How to Import a Color Palette Into Paint.NET

Add more colors to Paint.NET for Windows

Painter's pallete superimposed upon a laptop

 pagadesign / E+ / Getty Images

by Ian Pullen
Experienced graphic designer and web developer with a strong interest in free and open-source graphics software.
Updated August 31, 2019

While graphics programs like GIMP and Inkscape offer multiple ways to import new color palettes, Paint.NET is more limited. That said, there is a workaround that allows you to use custom color palettes in Paint.NET.

Instructions in this article apply to version 4.2 of the Paint.NET image editing software for Windows, not to be confused with the website of the same name.

How to Import a Custom Color Scheme Into Paint.NET

The first step is to produce your own color palette, or find one created by someone else. You can use any application for this purpose. In this example, we'll use a web application called Coolors.co:

  1. Create a custom palette in your web browser, then select Export in the upper-right corner of Coolors.co.

    Create a custom palette in your web browser, then select Export in the upper-right corner of Coolors.co.

  2. Select PNG to open the palette in a new window.

    Select PNG to open the palette in a new window.

  3. Take a screenshot of the palette.

    In Windows 10, press the Window Key + PrtSc to save screenshots.

    Take a screenshot of the palette.

  4. Open Paint.NET and select Layers > Import From File.

    Open Paint.NET and select Layers > Import From File.

  5. Select the screenshot of your custom palette.

    If you get a warning about the pasted image being larger than the canvas size, select Keep canvas size.

    Select the screenshot of your custom palette.

  6. Select Tool > Rectangle Select, then draw a box around the edges of the palette.

    Select Tools > Rectangle Select.

  7. Select Edit > Invert Selection.

    Select Edit > Invert Selection.

  8. Select Edit > Erase Selection.

    Select Edit > Erase Selection.

  9. Go to Tool > Color Picker to choose your color of choice and use it to color objects on other layers.

You can hide the layer by selecting the checkbox beside its name in the layer's window. Try to keep the colors palette as the uppermost layer.

Go to Tool > Color Picker to choose your color of choice. and use it to color objects on other layers.