Every day we offer FREE licensed software you’d have to buy otherwise.

Paintslate Giveaway
$9.99
EXPIRED

Giveaway of the day — Paintslate

Painting has never been easier!
$9.99 EXPIRED
User rating: 261 28 comments

Paintslate was available as a giveaway on October 31, 2011!

Today Giveaway of the Day
$36.00
free today
Download music from 1000+ sites anytime and anywhere!

Painting has never been easier!

Paintslate offers a wide range of drawing tools from pencil to smudge, together with two colour palette styles to suit all your needs. As well as being able to draw on a white canvas, you can choose from a selection of papers as the background for your drawings and paintings. Try it and you will see all possibilities.

System Requirements:

Windows XP/ Vista/ 7

Publisher:

Bendigo Design

Homepage:

http://www.bendigodesign.net/paintslate/

File Size:

15.2 MB

Price:

$9.99

GIVEAWAY download basket

Developed by CyberLink Corp.
Developed by PhotoInstrument
Create, manage, copy and edit custom images.
Developed by Mirillis Ltd.

Comments on Paintslate

Thank you for voting!
Please add a comment explaining the reason behind your vote.
#28

Though it's a basic paint program on Windows, but i think it'll do good for lots of novices. On Mac, i use another photo collage software from www.mac-videoconverter.com both of them helps me a lot!
Thx GOTD!

Reply   |   Comment by petermac  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#27

Useful, entertaining software even for old people like me.

Reply   |   Comment by Andrew  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#26

Please wait while Windows configures PaintSlate, every time I run it. Win 7 64 bit. Ideas? Thanks.

Reply   |   Comment by Exploro  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#25

yea, It is a good program for kids. The main tools are available in handy for kids to pick them easily. The big icons and the correct usage of iconic representation say, eraser icon for clearing etc., which are almost 50% close to what KG kids would be learning in schools. Tux is also nice alternative and is having more features than this app, but i think Tux is more for the kids above 6 years. The issue mentioned in #6 and #19 looks like they are aware (Look at the dinosaur image shown in Help document carefully). The right combination of colors would eliminate this issue like black & green OR black & yellow OR the colors they used in their home page images. In their home page images if you use some other combination of colors, you would see the same gap as explained in comment #6.

Reply   |   Comment by Chaks  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#24

#10: "I note the comment about GIMP and paint.net. These are not kiddies programs, I don’t seem to recall ever seeing my eight year old brother understanding the concept of transparency..."

Purely FWIW, in my experience you set everything up, & in my case hand the pen/tablet to the young child, then clearing the canvas, changing colors etc. as needed as you work/teach/play with them. If knowing how to use every feature of any app was a requirement for use, my guess is almost no one would/could use a PC. :-)

* * *

#14: "... You can´t delete the setup.msi (Paintslate ask for it evertime you press run)..."

I'm not seeing that at all -- I mention it because you might have a problem with Windows Installer on your system -- that sort of thing is unfortunately common. Something you might want to check when/if you have the time [other apps may also trigger an installation dialog] rather than taking a chance on being surprised when you don't have time to spare.

* * *

#21" "Default directory was C: (not nice) so I changed it to C:\Programs. Then I received a warning about compatibility with Windows 7. I was told the program was installed but it wasn’t. Had to click manually on setup.msi. Once I could actually run the program, clicked on a few items before drawing, but when I went to draw, nothing happened. Tried to open a background, nothing happened. "

The GOTD setup.exe file opens a WinRAR window -- browse to wherever you want the extracted msi file... I use 7-Zip to extract the "Painslate.zip" original download to its own Paintslate folder, then browse to that folder, putting the .msi file there. Now the GOTD setup.exe can be deleted & the folder saved for later installation if/as needed. I think it's cool Bedigo Design was generous enough to give us a regular setup [msi] file.

As far as problems running Paintslate, unfortunately VB apps can have more than the usual amount of problems, because they depend on shared VB support files, & different VB apps can install/use different versions of those supporting files -- it also doesn't help that a lot of VB apps don't install their support files properly [though Paintslate was well behaved in that respect]. You *might* try downloading & installing the VB 6 runtime from Microsoft, then check Microsoft/Windows Update afterwards -- at the least you'd know the basic VB support files were installed properly.

Reply   |   Comment by mike  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#23

Well now. Here comes the devils advocate - LOL. I am an artist and not actually young. Let's say not in the range of 5 - 55. As an artist I try, buy, use, toss out all types of programs. My motto is: "If it can draw, shape, color and manipulate etc. a line, I use it." This would explain the thunderous amount of programs on my PC. I like this program. I see great potential here. Downloaded early this morning. Installed and registered with no problems. Put it in to a directory of my choice and set off to explore. Really like a design that I created. In particular, I like the various mirror effect settings. Know it will take some time to get use to the tools, but that's the part of learning. This will be great in fact to teach the young to explore art. I see this even for the senior citizen crowd. :) Great on the education license. This is better than MS Paint for sure. And, yes, it is not Photoshop,Autodesk 123D, Draftsight, GIMP, Paint.Net, Blender, SketchIt, Pencil, Canvas, Creo-Sketch, Dogwaffle, Inkscape, Photofilter, MyPaint, Alchemy, among others, which I have. This has purpose for me. Its a keeper and I hope to see more on this program. It can only get better over time. Thanks Bendigo Design for a lovely program and GAOTD for bringing it to us. Just an added note here for the parents: Try this program for your kids. You would be surprised the imagination they have and what they come up with. Have a nice day everyone and let the paintbrushes, pencils and crayons roll. :)

Reply   |   Comment by Sharon  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#22

Paintslate is a cute VB [Visual Basic] app for kids of finger painting, scribbling age to use on a tablet or touch screen PC/laptop. Older kids & adults will be happier with most any image editing app, where you have more controls/settings for the brushes, pens etc., not to mention much better response. Mid to high range image editing apps [e.g. Corel to Adobe] let you set several variables to better model a real life brush when you're using a pen & tablet, Corel's Painter apps I think are more popular with hobbyists, focusing almost entirely on mimicking painting with a brush, while Autodesk has pen/tablet apps I think more intended for production art &/or design studios.

Being written in VB, installing Paintslate has a higher impact on Windows -- how much will depend on what VB support files you already have installed, your version of Windows, & possibly the versions of .NET installed [.NET includes some VB support functions]. Paintslate's GOTD setup file opens a WinRAR self-extracting file, which unpacks the actual Windows Installer file [.msi] used for installation. That .msi file includes 7 VB support files to be installed in Windows system folder if they're not there all ready -- while install seems well behaved [not over-writing newer files etc.], if you don't have the VB 6 runtime already installed, after installing Paintslate you might want to check the Microsoft Update site, as those 7 files are not the latest. As a general guide in case it helps, a recorded XP install where just one of those 7 files was added resulted in 8055 new registry entries -- that number will be higher if more than 1 VB support file is added, in win7 & so on... The "Bendigo Design" program folder holds 496 files, 24 folders, ~25 MB, inside your [My] Pictures folder there's a new, empty folder named "Paintslate Gallery", 3 files, 1 folder are added to Windows\ Installer, & you get a new font [Bendigo.otf].

I'd expect to see something like Paintslate on a tablet, whether it was running Android, iOS, or the upcoming win8, & assuming it didn't lag too badly, if I had young kids/grandkids I'd likely fork over the $10 to buy it. Outside of that I can't really see it having a big audience or market, though that's me & I may be very wrong...

Reply   |   Comment by mike  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+13)
#21

To elaborate on my above comment, here is an error message I received:

Object Variable or With Block Variable not set.

Thanks, that explains a lot!

I can break Pain every time:

Start Pain, from opening screen click on icon upper right to open menu. Try to Browse Gallery (icons flash on screen for about a second before vanishing), click new image. Note title is 'untitled.png'. Try to draw. Nothing happens.

I am available as a contract SW tester!

Reply   |   Comment by mike  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#20

I thought I would try this program out just for fun. Not fun at all.
Problems began when I tried to install the program. Default directory was C: (not nice) so I changed it to C:\Programs. Then I received a warning about compatibility with Windows 7. I was told the program was installed but it wasn't. Had to click manually on setup.msi. Once I could actually run the program, clicked on a few items before drawing, but when I went to draw, nothing happened. Tried to open a background, nothing happened.

This program is definitely not ready for prime time, or any time! Yes, I have used several draw/paint programs before. Never had one fail so completely.

Reply   |   Comment by mike  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+11)
#19

Well... 'Basic' wouldn't necessarily be an under/overstatement. And if there were an official body that could look at a company's offerings and set the price that could be charged, I doubt it'd allow bendigo to charge more than $2-$3 (or pounds) without firm promises of free updates... - whether that's for GOTD users or not.

The 'fill' bug identified by chewy (currently No.6) does the same thing if you fill outside your 'closed loop' - but only leaves that outline in (either case) if the edge isn't a dead straight horizontal/vertical. As chewy said, that's a massive bug for ANY paint software - let alone a commercial one.

And the setup faff noted by Rob (N0.3) is, indeed, 'odd'... The only advantage I can see with that method is that at least when the programme's finished installing it won't try to start itself up AND open a webpage to the developer's site AT THE SAME TIME as GOTD open up their 'successfully activated - what next' page! (Not that this particular offering wants to start up and/or open a webpage anyway...)

But it's free software that kids should like (though I'd think most would outgrow it at around 6-8 years old).

And this - http://www.tuxpaint.org/download/windows/ is the link for Tuxpaint mentioned by David (No. 7) - just read carefully so you don't get the open candy-bundled version if you don't want it. Also, note that the optional 'stamps' package is over 3 times the size of the Tuxpaint file itself!

Reply   |   Comment by Lee  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+7)
#18

Aawwww too cute! Baby photoshop.

Children would love this (the stamps).

Pretty good for how basic it is, sometimes quality not acceptable though (lines around shapes etc).

Nevertheless actually fun to use.

I think I'd pay $9.99 to buy it for my children...

(unless he was 20 years old and studying engineering at uni and using matlab which is 'photoshop' for engineers lol).

(Think this big kid is more excited about the stamps than he would be!)

Reply   |   Comment by imontheinternet  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+10)
#17

Nice tool if you want to teach your KIDS how to paint drawings with a PC.

Better free alternatives:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Graphic/Graphic-Editors/Creo-Sketch.shtml

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Graphic/Graphic-Editors/Pixia.shtml


More demanding and/or professional people (i.e DESIGNERS), who are not willing to spend money, may find more useful for this kind of tasks using great freeware programs like Google SketchUp or 3D modelling open source software like GIMP and above all my favourite one ==> BLENDER!!

http://www.blender.org/features-gallery/


HINT: keep it out of reach of KIDS....LOL!

My 2 cents for today's giveaway!!

Reply   |   Comment by Giovanni  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+25)
#16

@10: I think you're underestimating the hunger for learning and the adaptation abilities of children. It's amazing what kids can achieve if they're just given the opportunity. Denying them that opportunity just because you see Photoshop as "too advanced" is unfair at best.

Reply   |   Comment by chrz  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+9)
#15

My hobby is working with stained glass. PaintSlate is perfect for creating the template prior to cutting the glass. Thank you Bendio Design and GAOTD.

Reply   |   Comment by Xanadu  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+9)
#14

Installed on Win7 64-bit OS. You can use it on a very slow PC with ease.

Pros
- Fast, easy paint program for any child, who love to draw a lot.
- Fun effects, limited to most known brushes (too many will never be used by your child)

Cons
- Delayed install with possible phone home option. It could be the hated Norton that make a too good research on the programs.
- You can´t delete the setup.msi (Paintslate ask for it evertime you press run)

Conclusion
You get a fast, easy, fun and usefull paint program with basic effects ! Is the program worth those $10 ? Yes, you get a lot when you look with a the eyes of a child, so the money is well used !

Reply   |   Comment by Trucker  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+9)
#13

There are no comments as I type this, so some will be awaiting moderation - But if anyone wants to know how to exit the program and the other commands, they are accessed by clicking on the "Painslate" logo on the top right corner.

Reply   |   Comment by TeeK  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)
#12

Looks like the software has great potential by filling a void. Most users only occasionally need a lite paint program and this one could do the job except that, based on the reviews so far, there are a few too many bugs for prime time use. This looks like one time where the developer would want to give GAOTD users free updates to help work out the bugs. I will pass until the developer does some clean-up...

Reply   |   Comment by software guy  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#11

Its useable but good to know that you can use it as a JPG to PDF converter too.

Personally I prefer offerings with more than one use.

Thanks GAOTD.

Reply   |   Comment by rizla01  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)
#10

I note the comment about GIMP and paint.net. These are not kiddies programs, I don't seem to recall ever seeing my eight year old brother understanding the concept of transparency useage in Paint.net or adding affects to text in GIMP - or using it to create basic animated images. It's worth a shot for kids if it's easier for them to understand how to use a paint program, or just to be creative at a simpler level - even if it isn't Paint.net or GIMP. I mean, next you'll be wanting to give them design courses in photoshop - yeah that'll work :/
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.

Reply   |   Comment by Marcus  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+32)
#9

Works for me On Win Xp Sp2 ... Easy to use and contain alot of beauty shapes :)

Reply   |   Comment by Ramy  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-20)
#8

The program is buggy. It needed to be beta tested before full release. Using mirror &/or magnets on the airbrush causes it to revert to the paintbrush behavior & causes the smudge tool (glove) to lock up. The background tool causes the program to lock up. If you save an image & start a new image & save it, it actually saves it as the previous image, not a new one. There are more bugs, but you get the general idea. Without a major overhaul it isn't even worth the $10 price tag.

Reply   |   Comment by Joe  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+48)
#7

If your looking for a good kids art package TuxPaint is Freeware and has far more features than this!

Reply   |   Comment by David  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+36)
#6

If you draw some sort of closed loop and use the paint can to fill in, it leaves a dotted line unfilled (same as background) around the filled in area. That seems like a pretty huge error for sw that's on the market.

The menuing is a bit cheezy, no File, Edit, View, etc. You have to click on a picture to get the menu. And pressing ALT doesn't bring up a menu, like in most apps.

You can, via the options menu, get a color pallette, to easily select from thousands of colours.

Reply   |   Comment by Chewy  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+24)
#5

paint.net & The Gimp does the same and is $9.99 cheaper.

Reply   |   Comment by kkgarbod  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-38)
#4

Ok, this is a basic paint program, not as basic as MS paint, but it's not Photoshop either. However they do give free licences to schools and educational institutions. IT has some neat features like Electronic White Board support, kaleidoscope drawing. As a free download for kids especially I would recommend at least having a look at it, what's the worst you have to do? Uninstall it?

Reply   |   Comment by Lloydy  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+41)
#3

The install is hilarious

1. Download compressed file to folder of choice "Painslate" and decompress installation folder "Painslate" ( Maybe they spelled it that way for holloween - :) )
2. Launch install file in Painslate folder.
3. A setup file "C:/Setup.msi" is now in your root directory on C (unless you changed it)
4.Launch Setup file.

Download/Install was definitely wonky and old school, but then everything went fine.
Running Windows 7 x64 - tested all the tools - the spray paint and the rotate (picture)stamp tools work, but they are a bit awkward.

You may need to play with other buttons to get the spray working -

the rotate stamp is not the rotate icon on the top row - they mixed them up - read the tags when you mouse over, then when you select rotate, you'll need to select the stamp or paint stamp again for the rotate to happen.

The File/Tools/Save/Exit options are in the Paintslate Icon in the upper right.

I loved the multiple undo/redo - big thumbs up for that. Even when my son was 6 he was able to effectively manipulate multiple undos in art programs.

Print or Save as PDF! Great feature for schools. Let kids create and conveniently save as .png, .gif, .jpg, and even .pdf !!!
The multiple save file type option is great for schools - they can save in a format for their needs.

My kid is going to love this program - it's simple but has all the basic tools. Wish it had more Templates and picture Stamps.

Overall I'd say a keeper if you want a simple paint program for your kids.

Thanks GAOTD

Reply   |   Comment by Rob  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+65)
#2

Better than MS paint, worse than photoshop as a drawing tool and best of all Free! :-)

Reply   |   Comment by E. Dao  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-40)
#1

I have to try this program. From their webpage "Bilingual:

Paintslate has both US & UK English built into it so it will switch automatically to the host Pc's language."

I can speak and read both US and UK English already, so this program is for me!

Seriously though,I think my kids will have fun with this so I have to try it out.

Reply   |   Comment by Daniel  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-49)
Add a comment

iPhone app giveaways »

Tilterpillar Giveaway
Play this classic game of "snake" by tilting your device as a controller.
$1.99 ➞ free today
C.H.A.D. Giveaway
A collection of animated stickers about the pool season.
$0.99 ➞ free today
App Secret Giveaway
App Secret offers you a new way to protect your data and keep all the important information untouched.
$1.99 ➞ free today
Modern Ludo Giveaway
Use your bullet to destroy all enemies!
$4.99 ➞ free today
Calendar Widget - Date Widgets Giveaway
Calendar Widget is the app you need for customising your home screen with beautiful calendar.
$0.99 ➞ free today

Android app giveaways »

Demon Hunter: Premium Giveaway
The must try game for any real hack and slash fan who already got bored with just mindlessly smashing buttons.
$0.99 ➞ free today
BodyQuest: Anatomy for kids Giveaway
Learn the basics of human anatomy.
$3.99 ➞ free today
Slime Legends - Survivor Giveaway
You are a slime survivor preparing to step on the path to becoming a monster slayer.
$0.19 ➞ free today
Heat Pump Calculator Giveaway
Installing heat pumps to meet your heating and cooling needs is becoming increasingly popular.
$1.49 ➞ free today
52 Card - Learn & Practice Card Counting Giveaway
52 card lets you learn to count cards in the simplest and easiest way possible.
$1.49 ➞ free today