mainPaint

Visual editing has greatly evolved in only a short while, with different advanced processing operations for simple tune ups or drawing from scratch. As a neat alternative to the default Windows drawing tool, mainPaint comes with a set of tools for processing various pictures, edit, or draw new images.

Before the application can function properly, you need to make sure that .NET Framework is installed on your computer. On the other hand, mainPaint itself does not require installation, letting you use it on other computers directly from a USB flash drive. Moreover, the health status is not affected, since registry entries remain intact in the process.

Note that the interface only comes in a fixed size specification, which may come as a disadvantage for some. However, all necessary tools are neatly organized across the interface, with intuitive icons for easy identification, regardless of the level of experience.

You can only start drawing once a color is selected. This is done from a dedicated color wheel, which neatly enough includes an alpha layer for adjusting brush transparency. There are no special selection tools though, so editing is applied on the spot, regardless of the brush you use.

In terms of file support, you get to work with files like JPG, PNG, and BMP, which includes both import and export operations, but with no option to print. Brush styles aren’t abundant, but include basic shapes, lines, free hand drawing, eraser, and text. Brush values can be tweaked to handle size, as well as a set of font customization options.

To sum it up, mainPaint is a practical tool for drawing, or editing existing pictures. However, it’s not packed with the variety of tools and effects to fine tune entire landscapes or portraits, being merely equipped with the means to compete with the Windows default drawing tool.