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How do you invert a selection in MS Paint?

Published in Image Editing 2 mins read

To invert the colors of a selection in MS Paint, you can use the "Invert Colors" option. This action swaps the colors within your selected area, turning dark colors into light colors and vice-versa.

How to Invert Colors in MS Paint

Here's a breakdown of how to invert the colors of a selection in MS Paint:

  1. Select the Area: First, use any of the selection tools (Rectangle, Free-form, etc.) to select the portion of the image you want to invert.

  2. Invert Colors via Menu: According to the reference, the Invert Colors option is located at the top of the Paint window.

    • Click on "Invert Colors" in the menu. This will immediately invert the colors within your selection.
  3. Invert Colors via Keyboard Shortcut: For faster access, you can use the keyboard shortcut:

    • Press Ctrl + I. This will also invert the colors of your selection instantly.

Example of Inverting Colors

Imagine you have a selected area with the color black. After inverting the selection, that black area will turn to white. Similarly, a light blue area might turn to a darker orange or brown shade.

Original Color Inverted Color
Black White
White Black
Red Cyan
Blue Yellow
Green Magenta

Tips for Inverting Selections

  • Precise Selection: Use the zoom feature to ensure you have a precise selection before inverting colors. This will prevent any unintended color changes.
  • Experiment with Different Selections: Try inverting different areas and shapes to see how it alters the color palette of your image.
  • Undo: If you don't like the result, simply press Ctrl + Z to undo the action.

By using these methods, you can easily invert the colors of a selection in MS Paint to achieve different visual effects. Remember, both the menu option and the keyboard shortcut will produce the same result.

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