Microsoft Paint is Getting Photoshop-like Generative AI Fill and Erase Features (theverge.com)
- Reference: 0175174419
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/10/01/2033252/microsoft-paint-is-getting-photoshop-like-generative-ai-fill-and-erase-features
- Source link: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/1/24259239/microsoft-paint-generative-erase-fill-photos-upscaling
> Generative Fill and Generative Erase -- which appear to be heavily inspired by similar AI tools in Adobe Photoshop -- are being introduced to Paint, allowing users to precisely add or remove objects in their images.
>
> Both tools utilize a size-adjustable brush to "paint" over specific areas of an image to edit. Generative Erase will remove unwanted figures, objects like background clutter, and other distractions, similar to the Magic Eraser feature on Google's Pixel phones. Generative Fill allows Paint users to add new AI-generated assets to an image using a text description and select precisely where they should be placed -- much like the Photoshop tool that shares the same name. These build on the Cocreator tool for Paint announced for Copilot Plus PCs earlier this year that can generate images using a combination of text prompts and reference sketches. The company says the diffusion-based model powering these features has been updated to improve output quality and speed and now includes "built-in moderation" to help prevent it from being abused.
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/1/24259239/microsoft-paint-generative-erase-fill-photos-upscaling
The Jack of Hallucination (Score:4, Insightful)
US: [for 30 years]: Hey, can we get layers and transparency in MS Paint?
MS: [for 30 years]: What? Lol, no. This program only ever existed to teach members of the Greatest Generation how to use a mouse. But Solitaire turned out to be way better for that. And now they're all dead.
[Later...]
US: Can you please not put AI in all the tools that we depend on to allow us to create valuable, salable business content?
MS: What? Lol, no. In fact, the only place we have left to put AI is the useless stuff. Like Paint. Which we'd forgotten about until now! (And don't worry, we won't forget Solitaire. Maybe the people on the face cards will try to sell you things. That's just for starters.)
Re: (Score:3)
> US: [for 30 years]: Hey, can we get layers and transparency in MS Paint?
Noting that GIMP has also run on Windows for many years ...
Re: (Score:2)
I think most people on Windows use paint.net as an alternative. It's got 99% of the features that most users want without burying them under tons of things that only 1% of users need. GIMP has always been nearly as full featured as Photoshop (at least once you find a plugin for some features), which most users don't need, but has always come with the enormous downside of having to learn how to use GIMP. I do have it installed on my Mac (since paint.net is Windows only), but I have never really enjoyed using
Re: (Score:1)
> can we get layers and transparency in MS Paint?
A work-around for transparency is to set the selected color to background color, then switch Transparent Selection on. But this generally only works on "flat" art, not photos.
Re: (Score:2)
> US: [for 30 years]: Hey, can we get layers and transparency in MS Paint?
> MS: [for 30 years]: What? Lol, no. This program only ever existed to teach members of the Greatest Generation how to use a mouse. But Solitaire turned out to be way better for that. And now they're all dead.
> [Later...]
> US: Can you please not put AI in all the tools that we depend on to allow us to create valuable, salable business content?
> MS: What? Lol, no. In fact, the only place we have left to put AI is the useless stuff. Like Paint. Which we'd forgotten about until now! (And don't worry, we won't forget Solitaire. Maybe the people on the face cards will try to sell you things. That's just for starters.)
I dunno. I kind of think there might be a place in the OS for a rudimentary, one-click image up-scaler.
Can't you imagine Grandma clicking on the crappy Facebook image, clicking the "make bigger" button, then the "set as wallpaper" button?
I like the idea of things that come with the OS being simple but useful, and I think this could qualify. Just enough image tools to whet an appetite, but not so much that the basics are hidden in a sea of buttons and ribbons.
Can't they fix ... (Score:3)
... the arrows keys moving the mouse pointer or at least add a way to disable this crap. I'm sure ALL the people using Paint want a "smart erase" feature. /s
The only reason I used MS Paint for so long is because it is fast to start and I can save .png and .jpg until I discovered ShareX.
Re: (Score:1)
They tried to make it tablet-friendly, but made it mouse-buggy instead.
MS, Stop Screwing With Paint!
They added that 3D gizmo to it, but then yanked it Google-style when people realized it was crap, and now they are adding an AI gizmo, and will probably F that up and have to remove it also, but create side-effects in the process.
MS, we use Windows for compatibility and familiarity. If you fuck with either, we will leave. You are NOT cutting edge, you DON'T know how to make decent UI's anymore, you are NOT ex
Re: (Score:2)
> MS, Stop Screwing With Paint!
Incompetently screwing with things is all MS has left. They are somehow under the delusion that making Windows worse is good if what they do is "new" and "innovative".
> MS, we use Windows for compatibility and familiarity. If you fuck with either, we will leave. You are NOT cutting edge, you DON'T know how to make decent UI's anymore, you are NOT exciting, but we don't want exciting, so fire the PHB's and artsy fartsy types and just fix your damn bugs.
Indeed. That is about the best summary of the Windows state I have read in a while. Fits perfectly.
Re: (Score:2)
I use paint to crop and then print screenshots. No other uses. Of course I "want" generative AI in there....not.