Changing the Background Color in Microsoft Paint Tool,
Changing the background color in Microsoft Paint (the classic desktop application) is a bit different from how you might do it in more advanced image editors. Paint doesn’t have a direct “background layer” to simply fill. Instead, you usually fill the entire canvas or a specific selection.
Here’s how you can change the “background” color in Paint, depending on what you’re trying to achieve:
Changing the Background Color in Microsoft Paint Tool,
1. Filling the Entire Canvas with a New Background Color:
This is the most common way to set a new background color if you’re starting a new image or want to completely replace the existing background.
- Open Paint: Launch the Paint application.
- Select a Color: In the “Colors” section of the Home tab, click on the Color 2 (Background color) box to select your desired background color. This is the color that will be used by tools like the eraser, and also when filling the canvas.
- Use the Fill with Color Tool: Click on the Fill with Color (paint bucket icon) tool in the “Tools” section.
- Click on the Canvas: Click anywhere on your drawing canvas. The entire canvas will be filled with the color you selected as Color 2.
Changing the Background Color in Microsoft Paint Tool,
2. Changing the Background Color of a Specific Area (Around an Object):
If you have an object and want to change the color of the area around it, it’s a bit more manual.
- Select your desired background color as Color 1 (Foreground color). This is the color your tools will “paint” with.
- Use the Fill with Color Tool: Select the Fill with Color (paint bucket icon) tool.
- Carefully click in the areas around your object that you want to change the color of. Be precise, as the fill tool will fill any contiguous area of the same color. If your object has gaps or isn’t fully enclosed by a different color, the fill might “leak” into your object.
3. Using the Eraser Tool to Reveal a New Background:
The eraser tool in Paint doesn’t erase to transparency; it erases to the currently selected Color 2 (Background color).
- Select your desired background color as Color 2.
- Select the Eraser tool: Click on the eraser icon in the “Tools” section.
- Adjust Eraser Size (Optional): You can change the size of the eraser using the “Size” option in the “Home” tab.
- Erase: Drag the eraser over the areas you want to “change” to the new background color. This effectively replaces the existing pixels with Color 2.
Changing the Background Color in Microsoft Paint Tool,
4. When Copying and Pasting (Transparent Selection):
If you’re copying an object and want it to have a specific background color when pasted, it’s often better to consider how the selection is handled.
- Select the object: Use the “Select” tool (rectangular or free-form selection).
- Choose “Transparent selection”: In the “Image” group, click the “Select” dropdown and make sure “Transparent selection” is checked. When this is checked, the white (or whatever Color 2 is) background within your selection will become transparent when you paste it over another area. This means the underlying background color will show through.
- Paste: When you paste, only the non-Color 2 parts of your selection will be visible, allowing the background to show through. If “Transparent selection” is not checked, then the entire rectangular area of your selection, including the background color within it, will be pasted, potentially covering up your intended background.
Changing the Background Color in Microsoft Paint Tool,
Key Concepts in Paint:
- Color 1 (Foreground Color): This is the color that most drawing tools (pencil, brush, shapes outline) will use.
- Color 2 (Background Color): This is the color that the fill tool will use when you click on an area, and it’s the color the eraser tool will “erase” to.
By understanding how Color 1 and Color 2 work, you can effectively manage background colors in Paint.
