
The smart lasso for example can automatically detect borders in images as you guide it around thus allowing you to isolate or edit specific objects. The range of tools available in Preview is pretty good including a rectangular, elliptical, lasso and smart lasso selector that allow you to cut out objects or items in images. When you click on the Markup Toolbar icon, you’ll see the available tools in a toolbar that appears across the top of the interface. When Preview is open, simply click on the Markup Toolbar icon at the top of the interface. We advise making duplicate of your image first by going to File > Duplicate before editing as Preview doesn’t add layers – it edits the image directly and any edits can’t be undone after Saving. Open an image in Preview by going to File > Open. To access it, either click on Preview in your Dock or search for “Preview” in Spotlight on your Mac. Some plugins even have installers.The great thing about Preview is that it is included for free in macOS so there’s no need to download anything.Īlthough Preview is often used to edit PDFs on a Mac, many Mac users don’t realize is that it also has a basic drawing tool which is similar to MS Paint. You can download packs of the most popular plugins that center around certain themes (e.g. To give you an idea, the community-supported PDF document which lists all the plugins is 95 pages long! If that sounds too daunting, don't worry. They include Photoshop like layers, a vast number of special effects, unlimited undo/redo, an array of tools for drawing shapes, and importantly for many users, near-endless plugins.

Dig a little deeper, however, and it's packed with features that make the app shine. The main screen looks very similar to the Microsoft app. If you're coming from Microsoft Paint, one of the biggest things you'll want is familiarity, and Paint.NET has it in abundance. If you're only a light user, it's even a valid alternative to full suites like Photoshop and GIMP.


Paint.NET started life as a student project back in 2004, but it's since grown to become one of the best free image editors on the Windows operating system.
