This article explains how to use the editable text plugin for Paint.NET to be able to edit or reposition your text. Instructions cover version 4.2 of the Paint.NET image editing software, not to be confused with the website of the same name.

What to Know

  • Download the free plugin pack for Paint.NET, then open the ZIP file. Copy the Effects and FileTypes folders inside the ZIP file.Locate the Paint.NET folder in your Program Files and paste the folders you copied inside. You’ll see a Tools sub-group in the Effects menu. To create editable text: Go to Layers > Add New Layer > Effects > Tools > Editable Text. Enter text and select OK.

How to Install the Paint.NET Editable Text Plugin

Unlike some other graphics applications, Paint.NET doesn’t have features in the user interface to manage plugins, so you have to set up plugins manually:

  • Download the free plugin pack for Paint.NET.
  • This pack contains multiple plugins that add new tools to Paint.NET including custom brushes.
  • Close Paint.NET if you have it open, then open the ZIP file you just downloaded.
  • Copy the Effects and FileTypes folders inside the ZIP file.
  • Locate the Paint.NET folder in your Program Files and paste the folders you copied inside.
  • The next time you launch Paint.NET, you’ll notice a new sub-group in the Effects menu called Tools. It contains most of the new features that the plugin pack added.

How to Use the Paint.NET Editable Text Plugin

To create editable text with the Paint.NET plugin:

Download the free plugin pack for Paint.NET.

This pack contains multiple plugins that add new tools to Paint.NET including custom brushes.

Close Paint.NET if you have it open, then open the ZIP file you just downloaded.

Copy the Effects and FileTypes folders inside the ZIP file.

Locate the Paint.NET folder in your Program Files and paste the folders you copied inside.

The next time you launch Paint.NET, you’ll notice a new sub-group in the Effects menu called Tools. It contains most of the new features that the plugin pack added.

  • Go to Layers > Add New Layer, or click the Add New Layer button at the bottom left of the Layers palette.
  • You can add editable text directly to the background layer, but adding a new layer for each section of text keeps things more flexible.
  • Go to Effects > Tools > Editable Text and a new Editable Text dialog will open.
  • Click in the empty input box and type anything you want, then select OK.
  • If you want to edit the text later, select the text layer in the layers palette and go to Effects > Tools > Editable Text. The dialog box will open again and you can make whatever changes you like.
  • You may find that the text is no longer editable if you paint on a layer that contains editable text.

How to Reposition Text With the Paint.NET Editable Text Plugin

Paint.NET also provides controls that allow you to position the text on the page and change the angle. Select the Move select pixels tool in the toolbox and drag the text to reposition it.

Go to Layers > Add New Layer, or click the Add New Layer button at the bottom left of the Layers palette.

You can add editable text directly to the background layer, but adding a new layer for each section of text keeps things more flexible.

Go to Effects > Tools > Editable Text and a new Editable Text dialog will open.

Click in the empty input box and type anything you want, then select OK.

If you want to edit the text later, select the text layer in the layers palette and go to Effects > Tools > Editable Text. The dialog box will open again and you can make whatever changes you like.

You may find that the text is no longer editable if you paint on a layer that contains editable text.

You’ll see that the position of the text moves in real time. It’s possible to drag the move icon outside the box and move part or all of the text outside the document. You can also change the angle of the text on the page.

Make sure only the layer containing the editable text is select in the layer palette.

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