Since i got nothing better to do I THINK i will write a piece:
Paint.Net is a simply 2d picture/grapic/art editor, it is a open source editor like GIMP. It got layers, alpah, neat buildt in tools, stable versions, a source for editing and a decent plugin support.
What is the big difference is that this image editor is using the microsoft .NET framework, and that it got a less messy interface than GIMP.
GIMP is divided into 3 messy chunks where PDN is 1 big chunk, and its easyer to se stuff.
While GIMP got a ridiculessy messy interface, PDN is clean. This is where the difference begins.
The layers is in 1 chunk and can be an eyesore so its also a hotkey to remove it til you feel like bringing it back with the same hotkey:
And also what is really making people go for Paint.Net, the pallete. Like layers its also liked to 1 key for removing, getting back. Did photoshop have someting so userfriendly? Nope, Gimp? Nope, Paint? Nope! Just move the dam thing or click it and voila you got an color, if you hit the more button you got some more stuff you will likely need anyway like Alpah and similar things:
And on the top is the basic stuff in order as following: name of what your editing, size you view it in, version of PDN. And the somewhat standard tools and layout:
Paint.Net got a unlimited History redo(hotkey remove/visisble too), somewhat standard tools(select, magic wand, brush, paint bucket, that stuff), and then the plugin!
Plugins is what is importent to Paint.Net, and it are the "Why is PDN h4x????" Arguemtn you can use against 1337-speakers, but also against people who know what their doing but yet has to sworn their eternal marriage oath.
I mean, Paint.Net got amazing plugins like Shape3D, random plugin, a ridiculess amount of Distort type plugins, Varius fire effects, i do not know how man Rendering effects, Water stuff, and a ridiculess lot more.
Simply, the only problem over there might be keeping a certain controll over it. But a plugin manager is rumored to come on the 4.0 version, so we will jsut have to pray for it It could make life eayer.
Pros:
*Powerfull
*Fast
*Clean interface
*User friendly
*Plugins(way to many somebody said)
*Easy adding plugins
*Supports many filetypes
*Big community
*Many tutorials
*Palette
*Free software
*Open Source
*Shape 3D
Conz:
*It takes time to start the download of the plugins
*It can take time to find your buggy plugins and remove them
*No buildt in remove plugin utility(this IS a pain, simply because at times i want to remove all faulty plugins)
*No plugin auto-updater
*2 people working on Paint.Net itself(aka new versions takes time)
*Lacks a proper buildt in brush tool
*Lacks to be able to build in new tools
*Consumes and eats RAM for dinner in certain cases
*Does not support other Operating Systems by default
*No scrollbar while browsing plugins, rarely a need, but when its first needed its a big need.
Requirements:
*a semi-powerfull PC i guess
*Windows with .NET framework
I acutally got no clue on this, nor have i an old computer at hand to test it. I guess 0,5-1gb ram should do it, storage should be big enogh for a few pictures, i got noe clue on grapic card nor proccesor frequency.
-del_diablo