In this article, we'll show you how to use the Reverse Colors option in Microsoft Paint to reverse the colors in an image. If you're using Windows 10, open the image in Paint, not Paint 3D, because Paint 3D doesn't have an option that you can use to invert the colors.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Windows 7/8/10
Step 1. Start Microsoft Paint
If you're using Windows 10, you have two different Paint programs installed on your computer, one called Paint and the other Paint 3D. You cannot invert colors in Paint 3D, so launch Paint by following these steps:
- Click on the Windows search bar or the magnifying glass icon on the taskbar.
- Enter paint.
- Click "Paint". The icon for this program looks like a palette and a brush.
Step 2. Open the picture in Paint
To do this, click on the "File" menu in the upper left corner, select "Open", go to the folder with the image, click on it and click "Open".
Step 3. Open the Select menu
It's in the Image section of the toolbar at the top of the Paint window.
Step 4. Click Select All from the menu
Use this option if you are going to invert all colors. To select only a fragment of the image, in the menu, select the option "Free region", and then use the mouse to circle the desired fragment of the picture.
Step 5. Right-click on the selection
A menu will open.
Step 6. Click Reverse Colors
This is the last option on the menu.
To quickly invert colors, press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + I
Method 2 of 2: Windows Vista and later
Step 1. Open the picture in MS Paint
To do this, do one of the following:
- Launch Paint - click on the icon for this program in the Start menu or on the desktop. Now click on File> Open. Navigate to the folder with the desired image, click on it, and then click on "Open".
- Right-click the picture file, and then click Open With> Paint.
Step 2. Open the Image menu
It's at the top of the Paint window.
Step 3. Click Reverse Colors from the menu
The colors will be inverted.
To quickly invert colors, press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + I
Advice
- The colors of the inverted image are complementary colors (in relation to the colors of the original image) in the scientific sense. For example, the yellow ball will turn blue (instead of purple as with complementary colors in the traditional sense) in the inverted picture.
- Use the "Arbitrary Region" option to select a specific part of the image, the colors of which will be inverted.
- To quickly open a file in Paint, press Ctrl + O.
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