Paint.net doesn't work!

[azengel]

I was told of paint.net because I needed to make a gif transparent. That worked fine so I thought I'd explore paint some more. However, I can't seem to make anything work. The eraser does nothing, recoloring does nothing, I can't get new photos to go to a new layer, on and on. I'm opening pictures in the jpg format - is that the problem? Is there something more I need to do to activate paint?

I'm using Windows 7 Home premium on a one year old HP desktop.

[Sarkut]

There are a number of things that could be going wrong here.

It's tough to guess.

Try this:

Open a .jpg image.

There should be only one layer showing in the Layers window.

Click on the Eraser tool icon, then scribble-erase on the image.

Nothing changes?

It doesn't erase?

Edited July 27, 2010 by Sarkut

[azengel]

I openned a jpg as suggested and the eraser DID work! What does that tell us?

[Sarkut]

Well, the Eraser tool works, anyway.

Here's a link to the online Help file.

http://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/index.html

Post again with any questions that aren't made clear by the Help documentation.

Edited November 2, 2010 by Sarkut

[dreamy747]

You were probably using them in a new layer. You can only edit things in the same layer. (i think)

Edited July 28, 2010 by dreamy747

[azengel]

Sorry I'm such a dunce. I ahven't used Photoshop so some of the techniques are new to me. Is there a useres manual anywhere?

On a separate topic, how do you get a photo to reside in a new layer? I open a photo, then add a layer and open a second photo but the second one and the first one are both labeled as backgrouind.

[Sarkut]

You can rename one of the layers if you want to, using Layer Properties.

Press F4 on the keyboard.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Sarkut

[Rick Brewster]

Is there a useres manual anywhere?

Help menu ...