Tiny Eraser, Big Impact: Painting Windows Neatly

Microsoft Paint is a great tool for quick edits and fun drawings. The eraser tool is one of the most useful features, allowing users to remove sections of their drawings with ease. However, the default eraser size is not always ideal, and users often need to adjust it to suit their specific needs. This is especially true when working on detailed projects or trying to fix big mistakes. In this guide, we will explore the steps to get a super tiny eraser in Paint on Windows, so you can make precise erasures without affecting the surrounding areas of your artwork.

Open Microsoft Paint

There are several ways to open Microsoft Paint, depending on your version of Windows.

Windows 11:

• Navigate the cursor onto the taskbar and select the magnifying glass icon.
• Type "Paint" in the search bar that appears.
• Click on "Paint" in the search results, or press Enter on your keyboard.

Windows 7, 8, 10, and Vista:

• Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of your screen, or press the "Windows" key on your keyboard.
• In the search area, type "Paint".
• Click on the Paint icon to open the Paint program.

Windows XP and earlier:

• Click on the Start icon in the bottom left corner of your screen.
• In the Start menu, click on "All Programs", followed by "Accessories", and finally, click on the Paint program.

Other ways to open Microsoft Paint on Windows:

• Using the Run Window: Press the Windows + R key to open the Run window. Type "mspaint" in the text area and press "OK" or Enter.
• Opening Paint using Search: Click on the Start menu or press the Windows key on your keyboard. Type "paint" in the search bar and click on "Paint" in the search results.
• Using the Windows Start Menu: Click on the Start menu and then click on "All Apps". Scroll down and open "Windows Accessories", where you will find Paint.
• By Creating a Shortcut: Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select "New" and then "Shortcut". In the text area provided, type "mspaint" and click "Next". Name the shortcut "Paint" and click "Finish".
• Using Cortana: If voice input is turned on, say "Open Paint, Cortana". If voice input is off, go to the Start menu, type "Cortana", press Enter, and then click "Speak to Cortana" to turn on voice input.
• Open Paint using Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Click on "More details", then click on "File" and "Run new task". Type "mspaint" and click "OK".
• Using the Command Prompt: Start Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal, and type "mspaint". Press Enter.
• Opening Paint through File Explorer (Windows 10 and 11 only): Press Windows + E to open File Explorer. Type "mspaint" in the address bar and press Enter.
• By locating the Paint executables: Open "File Explorer" and insert the following path in the address bar: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps. Rename "C:" with the alphabet representing the drive name, and USERNAME with your user name. Search for the exe file and double-click on it to open Paint.

Select the eraser tool

To select the eraser tool in Microsoft Paint, open the Paint application on your Windows device. You can do this by typing "Paint" in the search bar and clicking on the Paint app icon. Once you have the application open, you will see a toolbar with various drawing tools. The eraser tool is located in this toolbar and looks like a small pink eraser, found underneath the pencil icon. Simply click on the eraser tool to select it.

Selecting the eraser tool allows you to make changes to its size. You can adjust the eraser size by clicking on the "Size" button in the toolbar, which looks like an icon with different lines of varying thickness. A drop-down menu will appear, offering you a range of preset sizes to choose from. Click on one of the preset sizes to set your desired eraser size.

If you want more precise control over the eraser size, you can use keyboard shortcuts. Press and hold the "Ctrl" key on your keyboard and then press the "+" key on the numeric keypad to increase the size. Similarly, press "Ctrl" and "-" on the numeric keypad to decrease the size. Each press of the "+" or "-" key will result in a slight adjustment to the eraser size, allowing you to fine-tune it to your desired level.

Use the keyboard shortcut

To get a super tiny eraser in Paint on Windows, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl" and "-" (NumPad) at the same time to decrease the size of your eraser. The "NumPad" refers to the numeric keypad on the right-most section of a full-sized keyboard. This won't work with the "+" or "-" at the top of your keyboard.

• Open Microsoft Paint: You can do this by typing "Paint" in the search bar and hitting enter. The Paint app will appear in the search results. Click on it to open the app.
• Select the Eraser Tool: In the toolbar, choose the eraser tool. It looks like a small pink eraser and can be found easily among the other drawing tools.
• Use the Keyboard Shortcut: To decrease the size of the eraser, press and hold the "Ctrl" key, then press the "-" key (on the numeric keypad) a few times. Each press will decrease the eraser size.
• Check the Eraser Size: Hover your cursor over the canvas to see the new, smaller eraser size.
• Start Erasing: Click and drag your mouse over the areas you want to erase. The smaller eraser size will allow you to make more precise erasures.

Remember, you can always make the eraser bigger by pressing "Ctrl" and "+" on the numeric keypad. Experiment with different eraser sizes to find what works best for your project, and don't forget to save your work frequently!

Check the eraser size

To check the eraser size in Microsoft Paint, you must first select the eraser tool. This can be found in the toolbar and looks like a small pink eraser. Once you have selected the eraser tool, you can then check the size.

There are two ways to check the size of the eraser tool. The first is to click on the "Size" button in the toolbar. This will bring up a drop-down menu with different size options for your eraser. You can then select the size you want, ranging from small to large.

The second way to check the eraser size is to use a keyboard shortcut. Press and hold the "Ctrl" key and then press the "+" key (on the numeric keypad) to increase the size, or the "-" key to decrease it. Each press of the "+" or "-" key will adjust the eraser size up or down.

You can also use the On-Screen Keyboard to adjust the eraser size. First, open the Windows On-Screen Keyboard by clicking the Start menu and typing "on-screen keyboard". Then, click the "Options" button and enable the "Turn on numeric keypad" option if it is not already visible. With the Paint window active and the Eraser tool selected, press the "Ctrl" key and click the "+" or "-" key on the On-Screen Keyboard to adjust the size.

By checking the eraser size, you can ensure that you have the correct tool selected for your desired task, whether it be making precise edits or large erasures.

Start erasing

Now that you've selected your desired eraser size, it's time to start erasing!

If you're using a mouse, simply click and drag your mouse over the areas you want to erase. The larger eraser will make this process faster and more efficient, especially if you have big mistakes or projects with larger areas that need to be addressed.

If you're using a touch device, such as a tablet or touchscreen laptop, you can also use your finger or a stylus to erase. This can provide more precision and control over your erasing, especially with smaller eraser sizes.

Remember to test the eraser on your canvas to ensure it's the right size for your needs. If it's not, you can always adjust the size again by following the previous steps.

Additionally, don't forget to save your work frequently to avoid losing any changes. This is especially important if you're making big erasures or significant changes to your project.

By following these steps, you'll be able to efficiently erase any unwanted elements and refine your creation in Microsoft Paint.

Frequently asked questions