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Microsoft Paint adds project files and opacity controls

Microsoft is updating Paint on Windows 11 with Photoshop-style project files (.paint) that preserve layers, new opacity sliders for pencil and brush tools, and faster Snipping Tool markup. Notepad also gets AI write, summarize, and rewrite features on Copilot Plus PCs using local models — no Microsoft 365 required.

Published September 17, 2025 at 05:12 PM EDT in Software Development

Microsoft brings Photoshop-style editing and local AI to Paint and Notepad

Microsoft is rolling out practical updates to Windows 11's inbox apps. Paint now supports project files that store layers and let you pick up work later, and its pencil and brush tools gain opacity sliders. Meanwhile, Notepad receives AI writing, summarization, and rewrite capabilities on Copilot Plus PCs using local models.

The new Paint project format uses a .paint file extension. Save a design and return to it with layers intact — a small but meaningful shift that makes Paint behave more like Adobe Photoshop for lightweight workflows and quick mockups.

Microsoft also added an opacity slider for the pencil and brush tools. You can adjust transparency from the canvas UI, enabling subtler strokes and easier compositing without switching apps.

If you use the Snipping Tool, expect faster annotation: a new quick markup toolbar includes a highlighter, pen, eraser, and easy re-crop. That speeds tasks like marking up screenshots for bug reports, documentation, or support tickets.

Perhaps the most notable change is in Notepad: Copilot Plus PCs get free AI write, summarize, and rewrite features that don’t require a Microsoft 365 subscription. Microsoft says these features use local models on Copilot Plus devices, allowing users to switch between local and cloud models as needed.

Why this matters: project files and opacity sliders close the gap between simple OS tools and full-featured editors for everyday tasks. Local AI in Notepad lowers friction for private, on-device text transformations — useful for internal notes, sensitive summaries, and quick rewrites without cloud dependencies.

Practical use cases

These updates unlock quick wins across teams:

  • Design handoffs: save mockups in .paint to preserve layers for reviewers.
  • Support & docs: quick Snipping Tool markup accelerates annotated troubleshooting.
  • Privacy-conscious AI: local Notepad models let agencies and compliance teams transform text without sending data to the cloud.

What IT and product leaders should consider

These are incremental but practical updates. IT teams should audit device eligibility for Copilot Plus features, define data policies for local versus cloud AI use, and update documentation to include .paint workflows where teams exchange mockups. Product managers can adopt Paint project files for rapid prototyping and low-friction feedback loops.

For agencies and businesses with compliance requirements, the ability to run local models on Copilot Plus PCs reduces surface area for data leakage. That advantage comes with operational choices: which model to use locally, when to fall back to cloud models for scale, and how to manage updates securely.

Overall, these Paint and Notepad changes reflect Microsoft's approach of bringing lightweight, usable features into core OS apps. They won't replace professional design suites or full MLOps pipelines, but they do reduce friction for everyday creative and editorial tasks.

QuarkyByte helps teams translate updates like this into operational value: we map use cases, measure where local AI lowers cost and risk, and produce rollout checklists so design, IT, and security teams can adopt new desktop features without disruption.

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QuarkyByte can help product and IT teams integrate these Windows 11 updates into design and support workflows — from automating annotated screenshot pipelines to adopting local AI models for private summarization. We'll map ROI, design secure deployment steps, and produce a roll‑out plan tailored to your org's needs.