Please note that all these articles are just linked from other websites. I don't own or write any of them. Moreover, this blog is being under construction, so some functions might not work properly. Be patient!!! :)

Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts

Thursday, April 7, 2011

How to embed Bing search results and content directly in your email

We live in times where we rely heavily on the search results shown by various search engines like Google, Bing or Yahoo. You may be, at times, required to use them to download content so that you can mail as an attachment. But you can if you wish, directly embed the results in your Hotmail.
Let’s add the Bing search results directly into your email:
  • Login to your Hotmail account and click on New. You will see an option From Bing.
bmap11 400x83 How to embed Bing search results and content directly in your email
  • Then drag down the list.You will find variety of options like images, videos, maps etc.
bmap2 400x201 How to embed Bing search results and content directly in your email
  • I am choosing Images just for the sake of  simplicity.
bmap3 400x181 How to embed Bing search results and content directly in your email
Type “Windows 7” in the search box to get the results beneath the search box.
  • Click on Insert which you find after every result.


bmap4 400x200 How to embed Bing search results and content directly in your email
  • We just added the image in our email in just few seconds.

Now let’s try something for Bing Maps.
bmap5 400x238 How to embed Bing search results and content directly in your email
I searched Meerut, India to add my location. I chose Bing Maps as an example, because the speed and accuracy which Bing Maps provide is just fabulous.
You can add similarly clip arts, videos etc from Bing in the similar fashion.
Save time try From Bing in your mails!

Answers to 7 common Windows 7 Power issues – FAQ


If you have some questions pertaining to some Windows 7 power issues or problems then this FAQ will definitely be able to help you. Microsoft has compiled an excellent resource of answers to the common questions which a Windows 7 user may have while troubleshooting Power options or issues.

Q1: Why does my computer wake every day at 12:48 and then run a diagnostic tool?
A1: To determine why this occurs, use the -WAKETIMERS option to determine what is currently set. Scheduled tasks are one of the primary items that the -WAKETIMERS option will show. To use this option, run the following command:
POWERCFG -WAKETIMERS

Q2: How can I determine all the available sleep states?
A2: Use the -AVAILABLESLEEPSTATES option. To do this, run the following command:
POWERCFG –AVAILABLESLEEPSTATES

Q3: Why did the battery life on my mobile PC that has a VGA display decrease after I upgraded to Windows 7 from Windows XP?
A3: This is a common issue in which the display is using the default VGA driver. This driver is not optimized for the video card and will consume more power. To resolve this issue, update your video card driver.

Q4: Why can’t I see some power-management settings?
A4: Windows 7 cannot display power-management settings that the computer does not support.

Q5: How can I determine whether Group Policy is in effect and is forcing or recommending a particular power plan?
A5: Use the Gpresult command. This command shows what power options are applied. For more information about the Gpresult command, visit the following Microsoft TechNet website:
Gpresult (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc733160(WS.10).aspx)
The power plan can also be configured by using policy preference. Additionally, tracing can be enabled to troubleshoot preference issues that are related to power options.

Q6: How can I set a power plan in place without a restart?
A6: Use the POWERCFG -SETACTIVE {GUID} command.

Q7: My computer is running slow on the “Power saver” power plan, and the battery is draining faster than I expect. What can I do? Can I diagnose what is occurring?
A7: To diagnose the problem, create a power report. To do this, follow these steps:
Click Start.
  • In the Search programs and files box, Type cmd.
  • Right-click CMD, and then click Run as administrator.
  • At the command prompt, type powercfg -Energy -output c:\temp\energy.html, and then press ENTER.
  • In the Temp folder, open the Energy-report.html file. This report uses a 60-second run. However, the report time is configurable.
For details, visit Microsoft.

How to wake up your PC from Stand-by mode or Hibernation


Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to wake up your system from a Stand-by mode or Hibernation programmatically? The answer is yes, it’s possible. Wake-Up is a utility which will do it for you.
wake up sleep 400x395 How to wake up your PC from Stand by mode or Hibernation
Once activated it resides in the system and wakes it up at predefined time, runs a file and if necessary sends it into Stand-by mode, hibernates it or shuts it down. It can also be used to run scheduled operations every day, or on specific day(s).

The features of this program are:
* Can restore almost every Windows-based operating system from a Stand-by mode that support ACPI
* Can run a file or open a web page at a predetermined time after a wake-up event
* Can send system back to Stand-by mode (hibernate it, shut it down, or log off user) after a certain time interval;
* Can detect if Stand-by mode (or hibernation) is supported by your system;
* Can turn the monitor on and hold off screen-saver during the waiting time;
* Can repair local area network and high-speed Internet connection upon waking up from a suspended state;
* Can send system into Stand-by mode or hibernate it with more options than available through Operating System;
* Can be incorporated into an in-car (entertainment) PC system to speed up booting time & save battery
* Can be run from the Windows Command Line without user interaction;
* Can be saved as a batch file for later use.
Read Manual for details |Download Page.

How to turn off logon password protection in Windows 7

When you start Windows 7, by default, you are required to present your logon password credentials in order to proceed.
However if you are the only user and if you do not wish to password protect your PC, you can turn it off and enable automatic LogOn to Windows 7.
To do so, type control userpasswords2 in Start search and hit enter.

This will open the User Accounts settings window.

useraccounts How to turn off logon password protection in Windows 7

Under the Users tab, un-check Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.
Clip Apply > OK. Reboot.

How to create a custom Email ID for your domain in Hotmail

Hotmail is one of the most popular and most widely used email service in the world right now. If you own a domain name and want to create a custom email ID associated with your domain name, you can easily do that using the Windows Live Admin Center. You will be able to use this email ID as Windows Live IDs and can use them with Windows Live Messenger, etc, just as you do with a normal @hotmail ID.

The first thing that you have to do before starting is to register a domain name (if you don’t already have one). After you have purchased a domain name, you can start the procedure.

To set up you custom email ID, first go to domains.live.com. Click Get Started.

img1 thumb How to create a custom Email ID for your domain in Hotmail

In the next page enter your domain name. As we want to setup an email account, select Setup Windows Live Hotmail for my domain. If you select the other option, you will be able to use you email ID with Windows Live Messenger but an email inbox will not be setup.

img2 thumb How to create a custom Email ID for your domain in Hotmail

Next you will have to assign a Domain administrator. A domain administrator, as the name suggests is the one who will be managing the Admin Center account and can add or remove user accounts.

img3 thumb How to create a custom Email ID for your domain in Hotmail

Now confirm the details that you have entered and accept the terms and conditions.

img4 thumb How to create a custom Email ID for your domain in Hotmail

The next step is to prove the ownership of the domain and setup necessary MX records on your domain registrar/webhost  for the Hotmail to work with your domain name. You will be provided with the details to enter as shown below.

img5 thumb How to create a custom Email ID for your domain in Hotmail
img6 thumb How to create a custom Email ID for your domain in Hotmail

Usually these settings can be found under DNS Management option in your host/registrar’s control panel. If you aren’t sure how to add MX record via your host’s control panel, check their documentation or contact support. Here’s an example on how the DNS editor will look like.

img7 thumb How to create a custom Email ID for your domain in Hotmail

Once you have finished adding the MX records, return to the above shown page and click refresh. Windows Live Admin Center will detect the MX changes and you can now start using your custom email ID from Hotmail. To add more accounts, just go to domains.live.com and click Manage Accounts in the left pane. From the right pane,select Add Accounts.
That’s it!

Windows 8: Automatic Aero colorization based on wallpapers




Windows 8 Automatic Aero color

Microsoft is planning to auto color the Aero UI inside Windows 8 to correspond to a users wallpaper choice.
The latest in a series of leaks by Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott reveals the latest customisation feature for Windows 8. Microsoft has added an automatic color selection tool for the Aero border color. The control works by picking up colors from a users wallpaper. Rivera has posted several screenshots of the new feature in action which demonstrates the Aero border color switching based on several wallpapers.

Microsoft is believed to be working on a Metro design user interface for Windows 8. Leaked screenshots, posted earlier this month, also show a flattened Metro UI interface codenamed “Aero Lite”.  The screenshots show a flattened interface consistent with Microsoft’s Metro UI. Microsoft’s primary Windows 8 interface is believed to be fully 3D. The interface will be “fully dynamic” and able to adapt to user habits. Icons and shortcuts will adapt to different usage scenarios to speed up daily tasks. Windows 8 is also rumored to include a new fast hibernation system. The system will hibernate in around three to six seconds and save all open documents and running tasks. Rumors suggest that Microsoft will create a dual-UI for Windows 8. A tile-based user interface codenamed “Mosh” will reportedly be included.

The software giant is also planning its own Time Machine feature named “History Vault”. The feature will allow Windows 8 users to backup files and data automatically using the Shadow Copies function of Windows. According to one person familiar with the company’s plans, the backup feature will include the ability to restore to a specific time or date on the system. Users will also be able to select files and restore them to different timestamps.

Microsoft has so far been extremely quiet on the Windows 8 front. Windows Chief, Steven Sinofsky, took to the stage at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January to introduce a technology preview of Microsoft’s Windows ARM support and show off an early build of Windows 8. Microsoft is partnering with ARM-based manufactures NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments to produce new Tablet devices.
Microsoft has started to distribute Windows 8 builds to key OEM partners via its Connect testing site. The company has distributed build 7971.0.110324-1900 to OEMs in a special invite only “Windows 8 and Server vNext Pre-Release Program.”

Image Credit: Rafael Rivera (WithinWindows.com)


[via winrumors]

Display your User picture in Windows 7 taskbar

Taskbar UserTile is a small freeware which allows you to add your User picture tile in the Windows 7 taskbar.
taskbar user pic Display your User picture in Windows 7 taskbar
Simply click on the downloaded app and your user pic will get displayed in notification area between the clock and the Show desktop buttom.From this button you can change your settings, customize your look, log off, lock PC or switch user.


To exit, simply right click and click Close.


Download: DeviantArt.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Spy Shots: Windows 8 With a Ribbon Interface? [GALLERY]

Microsoft is experimenting with a ribbon interface for parts of Windows 8, and we have a gallery of leaked screenshots showing examples of an early build.

Microsoft Word users are already familiar with the idea of a ribbon interface, where a tabbed and extra-tall toolbar resides at the top of the page, offering dynamic groups of icons in an attempt to make the user interface more efficient. Microsoft also added the ribbon interface to a couple of applets within Windows 7, including Paint and WordPad.

We’ve already shown you leaked pics of Windows 8′s taskbar, but what we see here are experiments with Windows Explorer (for you Mac users, that’s the Windows version of the Finder), adding various groups of tabbed ribbons at the top of the window. As you’ll see in the gallery, these leaked pics, courtesy of our new pals at WithinWindows, show a UI that’s very much under construction, with most of the future icons substituted by mere placeholders so far.

We also included a bonus screenshot in the gallery, a peek at the Windows 8 login screen that was revealed on Friday and many thought was an April Fools’ Day joke. While it’s been confirmed as the real thing by a few different sites, we’re thinking its design will probably change before Windows 8 hits the streets, which we’ve heard might happen in early 2012.

None of this is too pretty yet. We’re giving this artwork the benefit of the doubt, because Windows 8 is still in its early developmental stages. But we’ve gotten used to the ribbon interface in Microsoft Office 2007, and can understand its inherent efficiency. It gives interface designers a way to place lots of controls within easy reach, rather than burying them under multiple menus.

On the other hand, with today’s wider screens, it doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to use up even more vertical space on user interface elements.

What do you think, commenters? Is Microsoft moving in the right direction with Windows 8?


Ribbon Menu
Screenshot courtesy Withinwindows



Ribbons
Screenshot courtesy Withinwindows



Status Bar
Screenshot courtesy Withinwindows



Windows 8 Ribbons
Screenshot courtesy Withinwindows



Windows 8 Ribbon 2
Screenshot courtesy Withinwindows



Windows 8 Ribbon 3
Screenshot courtesy Withinwindows



Windows 8 Logon UI
Screenshot courtesy Withinwindows


[via mashable]

Monday, March 28, 2011

Links for Windows Live Essentials 2011 Offline Installers for ALL languages

The final version of Windows Live Essentials 2011 are now available for download. Here is the list of and the links to the offline installers in all the available languages.

These languages include Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, English, etc, along with some Indian languages like Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu.
Languages
Lang iD
Links
Arabic
ar
Bulgarian
bg
Catalan
ca
Czech
cs
Danish
da
German
de
Greek
el
English
en
Spanish
es
Estonian
et
Basque
eu
Finnish
fi
French
fr
Gujarati
gu
Hebrew
he
Hindi
hi
Croatian
hr
Hungarian
hu
Indonesian
id
Italian
it
Japanese
ja
Kannada
kn
Korean
ko
Lithuanian
lt
http://g.live.com/1rewlive4-all/lt/wlsetup-all.exe
Latvian
lv
Malayalam
ml-in
Marathi
mr
Malay
ms
Dutch
nl
Norwegian (Bokmal)
no
Polish
pl
Portuguese (Brazil)
pt-br
Portuguese (Portugal)
pt-pt
Romanian
ro
Russian
ru
Slovak
sk
Slovenian
sl
Serbian-Cyrillic
sr-cyrl-cs
Serbian-Latin
sr-latn-cs
Swedish
sv
Tamil
ta
Telugu
te
Thai
th
Turkish
tr
Ukrainian
uk
Vietnamese
vi
Chinese (Simplified)
zh-cn
Chinese (Traditional)
zh-tw

Use these links to download an installation program that can be used to install Windows Live Essentials without an internet connection.  After downloading this program, you can use it to install Windows Live Essentials while offline.

Source: WLSC.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

How to use Ms Paint in Windows 7


Using Paint

Paint is a feature in Windows 7 that you can use to create drawings on a blank drawing area or in existing pictures. Many of the tools you use in Paint are found in the ribbon, which is near the top of the Paint window. The following illustration shows the ribbon and other parts of Paint.
Picture of the Paint windowThe Paint window

Drawing lines

  • Open Paint by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking All Programs, clickingAccessories, and then clicking Paint.
You can use several different tools to draw in Paint. The tool you use and the options you select determine how the line appears in your drawing. These are the tools you can use to draw lines in Paint.


Use the Pencil tool Picture of the Pencil tool to draw thin, free-form lines or curves.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Pencil tool Picture of the Pencil tool.
  2. In the Colors group, click Color 1, click a color, and then drag the pointer in the picture to draw.
    To draw using the Color 2 (background) color, right-click while you drag the pointer.
Use the Brushes tool Picture of the Brushes tool to draw lines that have a different appearance and texture—it's like using different artistic brushes. By using different brushes, you can draw free-form and curving lines that have different effects.
  1. On the Home tab, click the down arrow under Brushes.
  2. Click the artistic brush that you want to use.
  3. Click Size, and then click a line size, which determines the thickness of the brush stroke.
  4. In the Colors group, click Color 1, click a color, and then drag the pointer to paint.
    To paint using the Color 2 (background) color, right-click while you drag the pointer.

Use the Line tool Picture of the Line tool to draw a straight line. When using this tool, you can choose the thickness of the line, as well as the appearance of it.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Shapes group, click the Line tool Picture of the Line tool.
  2. Click Size, and then click a line size, which determines the thickness of the line.
  3. In the Colors group, click Color 1, click a color, and then drag the pointer to draw the line.
    To draw a line that uses the Color 2 (background) color, right-click while you drag the pointer.
  4. (Optional) To change the line style, in the Shapes group, click Outline, and then click a line style.
Tip

Tip

  • To draw a horizontal line, press and hold the Shift key as you draw from one side to the other.
  • To draw a vertical line, press and hold the Shift key and draw up or down.

Use the Curve tool Picture of the Curve tool to draw a smooth, curved line.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Shapes group, click the Curve tool Picture of the Curve tool.
  2. Click Size, and then click a line size, which determine the thickness of the line.
  3. In the Colors group, click Color 1, click a color, and then drag the pointer to draw the line.
    To draw a line that uses the Color 2 (background) color, right-click while you drag the pointer.
  4. After you have created the line, click the area in the picture where you want the arc of the curve to be, and then drag the pointer to adjust the curve.

Drawing different shapes

You can use Paint to add different shapes in a picture. The ready-made shapes range from traditional shapes—rectangles, ellipses, triangles, and arrows—to fun and unusual shapes, such as a heart, lightning bolt, or callouts (to name a few). If you want to make your own custom shape, you can use to the Polygon tool Picture of the Polygon tool to do this.
Picture of the Shapes galleryShapes in Paint

You can use Paint to draw different types of ready-made shapes. Here's a list of them:
  • Line
  • Curve
  • Oval
  • Rectangle and Rounded rectangle
  • Triangle and Right triangle
  • Diamond
  • Pentagon
  • Hexagon
  • Arrows (Right arrow, Left arrow, Up arrow, Down arrow)
  • Stars (Four-point star, Five-point star, Six-point star)
  • Callouts (Rounded rectangular callout, Oval callout, Cloud callout)
  • Heart
  • Lightning bolt
  1. On the Home tab, in the Shapes group, click a ready-made shape.
  2. To draw the shape, drag the pointer.
    To draw a shape with equal sides, press and hold the Shift key as you drag the mouse. For example, to draw a square, click the Rectangle Picture of the Rectangle, and then press and hold the Shift key and drag the mouse.
  3. With the shape still selected, you can do one or more of the following to change its appearance:
    • To change the line style, in the Shapes group, click Outline, and then click a line style.
      If you don't want your shape to have an outline, click Outline, and then clickNo outline.
    • To change the outline size, click Size, and then click a line size (thickness).
    • In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click a color for the outline.
    • In the Colors group, click Color 2, and then click a color to fill the shape.
    • To change the fill style, in the Shapes group, click Fill, and then click a fill style.
      If you don't want your shape to be filled, click Fill, and then click No fill.

Use the Polygon tool Picture of the Polygon tool to make a custom shape with any number of sides.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Shapes group, click the Polygon tool Picture of the Polygon tool .
  2. To draw a polygon, drag the pointer to draw a straight line. Then, click each point where you want additional sides to appear.
    To create sides with 45- or 90-degree angles, press and hold the Shift key as you create each sides.
  3. Connect the last line to the first line to finish drawing the polygon and to close the shape.
  4. With the shape still selected, you can do one or more of the following if you want to change the appearance of it:
    • To change the line style, in the Shapes group, click Outline, and then click a line style.
      If you don't want your shape to have an outline, click Outline, and then clickNo outline.
    • To change the outline size, click Size, and then click a line size (thickness).
    • In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click a color for the outline.
    • In the Colors group, click Color 2, and then click a color to fill the shape.
    • To change the fill style, in the Shapes group, click Fill, and then click a fill style.
      If you don't want your shape to be filled, click Fill, and then click No fill.

Adding text

In Paint, you can also add your own text or message in your picture.

Use the Text tool Picture of the Text tool to enter text in the picture.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Text tool Picture of the Text tool .
  2. Drag the pointer in the drawing area where you want to add text.
  3. Under Text Tools, on the Text tab, in the Font group, click the font face, size, and style.
    Picture of the Font groupThe Font group
  4. In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click a color for the text.
  5. Type the text that you want to add.
  6. (Optional) If you want the background of the text area to be filled, in theBackground group, click Opaque. In the Colors group, click Color 2, and then click a background color for the text area.
  7. (Optional) If you want to change the appearance of some of the text in the text box, select the text you want to change, and then choose a new font face, size, style, or color for the selected text.

Selecting and editing objects

In Paint, you might want to make a change to part of a picture or an object. To do this, you need to select the part of the picture that you want to change, and then make the edit. Some changes you can make include the following: resizing an object, moving or copying an object, rotating it, or cropping the picture to only show the selected item.

Use the Select tool Picture of the Select tool to select part of the picture that you want to change.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Image group, click the down arrow under Select.
  2. Do one of the following, depending on what you want to select.
    • To select any square or rectangular part of the picture, click Rectangular selection, and then drag the pointer to select the part of the picture you want to work with.
    • To select any irregularly shaped part of the picture, click Free-form selection, and then drag the pointer to select the part of the picture you want to work with.
    • To select the whole picture, click Select all.
    • To select everything in the picture except for the currently selected area, clickInvert selection.
    • To delete the selected object, click Delete.
  3. Determine if the Color 2 (background) color is included in your selection by doing the following:
    • To include the background color with your selection, clear Transparent selection. When you paste the selection, the background color is included and will appear in the pasted item.
    • To make the selection transparent so no background color is in the selection, click Transparent selection. When you paste the selection, any areas using the current background color will be transparent, which will allow the rest of the picture to appear in its place.

Use Crop‌ Picture of the Crop tool to crop a picture so only the part you selected appears in your picture. Cropping lets you change the picture so only the selected object or person is visible.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Image group, click the arrow under Select, and then click the kind of selection you want to make.
  2. Drag the pointer to select the part of the picture you want to show.
  3. In the Image group, click Crop.
  4. To save the cropped picture as a new file, click the Paint button Picture of the Paint button, point toSave as, and then click the file type for the current picture.
  5. In the File name box, type a new file name, and then click Save.
    Saving the cropped image as a new picture file prevents overwriting the original picture file.

Use Rotate Picture of Rotate to rotate the whole picture or a selected part of it.
  • Depending on what you want to rotate, do one of the following:
    • To rotate the whole picture, on the Home tab, in the Image group, clickRotate, and then click the rotation direction.
    • To rotate an object or part of a picture, on the Home tab, in the Imagegroup, click Select. Drag the pointer to select the area or object, click Rotate, and then click the rotation direction.

Use the Eraser tool Picture of the Eraser tool to erase areas of your picture.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Eraser Picture of the Eraser tool.
  2. Click Size, click an eraser size, and then drag the eraser over the area of the picture that you want to erase. Any areas that you erase will reveal the background color (Color 2).

Resizing a picture or part of it

Use Resize‌ Picture of the Resize button to resize the whole image or to resize an object or part of a picture. You can also skew an object in the picture so that it appears slanted.

  1. On the Home tab, in the Image group, click Resize.
  2. In the Resize and Skew dialog box, select the Maintain aspect ratio check box so that the resized picture will have the same aspect ratio as the original.
  3. In the Resize area, click Pixels, and then enter a new width in the Horizontal box or new height in the Vertical box. Click OK.
    If the Maintain aspect ratio check box is selected, you only need to enter the horizontal value (width) or vertical value (height). The other box in the Resize area is updated automatically.
    For example, if a picture is 320 x 240 pixels and you want to make it half that size with the same aspect ratio, in the Resize area, with the Maintain aspect ratiocheck box selected, enter 160 in the Horizontal box. The new picture size will be half the original size at 160 x 120 pixels.
  1. On the Home tab, click Select, and then drag the pointer to select the area or object.
  2. On the Home tab, in the Image group, click Resize.
  3. In the Resize and Skew dialog box, select the Maintain aspect ratio check box so that the resized part will have the same aspect ratio as the original.
  4. In the Resize area, click Pixels, and then enter a new width in the Horizontal box or new height in the Vertical box. Click OK.
    If the Maintain aspect ratio check box is selected, you only need to enter the horizontal value (width) or vertical value (height). The other box in the Resize area is updated automatically.
    For example, if the part you selected is 320 x 240 pixels and you want to make it half that size with the same aspect ratio, in the Resize area, with the Maintain aspect ratio check box selected, enter 160 in the Horizontal box. The part will be half the original size at 160 x 120 pixels.

  • Do one of the following, depending on how you want to resize the drawing area:
    • To resize the drawing area and make it larger, drag one of the small white boxes on the edge of the drawing area to the desired size.
    • To resize the drawing area by entering a specific size, click the Paint button Picture of the Paint button, and then click Properties. In the Width and Height boxes, enter the new width and height, and then click OK.

  1. On the Home tab, click Select, and then drag the pointer to select the area or object.
  2. Click Resize.
  3. In the Resize and Skew dialog box, type the amount to skew the selected area (in degrees) in the Horizontal and Vertical boxes in the Skew (Degrees) area, and then click OK.

Moving and copying objects

After you select an object, you can cut or copy the selected item. This lets you use one object many times in your picture if you want, or move an object (when it's selected) to a new part of your picture.

Use Cut Picture of the Cut button to cut a selected object and paste it in another part of your picture. When you cut a selected area, the area that is cut is replaced with the background color. Therefore, if your picture has a solid background color, you might want to change theColor 2 color to match the background color before cutting the object.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Image group, click Select, and then drag the pointer to select the area or object you want to cut.
  2. In the Clipboard group, click Cut.
  3. In the Clipboard group, click Paste.
  4. With the object still selected, move it to a new place in your picture where you want it to appear.
Use Copy Picture of the Copy button to copy a selected object in Paint. This is useful if you have lines, shapes, or text that you want to appear multiple times in your picture.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Image group, click Select, and then drag the pointer to select the area or object you want to copy.
  2. In the Clipboard group, click Copy.
  3. In the Clipboard group, click Paste.
  4. With the object still selected, move it to a new place in your picture where you want the copy to appear.

Use Paste from to paste an existing picture file into Paint. After you paste the picture file, you can edit it without changing the original (as long as you save the edited picture with a different file name than the original).
  1. In the Clipboard group, click the arrow under Paste, and then click Paste from.
  2. Find the picture file that you want to paste into Paint, click it, and then click Open.

Working with color

There are a number of tools to help you work specifically with color in Paint. They let you use the colors you want when you're drawing and editing in Paint.
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The Color boxes indicate the current Color 1 (foreground color) and Color 2 (background color) colors. How they're used depends on what you're doing in Paint.
Picture of the Color boxesThe Color boxes
  • When using the color boxes, you can do one or more of the following:
    • To change the selected foreground color, on the Home tab, in the Colorsgroup, click Color 1, and then click a color square.
    • To change the selected background color, on the Home tab, in the Colorsgroup, click Color 2, and then click a color square.
    • To paint with the selected foreground color, drag the pointer.
    • To paint with the selected background color, right-click while you drag the pointer.

Use the Color picker tool Picture of the Color picker tool to set the current foreground or background color. By picking a color from the picture, you can make sure that you're using the color you want when drawing in Paint, so your colors match.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click Color picker Picture of the Color picker tool.
  2. Click the color in your picture that you want to set as the foreground color, or right-click the color in your picture that you want to set as the background color.

Use the Fill with color tool Picture of the Fill with color tool to fill the entire picture or an enclosed shape with color.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click Fill with color Picture of the Fill with color tool.
  2. In the Colors group, click Color 1, click a color, and then click inside the area to fill it.
  3. To remove the color and replace it with the background color instead, click Color 2, click a color, and then right-click the area to fill it.

Use Edit colors Picture of the Edit colors to pick a new color. Mixing colors in Paint lets you choose the exact color that you want to use.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Colors group, click Edit colors.
  2. In the Edit Colors dialog box, click a color in the color pallette, and then click OK.
    The color will appear in one of the color boxes, so you can use that color in Paint.

Viewing your picture

Changing the view in Paint lets you choose how you want to work with the picture. You can zoom in on a certain part of the picture or the whole picture if you want. Conversely, you can zoom out if the picture is too large. In addition, you can show rulers and gridlines as you work in Paint, which can help you work better in Paint.
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Use the Magnifier tool Picture of the Magnifier tool to zoom in on a part of your picture.
  1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Magnifier Picture of the Magnifier tool, move the magnifier, and then click to zoom in on the part of the image shown in the square.
    Drag the horizontal and vertical scroll bars on the bottom and right side of the window to move around the picture.
  2. To reduce the zoom level, right-click the Magnifier again.

Use Zoom in and Zoom out to see a larger or smaller view of your image. For example, you might be editing a small part of it and need to zoom in to see it. Or the opposite might be true; your picture might be too large to fit on the screen, so you need to zoom out to view all of it.
In Paint, there are few different ways to zoom in or out, depending on what you want to do.
  1. To increase the zoom level, on the View tab, in the Zoom group, click Zoom in.
  2. To reduce the zoom level, on the View tab, in the Zoom group, click Zoom out.
  3. To view the picture in the Paint window at its actual size, on the View tab, in theZoom group, click 100%.
Tip

Tip

To zoom in and out on a picture, you can also click the Zoom in Picture of the Zoom in button or Zoom out Picture of the Zoom out button buttons on the Zoom slider at the bottom of the Paint window to increase or decrease the zoom level.
Picture of the Zoom sliderThe Zoom slider

Use the Rulers to view a horizontal ruler at the top of the drawing area and a vertical ruler on the left side of the drawing area. The rulers let you view the dimensions of your picture, which can be helpful when resizing pictures.
  1. To show rulers, on the View tab, in the Show or hide group, select the Rulerscheck box.
  2. To hide rulers, clear the Rulers check box.

Use the Gridlines to align shapes and lines when you're drawing in Paint. Gridlines are useful because they can help provide a visual reference for the sizes of objects as you draw, and they can help you align objects.
  1. To show gridlines, on the View tab, in the Show or hide group, select theGridlines check box.
  2. To hide gridlines, clear the Gridlines check box.

Use Full screen Picture of the Full screen button to view your picture full screen.
  1. To view the picture on the entire screen, on the View tab, in the Display group, click Full screen.
  2. To exit full screen and go back to the Paint window, click the picture.

Saving and using your picture

When editing in Paint, you should save your work frequently so you don't accidentally lose it. After you save your picture, you can use it on your computer or share it with others in e‑mail.
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When you save a new picture for the first time, you'll need to give it a file name.
  1. Click the Paint button Picture of the Paint button, and then click Save.
  2. In the Save as type box, select the file format you want.
  3. In the File name box, type a name, and then click Save.

Instead of starting with a new picture, you might want to open an existing picture and edit in Paint.
  1. Click the Paint button Picture of the Paint button, and then click Open.
  2. Find the picture you want to open in Paint, click it, and then click Open.

You can also set the picture, so it's used as the desktop background on your computer.
  1. Click the Paint button Picture of the Paint button, and then click Save.
  2. Click the Paint button Picture of the Paint button, point to Set as desktop background, and then click one of the desktop background settings.

If you have an e‑mail program installed and configured on your computer, you can attach your picture to an e‑mail message, and then share it with others through e‑mail.
  1. Click the Paint button Picture of the Paint button, and then click Save.
  2. Click the Paint button Picture of the Paint button, and then click Send in e‑mail.
  3. In the e‑mail message, enter the person's e‑mail address, type a short message, and then send the e‑mail message that has the picture attached.