虽然Adobe Photoshop仍然是图像创建和编辑(image creation and editing)的黄金标准，但它有两个进入壁垒，使其成为许多用户不喜欢的选择——成本和难度(users—cost and difficulty)。Photoshop是一头难以掌握的野兽，它具有大多数用户可能永远不需要的许多功能和选项。
如果Photoshop不适合您，则需要寻找替代品。如果您想要免费的专业级功能，您可以尝试GIMP，但这对于用户来说仍然是一个难以学习的选择。Paint.NET 应运而生(Paint.NET)，它为Windows用户 提供免费、强大且易于使用的Photoshop 替代方案。(Photoshop alternative)
如果您想抓挠您的设计师之痒，这个(designer itch)Paint.NET初学者指南应该可以帮助您入门。
什么是 Paint.NET？ (What Is Paint.NET? )
顾名思义，Paint.NET是作为Microsoft Paint的替代品而创建的。Paint是(t something)用于简单任务的简单工具，但大多数用户不会想要在简单的涂鸦之外使用它。
这就是Paint.NET的用武之地。最初在Microsoft的支持下作为潜在替代品创建，Paint.NET现在是一个独立项目，由单个开发人员维护，其工具和功能使其更接近GIMP 和 Photoshop(GIMP and Photoshop)，而不是同名。
Paint.NET的亮点在于其简单性。Paint.NET没有专注于无穷无尽的附加功能，而是拥有简单明了的用户界面(user interface)，使用户可以轻松选择、创建和编辑数字图像。
但是，如果您确实想创建复杂的图像，Paint.NET有能力做您需要它做的事情——只要您稍微修改一下。借助使用第三方插件支持该项目的强大社区，您可以使用Paint.NET完成(Paint.NET)Photoshop等专业工具所能完成的几乎所有工作。
Paint.NET完全免费，可供Windows用户下载。对于macOS 和 Linux 用户(macOS and Linux users)，您需要寻找替代方案，例如GIMP。
Paint.NET 与 Photoshop 比较(Paint.NET Vs Photoshop Compared)
Paint.NET 和 Adobe Photoshop(Paint.NET and Adobe Photoshop)的存在是为了达到相同的目的，但比较它们就像比较苹果和梨。当然，他们都是图像编辑器，但他们服务于不同的市场。
Photoshop是一款专业级的图像编辑(image editing)工具。如果有用于图像编辑的(image editing)工具或功能(tool or feature)，它可能作为核心功能(core feature)或附加组件存在于Photoshop中。(Photoshop)这显示在价格中，需要Adobe Creative Cloud 订阅(Adobe Creative Cloud subscription)才能使用此高级软件(premium software)。
相比之下， Paint.NET(Paint.NET)是一个完全免费的替代方案。它使用简单，但包含您在高级编辑工具(editing tool)中所期望的功能和工具，例如画布层、图像效果和其他调整。
如果您想要一个易于理解的基本工具，但使用各种附加插件来扩展其功能，Paint.NET是一个不错的选择。然而，对于专业用户来说，Photoshop仍然是您工作所需的工具。
在 Paint.NET 中创建基本图像(Creating Basic Images In Paint.NET)
Paint.NET 可以免费下载(free download)，不过您可以花几美元购买Microsoft Store 版本(Microsoft Store version)来支持该项目。安装Paint.NET后(Paint.NET)，您可以开始使用它来创建基本图像。
- 首次打开Paint.NET(Paint.NET)时会创建一个新画布，但如果需要，您可以按File > New来创建新绘图。您可以在此处绘制、编辑和操作您的图像。
- Paint.NET 界面的左侧(Paint.NET interface)菜单(side menu)中提供了各种绘图工具的列表。这反映了Photoshop和其他编辑工具，其中提供了绘制、选择、绘画、填充等工具。要开始使用这些工具中的任何一个，请单击它们。您的光标应更改以匹配该工具。
- 左下角是色轮(color wheel)。这允许您更改当前选择的任何对象或工具的颜色。(object or tool)例如，如果您选择了文本工具(text tool)，您可以通过在此处选择颜色来更改插入文本的颜色。
- 如果您需要调整绘图画布的大小，请按Image > Resize，这将允许您更改画布的表面积(surface area)，同时保持内容不变。
- 如果要调整现有图像的大小，请按Image > Canvas Size。这将放大或缩小整个图像，并提供将质量优先于图像大小(image size)的选项。
- 与Photoshop一样，您可以使用图层创建复杂的图像。要插入新图层，请按Layers > Add New Layer。您可以从Paint.NET 界面(Paint.NET interface)右下角的“图层(Layers)”窗口更改所选图层。其他(Additional)选项，包括复制或移动图层的选项，可从“图层(Layers)”菜单中获得。
- Paint.NET允许您快速更改颜色和亮度级别(color and brightness levels)，以及为图像添加棕褐色或颜色反转(sepia or color inversion)等效果。您可以从Paints.NET 界面(Paints.NET interface)顶部的“调整(Adjustments)”菜单访问这些内容。
- 要获得更高级的特殊效果，您需要单击“效果(Effects)”菜单。从这里，您可以使用 Photoshop 风格的效果（例如模糊和扭曲）以及可消除红眼或允许您锐化图像的照片修饰滤镜来处理图像。(photo touch-up)
- 如果您想直接与相机或扫描仪(camera or scanner)交互，您可以。确保您的扫描仪或相机(scanner or camera)已连接到您的 PC，然后按File > Acquire获取图像并将其直接导入Paint.NET以供您编辑。
- 如果遇到麻烦，您可以使用右上角的“历史记录”面板快速恢复任意数量的上次执行的操作。(History)按撤消(Undo )或重做( Redo )按钮，或从列表中选择一个过去的操作以恢复到该阶段。
Windows等平台的形象设计(Image Design On Windows And Other Platforms)
在Photoshop 和 Microsoft Paint(Photoshop and Microsoft Paint)之间的中间地带存在Paint.NET，这是许多用户设计和编辑图像时唯一需要的图像编辑工具。凭借易于使用的界面和可用图层等 Photoshop 风格的功能，它为用户在(features like layers)Windows上创建和编辑图像提供了低门槛。
Paint.NET仅适用于 Windows，因此您需要查看其他平台上的替代方案。如果您手边(device handy)有移动设备，则存在适用于Android 和 iOS(Android and iOS)的基本图像编辑应用程序。对于Mac用户，免费的基本照片编辑器(free basic photo editors)（如Photoscape X）可以为您提供帮助。或者，您可以尝试使用Google Draw来获得免费的跨平台绘图体验。
另外，请务必查看我们的YouTube 视频(YouTube video)，我们在其中讨论了一些适用于Mac的不同(Mac)照片编辑(photo editing)工具：
A Beginner’s Guide To Paint.NET & How Does It Differ From Photoshop?
While Adobe Photoshop continues to be the gold standard for image creation and editing, it has two barriers of entry that make it an unappealing option for many users—cost and difficulty. Photoshop is a difficult beast to master, with many features and options that most users might never need.
If Photoshop isn’t for you, you’ll need to look at alternatives. You could try GIMP if you want professional-level features without the cost, but this still remains a difficult-to-learn option for users. There’s where Paint.NET comes in, offering a free, powerful, and easy-to-use Photoshop alternative for Windows users.
If you’re itching to scratch your designer itch, this beginner’s guide to Paint.NET should help you get started.
What Is Paint.NET?
As the name suggests, Paint.NET was created as a replacement for Microsoft Paint. Paint is a simple tool for simple tasks, but it isn’t something that most users will want to use outside of simple doodling.
That’s where Paint.NET comes in. Originally created with support from Microsoft as a potential replacement, Paint.NET is now an independent project, maintained by a single developer, with tools and features that put it closer to GIMP and Photoshop than its namesake.
Paint.NET shines is in its simplicity. Rather than focusing on an endless number of additional features, Paint.NET has a simple and clear user interface that makes it an easy option for users to pick up, create, and edit digital images.
If you do want to create complex images, however, Paint.NET has the power to do what you need it to do—if you mod it a little. With a strong community supporting the project with third-party plugins, you can use Paint.NET to do almost everything that professional tools like Photoshop can do.
Paint.NET is totally free and available for download for Windows users. For macOS and Linux users, you’ll need to look at an alternative like GIMP instead.
Paint.NET Vs Photoshop Compared
Paint.NET and Adobe Photoshop exist to serve the same purpose, but comparing them is like comparing apples and pears. Sure, they’re both image editors, but they serve different markets.
Photoshop is a professional-grade image editing tool. If there’s a tool or feature for image editing, it probably exists in Photoshop, either as a core feature or an add-on. That shows in the price, where an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription is required to use this premium software.
Paint.NET, in contrast, is an entirely free alternative. It’s simple to use but includes features and tools you’d expect in a premium editing tool, such as canvas layers, image effects, and other adjustments.
If you want a basic tool that’s easy to understand, but with various add-on plugins to extend its functionality, Paint.NET is a great option. For professional users, however, Photoshop is still going to be the tool you need for your work.
Creating Basic Images In Paint.NET
Paint.NET is available as a free download, although you can support the project by purchasing the Microsoft Store version for a few dollars. Once Paint.NET is installed, you can begin using it to create basic images.
- A new canvas is created when you first open Paint.NET, but you can press File > New to create a new drawing, should you need to. You can draw, edit, and manipulate your image here.
- A list of various drawing tools is available in the left-hand side menu of the Paint.NET interface. This mirrors Photoshop and other editing tools, where tools to draw, select, paint, fill, and more are available. To begin using any of these tools, click on them. Your cursor should change to match the tool.
- In the bottom-left corner is the color wheel. This allows you to change the color of any object or tool you currently have selected. For instance, if you selected the text tool, you could change the color of your inserted text by selecting a color here.
- If you need to resize your drawing canvas, press Image > Resize, which will allow you to change the surface area of your canvas while leaving the contents intact.
- If you want to resize an existing image, press Image > Canvas Size instead. This will scale your entire image up or down, with options to prioritize quality over image size.
- Like with Photoshop, you can create complex images using layers. To insert a new layer, press Layers > Add New Layer. You can change your selected layer from the Layers window in the bottom-right corner of the Paint.NET interface. Additional options, including ones to duplicate or move your layer, are available from the Layers menu.
- Paint.NET allows you to quickly alter the color and brightness levels, as well as add effects such as sepia or color inversion to your image. You can access these from the Adjustments menu at the top of the Paints.NET interface.
- For more advanced special effects, you’ll need to click the Effects menu. From here, you can manipulate your image with Photoshop-style effects such as blurs and distorts, as well as photo touch-up filters that remove red-eye or allow you to sharpen your image.
- If you want to interact with a camera or scanner directly, you can. Make sure your scanner or camera is attached to your PC, then press File > Acquire to acquire the image and import it into Paint.NET directly for you to edit.
- If you run into trouble, you can quickly revert any number of your last performed actions using the History panel in the top-right. Either press the Undo or Redo buttons, or select one of the past actions from the list to revert back to that stage.
Image Design On Windows And Other Platforms
In the middle ground between Photoshop and Microsoft Paint exists Paint.NET, the only image editing tool that many users will need to design and edit their images. With an easy-to-use interface and Photoshop-style features like layers available, it offers a low barrier of entry for users to create and edit images on Windows.
Paint.NET is Windows-only, so you’ll need to look at alternatives on other platforms. Basic image editing apps exist for Android and iOS, if you have a mobile device handy. For Mac users, free basic photo editors like Photoscape X could help you. Or you could give Google Draw a try for a free, cross-platform drawing experience.
Also, be sure to check out our YouTube video, where we talk about a couple of different photo editing tools for Mac:
