Microsoft is steadily transforming Paint in Windows 11 from a simple doodling app into a more fully featured creative tool. The latest addition is project file support, allowing users to save their work in a new .PAINT format, reports The Verge. Similar to how Photoshop or GIMP handle layered projects, this new file type preserves layers, letting you pick up right where you left off without flattening your artwork.
Alongside project file support, the Pen and Brush tools have received opacity sliders, giving creators more precise control over transparency directly on the canvas. Paint already offers dark mode, layer management, transparency effects, and even AI-assisted image creation, making it increasingly capable for productivity and artistic work alike.
The feature is currently in testing through the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft has not yet announced when .PAINT file support will roll out to all Windows 11 users, but the direction shows a clear intent to make Paint a more professional-friendly tool over time.
