How to Access the Hidden Mac Paint Features in OS X Yosemite

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Posted December 6, 2014 at 6:06pm by iClarified

These are instructions on how to access the somewhat hidden Mac paint features in OS X Yosemite. The features are part of the Preview application.

Step One
Open an image in Preview. Typically, you can do this by double clicking an image file. If you have another app set as the default for opening images, you can launch Preview directly from the Applications folder.

How to Access the Hidden Mac Paint Features in OS X Yosemite

Step Two
Click the Toolbox button at the right side of the toolbar.

Step Three
You will be presented with a new toolbar of paint tools.

There are tools that let you create rectangular, elliptical, lasso, and smart lasso masks.

An Instant Alpha tool makes it possible to erase the background.

You can sketch, add arrows, loupes, text, signatures, and more.

You can also adjust the size and scaling of your image.

There's also the ability to adjust colors and levels.

The features are basic but definitely handy for a quick fix.

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gamerscul9870 - December 8, 2014 at 12:13pm

More like yosemiteorge Washington.

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Itasara - December 8, 2014 at 6:23am

Now this is a nice feature. The signature tool however needs to be fixed. I cannot start on the left side of the link. starts in the middle closer to the right. When I tried to leave the writing area I was stuck. couldn't get my cursur to leave and had to force quite preview. This needs a fix PLEASE

iAmMe - December 8, 2014 at 4:20am

I think it's there for annotations or at least that's what I've been using that for...

gamerscul9870 - December 6, 2014 at 9:16pm

Is this supposed to be like ms paint (I know it's a stupid question but judging that it's hidden).

AppleGuy299 - December 7, 2014 at 12:38pm

It's not hidden.

gamerscul9870 - December 7, 2014 at 5:35pm

I'm not saying it is, just mentioned it because the title of the topic did.

Gadgetrevue - December 6, 2014 at 7:09pm

Please don't make the Yosemite logo the photo for the article. I keep in trying to touch it to close back to the listing screen.

datumax - December 6, 2014 at 6:49pm

^ Columbus

AppleGuy299 - December 6, 2014 at 6:42pm

Um, these aren't new. They have been at least since mountain lion, when I found out about them.

Davids - December 6, 2014 at 7:42pm

yes and no. there are extra features added in yosemite like signatures. But you are right, the examples used in this article are mainly the same

Kvazkez - December 6, 2014 at 10:36pm

Sorry but signatures are on OSX before Yosemite, I use it from mountain lion.