VIPaint

VIPaint has made a noteworthy splash in the Photo & Graphics category, specifically under Viewers & Editors. Developed by Valeri Vlassov, the program is currently in its latest version 1.2. It offers a versatile toolkit for creating drawings from photos and pictures, which is perfect for artistic endeavors.

The program supports an array of photo file formats including jpg, bmp, gif, tif, png, wmf, emf, cur, ico. Once a user opens a picture file (using the File/Open menu option), all photos in the selected directory are showcased as a mosaic, providing a convenient overview. This ease of use is further complemented by keyboard shortcuts like ‘+’ to increase photo size and ‘-’ to reduce it.

Key features include the ability to apply various drawing arts—pen, pencil, water color, etc.—by clicking on the "Show Paint Dialog" button or navigating through the View/Paint menu. This flexibility allows users to bring their creative visions to life. Finished drawings can be printed or saved in multiple formats like bmp, jpg, tif, gif, png.

VIPaint can run on a broad range of operating systems, from Windows XP to the latest Windows 11. Other versions of the program like 1.0 are also available. Users can open multiple mosaics or pictures in separate windows simultaneously, adding to its multitasking capabilities.

The program is packaged in executables named mspaint.exe or VIPaint.exe. Despite its rich features, VIPaint is classified under the Shareware license, which means it requires a purchase after trying out the demo version.

Pros:

1. Versatile drawing tools for photo editing.
2. Supports a wide range of photo file formats.
3. Easy-to-use interface with useful keyboard shortcuts.
4. Capability to open multiple mosaics and pictures simultaneously.

Cons:

1. Limited to the Windows OS platform.
2. Being shareware, it's not free after the demo period.

VIPaint stands out for its ease of use and multitasking capabilities, making it a solid choice for anyone looking to enhance their photos creatively. The seamless integration of photo mosaic viewing is an added benefit, and with the ability to download the trial version, users have the chance to explore its vast features before committing to a purchase.

You may want to check out more software, such as Simple Slide Show, Flash MX or Batch JPEG Rotator, which might be related to VIPaint.