Microsoft Is Adding Layers, Transparency to MS Paint

Once a way to pass the time when your internet was down, MS Paint has grown from the super-simple doodle pad of decades past to a surprisingly useful raster graphics editor through a slew of free software updates. Microsoft is turning the sophistication dial up a notch with layer support and transparency options, which are now available to some Windows Insider testers.

In a blog post published Monday, the Windows Insider program announced that an update to Paint will introduce the ability to “add, remove, and manage layers on the canvas to create richer and more complex digital art.” Rather than editing all elements of an image on a single digital canvas, users can now divide those elements into layers. This ultimately enables users to view, hide, or fine-tune individual components of an image without running the risk of ruining the whole composition. For example, in Microsoft’s screenshot, a ...