Graphics editing program has been marked for death
Microsofts next Windows 10 update, called the Autumn (or Fall in the US) Creators Update, will bring a variety of new features. But one long-standing stalwart of the Windows experience has been placed on the chopping block: Microsoft Paint.
First launched with the very first version of Windows 1.0 in 1985, Paint in its various guises would be among the first graphics editors employed by many and became a core component of Windows. Beginning life as a 1-bit monochrome licensed version of ZSofts PC Paintbrush, it wasnt until Windows 98 which Paint can save in JPEG.
With the Windows 10 Creators Update, published in April, Microsoft introduced the new Paint 3D, which is installed alongside traditional Paint and features 3D image making tools as well as some simple 2D image editing. But it isn’t an update to first Paint and doesnt act like it.
Now Microsoft has announced that, alongside Outlook Express, Reader app and Reading list, Microsoft Paint has been signalled for death having been added to the features that are removed or deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update list.
Falling under the deprecated column for apps that aren’t in active development and might be removed in future releases, Microsoft Paints ticket has been called and now its only a matter of time before it is removed like your favorite piece of old furniture from the childhood home.
Paint was never among the most capable apps, and was limited to the bitmap (BMP) and PCX formats before 1998, but if you wanted to scribble something out with your mouse or create a quick cut and paste job, Paint was always there, even on work computers.
The latest version of Paint for Windows 7 and afterwards was much improved, but still considered attribute poor in comparison to other free alternatives such as the third-party Paint.NET.
When Microsoft Paint will be removed from Windows has not yet been confirmed, even though a date for the release of the Windows 10 Autumn Creators Update is equally up in the atmosphere. Whether, like Clippy, Windows users will observe or decry Paints elimination, it will be a moment in the history of Windows as one of its longest-standing apps is put out to pasture.