Microsoft is introducing new features for Windows’ core applications Paint, Notepad, and the Snipping Tool. These updates are currently only available to Windows Insider users in the Canary and Dev channels of Windows 11.

Paint will offer brand new functionality

One of the most striking features is coming to Paint. Work can now be saved as a project file. Previously, formats like JPEG, PNG, and BMP were the only formats that saved the final version. This didn’t allow for layer-based editing, making it difficult to make subsequent changes.

With this new feature, just like Adobe Photoshop, a saved project file can be opened and continued working on later. There’s also a new brush setting. Users can now adjust the brush’s transparency.

This change transforms Paint from a simple drawing tool into a more comprehensive image editing program. Users can now save every step they make on an image.

This means they don’t have to start over from scratch the next day when opening a project or redo the entire project to fix minor errors. This development moves Paint beyond being a one-time visual creation tool and offers users a more flexible working environment.

The Snipping Tool and Notepad are also being updated. The Snipping Tool allows for quick editing while capturing screenshots. Users will be able to instantly use the pen, highlighter, and eraser tools on their screenshots.

Notepad, on the other hand, gains AI features such as summarizing, writing, and rewriting on Copilot+ computers without requiring a subscription. However, this feature currently only supports English.