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| developer = dotPDN, LLC
| developer = dotPDN, LLC
| released = {{start date|2004|05|06}}
| released = {{start date|2004|05|06}}
| latest_release_version = 3.36
| latest_release_version = 3.5
| latest_release_date = {{release date|mf=yes|2008|08|26}}
| latest_release_date = {{release date|mf=yes|2008|11|6}}
| latest_preview_version = 3.5 Beta 4 (Build 3591)
| latest_preview_version = 3.5
| latest_preview_date = {{release date|2009|10|31}}
| latest_preview_date = {{release date|2009|11|6}}
| programming language = Mainly [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], with some [[C++]]
| programming language = Mainly [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], with some [[C++]]
| operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows]] ([[Windows XP|XP]], [[Windows Server 2003|2003]], [[Windows Vista|Vista]], [[Windows 7|7]])
| operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows]] ([[Windows XP|XP]], [[Windows Server 2003|2003]], [[Windows Vista|Vista]], [[Windows 7|7]])
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==Overview==
==Overview==
Paint.NET is primarily programmed in the [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] programming language, with small amounts of [[C Plus Plus programming language|C++]] used for installation and shell-integration related functionality. Its native image format, [[File extension|.PDN]], is a [[Data compression|compressed]] representation of the application's internal [[Object (computer science)|object]] format, which preserves layering and other information.<ref>{{cite web | title=Paint.NET's file format, ".pdn" | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20051230140736/http://blogs.msdn.com/rickbrew/archive/2005/01/18/355571.aspx}}</ref> Excluding the installer, text, and graphics, Paint.NET is released under an [[MIT License|MIT-like License]].<ref>[http://www.getpaint.net/license.html Paint.NET - Licensing and FAQ]</ref> It was initially released as completely [[open source software|open source]], but due to complaints by the lead developer about users changing the name of the application and selling it without giving the project credit as required by the license, all resource files (such as interface text and icons) were released under a [[Creative Commons licenses|Creative Commons license]] forbidding modification, and the installer was made closed-source.<ref name="backspaceware">{{cite web|url=http://blog.getpaint.net/2007/12/04/freeware-authors-beware-of-%E2%80%9Cbackspaceware%E2%80%9D/|title=Freeware Authors: Beware of “Backspaceware”|date=December 4th, 2007|publisher=Paint.NET blog|accessdate=2009-02-06}}</ref>
Paint.NET is primarily programmed in the [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] programming language, with small amounts of [[C Plus Plus programming language|C++]] used for installation and shell-integration related functionality. Its native image format, [[File extension|.PDN]], is a [[Data compression|compressed]] representation of the application's internal [[Object (computer science)|object]] format, which preserves layering and other information.<ref>{{cite web | title=Paint.NET's file format, ".pdn" | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20051230140736/http://blogs.msdn.com/rickbrew/archive/2005/01/18/355571.aspx}}</ref> Excluding the installer, text, and graphics, Paint.NET is released under a modified version of the [[MIT License|MIT-like License]].<ref>[http://www.getpaint.net/license.html Paint.NET - Licensing and FAQ]</ref> It was initially released as completely [[open source software|open source]], but due to breaches of license, all resource files (such as interface text and icons) were released under a [[Creative Commons licenses|Creative Commons license]] forbidding modification, and the installer was made closed-source.<ref name="backspaceware">{{cite web|url=http://blog.getpaint.net/2007/12/04/freeware-authors-beware-of-%E2%80%9Cbackspaceware%E2%80%9D/|title=Freeware Authors: Beware of “Backspaceware”|date=December 4th, 2007|publisher=Paint.NET blog|accessdate=2009-02-06}}</ref>


Version 3.36 was initially released as partial open source as described above, but the sources were later removed by the developer. The developer no longer makes the source freely available for download.
Version 3.36 was initially released as partial open source as described above, but the sources were later removed by the developer. The developer no longer makes the source freely available for download. In version 3.5, the license was altered to reflect this.


==History==
==History==
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| August 26, 2008
| August 26, 2008
| Improved effect rendering speed
| Improved effect rendering speed
|-
| 3.5
| November 6, 2009
| First version optimized for use on Windows 7, visual refresh


<!-- Please only add significant changes/improvements. We don't want this to be a copy of the complete history. For example, don't bother adding bugfix releases or minor feature improvements/additions. -->
<!-- Please only add significant changes/improvements. We don't want this to be a copy of the complete history. For example, don't bother adding bugfix releases or minor feature improvements/additions. -->

Revision as of 06:01, 7 November 2009

Paint.NET
Developer(s)dotPDN, LLC
Initial releaseMay 6, 2004 (2004-05-06)
Stable release
3.5 / November 6, 2008 (2008-11-06)
Preview release
3.5 / November 6, 2009 (2009-11-06)
Written inMainly C#, with some C++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows (XP, 2003, Vista, 7)
Available inMultilingual[1]
TypeRaster graphics editor
LicenseFreeware, portions licensed under the MIT License
Websitewww.GetPaint.NET

Paint.NET is a raster graphics editing program for Microsoft Windows, developed on the .NET Framework. Originally created as a Washington State University student project[2], Paint.NET has evolved from a simple replacement for the Microsoft Paint program, which is included with Windows, into a powerful editor with support for layers, blending, transparency, and plugins.

Overview

Paint.NET is primarily programmed in the C# programming language, with small amounts of C++ used for installation and shell-integration related functionality. Its native image format, .PDN, is a compressed representation of the application's internal object format, which preserves layering and other information.[3] Excluding the installer, text, and graphics, Paint.NET is released under a modified version of the MIT-like License.[4] It was initially released as completely open source, but due to breaches of license, all resource files (such as interface text and icons) were released under a Creative Commons license forbidding modification, and the installer was made closed-source.[5]

Version 3.36 was initially released as partial open source as described above, but the sources were later removed by the developer. The developer no longer makes the source freely available for download. In version 3.5, the license was altered to reflect this.

History

Paint.NET originated as a computer science senior design project during spring 2004 at Washington State University. Version 1.0 consisted of 36,000 lines of code and was written in fifteen weeks.[6] In contrast, version 3.35 has approximately 162,000 lines of code. The Paint.NET project continued over the summer and into the fall 2004 semester for both the version 1.1 and 2.0 releases.

Development continues with two developers who now work at Microsoft and worked on previous versions of Paint.NET while they were students at WSU. As of May 2006 the program had been downloaded at least 2 million times,[7] at a rate of about 180,000 per month.[8]

Notable releases

Further information: http://www.getpaint.net/roadmap.html
Version Release date Significant changes
1.0 May 6, 2004 Initial release
1.1 October 1, 2004 Support for effect plugins
2.0 December 17, 2004 Many new effects, adjustments, and tools
2.5 November 26, 2005 Internationalization support; update manager; support for file type plugins
2.6 February 24, 2006 Use of .NET Framework 2.0, full 64-bit support
2.72 August 31, 2006 Last version to support Windows 2000
3.0 January 26, 2007 Tabbed document user interface (TDI)
3.20 December 12, 2007 Made effect plugin development easier; improved many existing effects; several parts no longer qualify as open source
3.30 April 10, 2008 Made file type plugin development easier; ability to save PNG in 8-bit and 24-bit color depth, and BMP in 8-bit
3.35 June 7, 2008 Dramatically improved selection support through the use of the General Polygon Clipper library
3.36 August 26, 2008 Improved effect rendering speed
3.5 November 6, 2009 First version optimized for use on Windows 7, visual refresh

System requirements

Minimum requirement
Operating system
Windows XP (SP2 or later), Vista,
Server 2003 (SP1 or later), Home Server, Server 2008,
Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit)
Processor
500 MHz or higher
RAM
256+ MB (Recommended: 512 MB or more)
Free hard drive space
200 MB[9]
Software Component
.NET Framework 2.0 (v3.5 Beta requires .NET Framework 3.5 SP1)
Graphics
1024 x 768 screen resolution

Plugins

Paint.NET supports DLL-file plugins, which add image adjustments, effects, and support for additional file types. They can be programmed using any .NET programming language, though they are most commonly written in C#. These are usually created by volunteer coders on the program's discussion board. Though most are simply published via the discussion board, some have been included with a later release of the program. For instance, a DirectDraw Surface file type plugin, (originally by Dean Ashton) and an Ink Sketch and Soften Portrait effect (originally by David Issel) were added to Paint.NET in version 3.10.

Many plugins have been produced; such as Shape3D, which renders a 2D drawing into a 3D shape. Some plugins expand on the functionality that comes with Paint.NET, such as Curves+ and Sharpen+, which extend the included tools Curves and Sharpen, respectively.

Examples of file type plugins include an Animated Cursor and Icon plugin and an Adobe Photoshop file format plugin. Many of these are based on existing open source software, such as a RAW plugin that uses dcraw and a PNG optimization plugin that uses OptiPNG.

Online forum

Paint.NET features an online discussion board (forum), accessible through the program's main page or help menu. The discussion board is where users of the program can get help with bugs, troubleshooting, making an image, image tutorials, user-created plug-ins, and program localization. The forum has over 15,500 registered members and over 265,000 posts; many active members attend to users in need of help, produce plug-ins, tutorials and discuss other Paint.NET references. Additionally, a blog was created for news on updates and regular announcements.

Support for non-Windows operating systems

Paint.NET was originally created for Windows, and has no native support for any other system. In fact, as of version 3.0, support was discontinued for any Windows operating system older than Windows XP. Windows Vista support was added in the same version. With its previous open-source nature, however, the possibility for alternate versions is available. Miguel de Icaza has partially ported Paint.NET to Mono, an open-source implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure on which the .NET framework is based. This allows Paint.NET to be run on Linux and other Mono-supported platforms. Icaza officially started a porting project in May 2007, paint-mono. Paint.NET also runs on Windows 7.

See also

References

  1. ^ Paint.NET • Roadmap (See v3.0)
  2. ^ "Paint.NET - Free Software for Digital Photo Editing". Retrieved September 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) Bottom of the page, below about.
  3. ^ "Paint.NET's file format, ".pdn"".
  4. ^ Paint.NET - Licensing and FAQ
  5. ^ "Freeware Authors: Beware of "Backspaceware"". Paint.NET blog. December 4th, 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Paint.NET v1.1 "Beta 2" Download".
  7. ^ "Paint.NET crosses 2 million downloads, and other news". Retrieved June 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Interview: A Look Inside Paint.NET". Retrieved June 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Paint.NET Help - System Requirements
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