Microsoft Paint Gets Photoshop-Like Project Files in 2024

Microsoft Paint has come a long way from the simple drawing program we all remember from childhood. Microsoft has been steadily improving its Paint app for Windows 11 in recent years with a dark mode, transparency and layers, and AI-powered image creation. Now the company is taking another significant leap forward by adding two new Photoshop-like features to Paint. This is not just keeping up with the times, it is a shift toward a basic tool that can actually keep pace with more sophisticated editors.

What exactly are these new project files?

Here is where things get interesting. You will soon be able to save your Paint creations as a project file, much like a Photoshop Document (.PSD). Paint files will be stored with, you guessed it, a .paint file extension. The key advantage, Paint files will store your layers inside the file too.

Think of it as Paint borrowing a page from Photoshop’s playbook. Adobe’s PSD format is the default file format and the only format, besides the Large Document Format (PSB), that supports all Photoshop features. Like most file formats, PSD supports files up to 2 GB in size. Microsoft’s approach mirrors that philosophy, giving users a way to preserve a work in progress with layers intact.

Unlike traditional image formats that flatten your work into a single image, Paint’s new project files keep the full creative structure. Build a complex composition today, save it as a .paint file, come back tomorrow and adjust each layer individually, just like editors have been doing for years with PSD.

Beyond project files: opacity controls and enhanced tools

Microsoft is not stopping at project files. The company is also adding opacity sliders to adjust the transparency of the pencil and brush tools in Paint. It is another step in a steady makeover that has turned Paint from a quick sketch pad into something closer to a real editor.

The evolution has been steady and clear. Recent updates introduced transparency support and layers. Layers make complex edits manageable, and transparency enables better PNG support and a proper way to erase content on layers. The app now also offers an updated version of the brush feature with a slider that makes it easier to customize each stroke.

Those new opacity controls unlock techniques that used to be out of reach in Paint. Instead of only solid strokes, you can build subtle gradients, create watercolor-like washes, and blend elements more smoothly. Pair that with layers and you get credible digital painting, photo compositing, and basic graphic design. In Paint. Imagine telling your younger self that.

The AI revolution in Paint

What really turns heads is Paint’s AI integration. Microsoft has simplified access with a dedicated Copilot button in the top right corner of the Paint window, next to the existing ones for resizing and closing the app. The Copilot button features four different AI-powered tools: Cocreator, Image Creator, Generate Erase, and Remove background.

These are not just gimmicks. Image Creator turns text prompts into images using OpenAI’s DALL-E model, while Cocreator uses AI to combine text prompts with doodles in Paint to produce artwork. Generative Erase can remove objects or people from an image without disturbing the background.

The practical use cases are easy to picture. Image Creator can generate concept art for a school presentation or a quick hero image for a blog. Cocreator interprets a rough logo sketch plus a short description and turns it into something polished. The Generative Erase tool handles the classic vacation-photo fix, removing a stray passerby while keeping the scenery intact.

When can you actually use these features?

Short answer, soon, with a little patience. The Paint project files are currently being tested with Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary Channels. That follows Microsoft’s typical rollout pattern, broad release after extensive testing.

Based on Microsoft’s historical timeline, features typically spend 2 to 3 months in insider testing before wider availability. The complexity of project file support and potential compatibility considerations could push that window.

Not every Windows 11 PC will run everything. Due to AI processing required for some of the new Paint tools, you will need a CoPilot+ PC capable of performing 40+ trillion operations per second, TOPS, or more. However, some AI features, like Generative Erase and Remove Background, are available to all Windows users with the latest update.

That hardware split creates two tracks. Older PCs still get the big quality-of-life upgrades like layers, transparency, and project files, and those alone make Paint feel far more capable than the version many of us grew up with.

What this means for the future of image editing

Let us be blunt. Microsoft is not just updating Paint, it is repositioning it as a real alternative to pricier software. Paint has made significant strides with AI-powered features, narrowing the gap with paid software like Photoshop Elements. The app now tackles editing tasks once reserved for advanced programs like Adobe Photoshop, thanks to the integration of AI-powered features.

The bigger story is accessibility. While Paint maintains an edge in simplicity with an intuitive interface for beginners, it is gaining capabilities that used to be exclusive to professional-grade tools. Project files with layer preservation bring Paint closer to the workflow creatives expect, while keeping the friendly interface that made it iconic.

Strategically, the signal is clear. Microsoft is challenging Adobe’s hold on approachable image editing by offering serious capability in a free, familiar app. Schools, small businesses, and solo creators who cannot justify subscriptions now have a credible path into real digital content creation.

If Microsoft sticks the landing, Paint could reset expectations for entry-level editors, evolving from a simple drawing program into a creative platform that still feels approachable, the same way the classic Paint always did.