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New AI experiences for Paint and Notepad begin rolling out to Windows Insiders

Written By published November 6, 2024

UPDATED 11/14: The below Paint and Notepad updates are beginning to rollout to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels. Please note that generative fill in Paint is ONLY available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs on Windows 11, version 24H2 and higher so this feature will not be available in this Paint update in the Beta Channel.


Hello Windows Insiders, today we are beginning to roll out updates to Paint and Notepad to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels on Windows 11.

Paint (version 11.2410.28.0)

Generative fill

In this update, we are introducing generative fill, a powerful new creation tool designed to help you make your artistic process more fun and intuitive. With generative fill, you can make edits and additions with just a few words while maintaining the existing art style of your project. Whether you’re a seasoned artist looking to add intricate details or a hobbyist experimenting with new ideas, generative fill helps you fine-tune your digital art, with just enough AI to assist you in realizing your creative vision while remaining in full control of the output.

Paint app open with generative fill dialog open.
Paint app open with generative fill dialog open.

To get started, use the Selection tool in Paint toolbar to make a Rectangle or Free-form selection. Upon selecting the area, you will see a small menu pop up anchored to your selection. Select the Generative fill option on the menu, use the text box to describe what you want to add to your selection, and hit Create.

If you don’t like what was generated, simply press the Try again button. You can also try refining your selection or text prompt. Use the arrow buttons to cycle through the generated options, and once you are satisfied with one of the generated images, press the Keep button to apply it to your Paint canvas.

You can learn about generative fill in Paint here.

Generative fill will initially be available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. To use generative fill, you will need to sign in with your Microsoft account. This feature is only available for Windows Insiders in supported markets, where availability may vary based on regional criteria.  

Generative erase

We are also introducing generative erase, a new AI-powered tool that helps you remove unwanted objects from the canvas, filling in the empty space left behind to make it look like the object was never there.

Paint app open with generative erase active.
Paint app open with generative erase active.

To get started, select Generative erase on the left side of the canvas while using the eraser tool. With the generative erase brush, you can manually brush over one or multiple areas of the canvas to select the content you want to remove. “Add area to erase” lets you select more and “Reduce area to erase” lets you reduce your selection. After you are satisfied with your selection, click Apply to remove the object! You can also use rectangular or free-from selection tools to specify an area that you want to remove with the Generative erase command in the small menu pop up anchored to your selection or the right-click menu.

Generative erase is available to users on all Windows 11 PCs.

Update to Cocreator

With this update, we have improved the underlying diffusion-based model for Cocreator to deliver better results faster, and with built-in moderation, it’s a creative experience you can trust. Cocreator is available on Snapdragon powered Copilot+ PCs.

You can learn more about Paint Cocreator here.

Update to Image Creator

We launched Image Creator in Paint last year in preview, and we hope you have been enjoying the creative possibilities of AI image creation. We are excited to be expanding the preview to additional markets.

Image Creator in Paint is available in preview to all Windows 11 users in the following regions: United States, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany. To use Image Creator, you need to sign in with your Microsoft account. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family and Copilot Pro subscribers in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand will also now be able to use AI credits to use Image Creator in Paint. Learn more about AI credits.

You can learn more about Image Creator in Paint here.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Paint.

Notepad (version 11.2410.15.0 version 11.2410.17.0)

With this update, we are introducing the ability to rewrite content in Notepad with the help of generative AI. You can rephrase sentences, adjust the tone, and modify the length of your content based on your preferences to refine your text.

Notepad app with rewrite dialog open.
Notepad app with rewrite dialog open.

To get started, select the text you want to rewrite, then right-click and choose the Rewrite option, select Rewrite from the menu bar, or use the Ctrl + I keyboard shortcut. Notepad will generate three variations of the rewritten text for you to choose from. Select one, or if you want to further refine the output, you can customize rewrite settings and click Retry to generate additional versions.

Options to make your content longer or shorter and modifying the tone or format let you easily adjust your content for specific goals. The previous versions are still preserved in the current dialog, so you can easily revert to earlier versions if needed. If you prefer, you can disable the rewrite feature in app settings.

Rewrite in Notepad is available in preview to all users on Windows 11 in the following regions: United States, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany. To use rewrite, you need to sign in with your Microsoft account. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family and Copilot Pro subscribers in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand will also be able to use AI credits to use rewrite in Notepad. Learn more about AI credits.

You can learn more about Rewrite in Notepad here.

We have also continued to improve Notepad launch performance. With this update, most users will see app launch time improve by more than 35%, with some users seeing improvements of 55% or more.

FEEDBACK: Please share your feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Notepad.

[These features in Paint and Notepad are beginning to rollout in these updates, so it may not be available to all Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing them out to everyone.]

As always, we love getting feedback from the community and we will be looking out for your thoughts and suggestions on these updates!

Thanks,
Dave Grochocki, Principal Group Product Manager – Windows Inbox Apps