Microsoft Paint Dead? Development On Long-Running Program Halted

REDMOND, WA — Microsoft Inc. on Monday announced that the long-running Paint program would be "deprecated" from future updates of Windows. Paint debuted in 1985 and served as a forerunner to snazzier products like Adobe's Photoshop and Illustrator.

Although its features aren't as robust as expensive, modern computer design programs, it serves as a handy photo editor for Windows users — as anyone who frequently uses the "PrtScr" screen key can attest. Since the 1980s, Paint has served as a medium for meme-makers, doodlers and working artists.

The tool was originally introduced with Windows 1.0 in 1985 with only black, gray and white available. Paint got color with Windows 3.0, but the tool didn't get a real boost until the release of Windows 95, when users were given the ability to save in more formats.

Although many outlets reported that Paint would be killed off completely, Microsoft is only saying that Paint is "not in active development and might be removed in future releases." The company could reverse that decision, as well.

Still, many on the internet — especially those who grew up using Paint on AOL-era PCs — were outraged at the potential loss of the iconic program.