Easy Steps To Replace Shapes In Ms Paint

how to replace shapes in windows paint

Microsoft Paint is a simple, pre-installed, and free image editing software that comes with Windows 10. It has a variety of features that can be used to edit images, including the ability to replace shapes. To replace a shape in Paint, users can select the shape tool they want from the ribbon at the top of the Paint window, which includes 23 shape tools ranging from simple lines to complex shapes like stars and hearts. After selecting the desired shape, users can define its outline and interior using the Outline and Fill options. The color of the shape can also be customized by selecting from a range of color patches or creating a custom color using the Edit Colors option. Additionally, holding down the Shift key while dragging the shape will create a square outline for squares or perfect circles.

Characteristics Values
Software Microsoft Paint
Step 1 Use the eyedropper tool and right-click on the color you want to replace
Step 2 Select All (Ctrl + A)
Step 3 Cut (Ctrl + X)
Step 4 Select the color you want to change the color to with the left mouse button
Step 5 Turn Draw Opaque off (Image --> uncheck Draw Opaque)
Step 6 Paste

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Replacing an entire colour

The colour replacement tool in MS Paint does not have much range. If you want to change all of one colour into another colour, you can do this quickly.

  • First, use the eyedropper and right-click on the colour you want to replace.
  • Select All (Ctrl + A).
  • Cut (Ctrl + X).
  • Now select the colour you want to change the original colour to with the left mouse button and use the paint bucket to fill the entire image with that colour.
  • Turn Draw Opaque off (Image --> uncheck Draw Opaque).
  • Now Paste. The colour you wanted to change is now the transparent colour of the image you pasted and the new colour you chose now shines through.

Alternatively, you can use the eraser tool to replace a simple colour with another colour without touching the other colours in the project. Here's how:

  • Open Paint.
  • Open an image if necessary.
  • Select the eyedropper tool.
  • Click on the colour you want to replace. This will assign the colour to the "Colour 1" section at the top of the Paint window.
  • Select the eyedropper tool again.
  • Right-click on the colour you want to use to replace the first colour. This will add it to the "Colour 2" box, signifying that the "Colour 1" box's colour will be replaced with the "Colour 2" box's colour.
  • Select the eraser tool.
  • Right-click and drag across the colour you want to replace. This will cause the "Colour 2" box's colour to replace the "Colour 1" box's colour without altering any of the other colours on the canvas.

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Selecting the right shape tools

When selecting a shape, you can define how you want it to be drawn with the Outline and Fill options. The Outline option gives you the choice of having no outline or a solid color, as well as various drawing styles such as Crayon, Marker, Oil, Natural pencil, and Watercolor. The Fill selector defines the interior of the shape, with options for no fill, solid color, or partially transparent fill.

The Size tool allows you to adjust the width of the outline, and you can also select from a range of colors for both the outline and fill. You can choose from 20 color patches or create your own custom colors by clicking "Edit colors." This gives you access to a full gamut of colors, allowing you to define custom colors with specific numeric values or hue, saturation, and luminosity.

When you're ready to draw your shape, simply click on the desired shape icon and move your pointer into the drawing field. You can then drag to create the shape, and once you release the mouse button, you can resize and move the shape as needed. Holding down the Shift key while dragging will create a perfect square or circle.

With the variety of shape tools available in Paint, you can create anything from simple lines to complex designs. Experiment with the different options to find the right tools for your project.

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Adjusting the shape's outline and fill

When drawing shapes in Windows Paint, you can adjust the outline and fill of the shape to your liking. The shape tools are located in the middle of the ribbon at the top of the Paint window. Once you have selected a shape, you can define how you want the shape to be drawn with the Outline and Fill options.

The Outline option gives you several choices. You can choose to have no outline or a solid color outline. You can also select how the outline is drawn with options such as crayon, marker, oil, natural pencil, or watercolor. Experiment with these options to find the one that suits your needs.

Below the Outline option is the Fill selector. This defines the interior of the shape. If you choose "No fill," only the outline of the shape will be drawn. Alternatively, you can select a solid color fill or choose from partially transparent options that mimic the effects of different drawing tools such as markers or paintbrushes.

You can also adjust the size of the outline to make it thicker or thinner. Additionally, you have the option to customize the color of the outline and fill. There are 20 color patches available, or you can click "Edit colors" to access the full gamut of colors and create custom colors.

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Choosing the shape's size

Choosing the shape size is a crucial step in creating your desired shape in Windows Paint. Here are some detailed instructions to help you select and adjust the size of your shapes effectively:

Understanding the Size Tool:

The "Size" tool is located in the middle of the ribbon at the top of the Paint window, along with other shape formatting options like "Outline" and "Fill." This tool defines the width of the outline of your shape.

Selecting the Size:

To choose the size of your shape, you can use the "Size" selector, which typically offers a range of preset sizes. For example, if you want to draw a rectangle, you can select from a variety of widths and heights to find the perfect dimensions for your shape.

Customizing the Size:

If the preset sizes don't meet your requirements, you can customize the shape size by manually entering the desired width and height values. This allows you to create shapes with precise dimensions that align with your specific needs.

Resizing with the Mouse:

Once you've selected a shape, you can use your mouse to adjust its size. Simply click and drag one of the resizing boxes located at the corners or side midpoints of the shape. This will allow you to enlarge or reduce the shape as needed.

Maintaining Aspect Ratio:

When resizing your shape, it's important to maintain the aspect ratio to prevent distortion. Make sure to keep the "Maintain aspect ratio" box checked when resizing. This will ensure that your shape's proportions remain consistent as you adjust its size.

Using the Shift Key:

If you want to create a perfect square or circle, hold down the Shift key while dragging the shape. This will constrain the shape to a fixed width and height, resulting in a perfect square or a perfect circle, depending on your initial shape selection.

By following these steps and utilizing the "Size" tool in Windows Paint, you can easily choose and adjust the size of your shapes to create precise and visually appealing designs.

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Picking the shape's colour

Once you've selected the shape you want to draw, you can define how you want the shape to be drawn with the Outline and Fill options.

The first two options under Outline are "No outline" and "Solid colour". The next five, "Crayon", "Marker", "Oil", "Natural pencil", and "Watercolour", select how the outline is to be drawn. Experiment with these to see which style you prefer.

Below the Outline option is the Fill selector. This defines the interior of the shape. "No fill" leaves the interior transparent, that is, only the outline is drawn. "Solid colour" is just that, a uniform, opaque colour. The other five options are interesting. These are partially transparent just as you would expect when using those drawing tools, or "brushes". With the "Marker brush" you get a uniform, transparent colour overlaid on the existing background.

Now we come to colour. There are two colour selectors, "Colour 1" and "Colour 2". "Colour 1" is the foreground colour, the main colour, and is the colour of the outline for shapes. "Colour 2", the background colour, defines the shape's interior fill colour. Click the colour selector and then the desired colour patch to the right. There are 20 colour patches available.

But if you want more options, click "Edit colours" and you get the full gamut. This allows you to define custom colours. These will become the patches, up to 10, under the 20 normal patches.

You can set a custom colour from the larger selection of patches or from the multi-colour patch by clicking inside that area. You can adjust the colour intensity with the slider on the right. You can also specify the colour by entering the numeric values, 0 to 255, in the Red, Green, and Blue boxes or the Hue, Sat, and Lum fields. This allows you to set any of 16,777,216 colours.

Frequently asked questions

To replace a shape in Windows Paint, first, select the shape you want to replace by clicking on it. Then, choose the replacement shape you want to use by clicking and dragging it into place. You can resize and reposition the new shape as needed.

To select a shape, click on it once to bring up the selection handles. If you cannot select the shape in this way, try using the "Select" tool in the toolbar and dragging a selection box around the shape.

To choose a replacement shape, click on the shape tool you want to use in the toolbar. Then, click and drag on the canvas to create the new shape.

To resize the shape, click and drag one of the selection handles. To reposition the shape, make sure it is still selected (you should see selection handles), then click and drag inside the shape to move it.

Written by
  • Lara Beck
  • Lara Beck
    Author Home Renovation Professional
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