start menu search bar and selecting the application. Next, load the image you want to edit by clicking "File" > "Open" or pressing Ctrl + O.

Now, you can use the Rectangular selection tool to select the part of the image you want to keep. Click on the Rectangular selection tool, which is represented by a dotted rectangle in the toolbar. Then, click and drag the mouse until you've created a rectangle around your desired part of the image. Everything within your selection that doesn't match the color in "Color 2" will be preserved.

If the background isn't completely one color (for example, if there are shadows or objects in the background you don't want to keep), you can use the Freeform selection tool to trace around just the part of the image you want to keep.

Once you've made your selection, you can copy and paste it onto a new image. To do this, click "Edit" > "Invert Selection" and then "Edit" > "Erase Selection". Now you can paste your selected image onto a new background.

If there are areas where the background color shows through, you can use the Paint Bucket Tool to fill those spots with the appropriate color. You can also use the Brush Tool for precise touch-ups.

Finally, remember to save your image properly. Click on "File" in the top left corner, select "Save As", and choose your desired file format. If you want to preserve transparency, choose PNG as your format. Name your file and select the destination where you would like to save it.

Frequently asked questions