Paint 3D: The Best Free Software for 3D Graphics
Paint 3D: A New Way to Create and Share 3D Art
Have you ever wanted to create your own 3D models, scenes, or animations? Do you enjoy playing with different shapes, colors, and effects? If so, you might want to try out Paint 3D, a free app that comes with Windows 10. Paint 3D is a fun and easy way to unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life in three dimensions. In this article, we will explain what Paint 3D is, how to use it, and how to share your creations with others.
What is Paint 3D?
Paint 3D is a modern version of the classic Paint app that has been around since the first versions of Windows. It allows you to create and edit both 2D and 3D images using a variety of tools, brushes, and effects. You can also import and export images in different formats, such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, and more.
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A brief history of Paint 3D
Paint 3D was first introduced in October 2016 as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update. It was designed to make 3D creation accessible and intuitive for everyone, regardless of their skill level or experience. It was also meant to complement the new Mixed Reality features that allow users to interact with virtual objects in real environments using devices like the HoloLens.
The main features of Paint 3D
Paint 3D has many features that make it a powerful and versatile app for creating and editing 3D images. Some of the main features are:
3D library: You can access a collection of pre-made 3D models that you can use in your projects. The library includes people, animals, plants, buildings, vehicles, furniture, and more. You can also search for more models online or upload your own.
3D shapes: You can create basic 3D shapes like cubes, spheres, cones, cylinders, pyramids, and toruses. You can also customize their size, color, rotation, and position.
3D doodle: You can draw freehand curves or lines that automatically turn into 3D objects. You can choose between two modes: sharp edge or soft edge. Sharp edge creates angular shapes like stars or polygons, while soft edge creates smooth shapes like clouds or blobs.
Tools and effects: You can use various tools and effects to modify your images. For example, you can use the eraser, crop, resize, rotate, flip, copy, paste, undo, redo, select, magic select, cutout, fill, eyedropper, brush, text, canvas, ruler, protractor, stickers, textures, lighting, and materials.
Stickers and textures: You can apply stickers and textures to your images to add more details and realism. Stickers are flat images that wrap around your objects like decals or tattoos. Textures are images that change the appearance of your objects like wood grain or metal.
Lighting and materials: You can adjust the lighting and materials of your objects to change how they reflect or absorb light. You can choose from different types of materials like matte, gloss, dull metal, polished metal, or transparent. You can also change the direction and intensity of the light source.
How to use Paint 3D?
Using Paint 3D is easy and fun. You can start from scratch or use an existing image as a base. Here are some basic steps to help you get started:
How to create a 3D object in Paint 3D
There are three main ways to create a 3D object in Paint 3D: using the 3D library, using the 3D shapes, or using the 3D doodle. Here is how to do each one:
Using the 3D library
Click on the 3D library icon on the top menu bar. It looks like a cube with a plus sign.
Browse through the categories or search for a model that you like. You can also click on the Get more models button to access more online resources.
Click on the model that you want to use and drag it onto your canvas. You can also double-click on it to add it to the center of your canvas.
Use the handles around the model to resize, rotate, or move it. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts or the buttons on the right panel to adjust its properties.
Using the 3D shapes
Click on the 3D shapes icon on the top menu bar. It looks like a cube with a pencil.
Select a shape that you want to use from the drop-down menu. You can choose from cubes, spheres, cones, cylinders, pyramids, toruses, and more.
Click and drag on your canvas to draw the shape. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts or the buttons on the right panel to adjust its properties.
Use the handles around the shape to resize, rotate, or move it. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts or the buttons on the right panel to adjust its properties.
Using the 3D doodle
Click on the 3D doodle icon on the top menu bar. It looks like a squiggly line with a pencil.
Select a mode that you want to use from the drop-down menu. You can choose between sharp edge or soft edge.
Click and drag on your canvas to draw a curve or a line. The app will automatically turn it into a 3D object.
Use the handles around the object to resize, rotate, or move it. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts or the buttons on the right panel to adjust its properties.
How to edit a 3D object in Paint 3D
Once you have created a 3D object in Paint 3D, you can edit it using various tools and effects. Here are some of the things you can do:
Using the tools and effects
Eraser: You can use this tool to erase parts of your object or image. You can adjust the size and hardness of the eraser using the slider on the right panel.
Crop: You can use this tool to crop your image or object to a specific size or shape. You can choose from preset ratios or custom dimensions. You can also rotate or flip your image or object before cropping.
Resize: You can use this tool to change the size of your image or object. You can choose from preset percentages or custom values. You can also lock the aspect ratio or allow free resizing.
Rotate: You can use this tool to rotate your image or object by a specific angle. You can choose from preset angles or custom values. You can also flip your image or object horizontally or vertically.
Flip: You can use this tool to flip your image or object horizontally or vertically. This is useful for creating mirror images or symmetrical patterns.
Copy: You can use this tool to copy your image or object to the clipboard. You can then paste it onto another location on your canvas or another project.
Paste: You can use this tool to paste an image or object from the clipboard onto your canvas. You can then resize, rotate, or move it as you wish.
Undo: You can use this tool to undo the last action you performed on your image or object. You can undo up to 20 actions in a row.
Redo: You can use this tool to redo the last action you undid on your image or object. You can redo up to 20 actions in a row.
Select: You can use this tool to select a part of your image or object using a rectangular or freeform shape. You can then move, copy, delete, or apply effects to the selected area.
Magic select: You can use this tool to select a part of your image or object using an intelligent algorithm that detects the edges and removes the background. You can then move, copy, delete, or apply effects to the selected area.
Cutout: You can use this tool to cut out a part of your image or object using a rectangular, circular, lasso, or polygonal shape. You can then move, copy, delete, or apply effects to the cutout area.
Fill: You can use this tool to fill a part of your image or object with a solid color, a gradient, or a pattern. You can choose from preset colors, gradients, and patterns, or create your own using the color picker and the custom gradient and pattern editors.
Eyedropper: You can use this tool to pick a color from your image or object and use it for other tools like fill, brush, text, stickers, and textures.
Brush: You can use this tool to draw on your image or object with different types of brushes, such as oil, watercolor, spray paint, calligraphy, pixel, and more. You can adjust the size and opacity of the brush using the slider on the right panel.
Text: You can use this tool to add text to your image or object with different fonts, sizes, colors, styles, and alignments. You can also apply effects like 3D rotation, perspective, and depth to your text.
Canvas: You can use this tool to change the size and orientation of your canvas. You can choose from preset sizes or custom values. You can also rotate or flip your canvas horizontally or vertically.
Ruler: You can use this tool to draw straight lines on your image or object. You can adjust the angle and length of the ruler using the slider on the right panel.
Protractor: You can use this tool to draw curved lines or arcs on your image or object. You can adjust the angle and radius of the protractor using the slider on the right panel.
Using the stickers and textures
Stickers: You can use this tool to apply stickers to your image or object. Stickers are flat images that wrap around your objects like decals or tattoos. You can choose from preset stickers or create your own using the custom sticker editor.
Textures: You can use this tool to apply textures to your image or object. Textures are images that change the appearance of your objects like wood grain or metal. You can choose from preset textures or create your own using the custom texture editor.