#
version 0.9.27

### A simple drawing program for children

Copyright © 2002-2021 by various contributors; see AUTHORS.
http://www.tuxpaint.org/
@TuxPaintTweets on Twitter

November 25, 2021

Table of Contents

- About Tux Paint
- Using Tux Paint
  - Launching Tux Paint
  - Title Screen
  - Main Screen
  - Available Tools
    - Drawing Tools
    - Other Controls
- Loading Other Pictures into Tux Paint
- Further Reading
- How to Get Help
- How to Participate

# About Tux Paint

> ## What Is "Tux Paint"?

> > Tux Paint is a free drawing program designed for young children (kids ages 3 and up). It has a simple, easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who helps guide children as they use the program. It provides a blank canvas and a variety of drawing tools to help your child be creative.

> ## License:

> > Tux Paint is an Open Source project, Free Software released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). It is free, and the 'source code' behind the program is available. (This allows others to add features, fix bugs, and use parts of the program in their own GPL'd software.)

> > See COPYING.txt for the full text of the GPL license.

> ## Objectives:

> > Easy and Fun
> >   Tux Paint is meant to be a simple drawing program for young children. It is not meant as a general-purpose drawing tool. It is meant to be fun and easy to use. Sound effects and a cartoon character help let the user know what's going on, and keeps them entertained. There are also extra-large cartoon-style mouse pointer shapes.
> > Extensibility
> >   Tux Paint is extensible. Brushes and 'rubber stamp' shapes can be dropped in and pulled out. For example, a teacher can drop in a collection of animal shapes and ask their students to draw an ecosystem. Each shape can have a sound which is played, and textual facts which are displayed, when the child selects the shape.
> > Portability
> >   Tux Paint is portable among various computer platforms: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, etc. The interface looks the same among them all. Tux Paint runs suitably well on older systems, and can be built to run better on slow systems.
> > Simplicity
> >   There is no direct access to the computer's underlying intricacies. The current image is kept when the program quits, and reappears when it is restarted. Saving images requires no need to create filenames or use the keyboard. Opening an image is done by selecting it from a collection of thumbnails. Access to other files on the computer is restricted.

# Using Tux Paint

> ## Launching Tux Paint

> > ### Linux/Unix Users

> > > Tux Paint should have placed a laucher icon in your KDE and/or GNOME menus, under 'Graphics.'

> > > Alternatively, you can run the following command at a shell prompt (e.g., "`$`"):

> > > > `$ tuxpaint`

> > > If any errors occur, they will be displayed on the terminal (to `STDERR`).

> > ### Windows Users

> > > Tux Paint

> > > If you installed Tux Paint on your computer using the 'Tux Paint Installer,' it will have asked you whether you wanted a 'Start' menu short-cut, and/or a desktop shortcut. If you agreed, you can simply run Tux Paint from the 'Tux Paint' section of your 'Start' menu (e.g., under 'All Programs'), or by double-clicking the 'Tux Paint' icon on your desktop, if you had the installer place one there.

> > > If you're using the 'portable' (ZIP-file) version of Tux Paint, or if you used the 'Tux Paint Installer,' but chose not to have shortcuts installed, you'll need to double-click the "`tuxpaint.exe`" icon in the "`Tux Paint`" folder on your computer.

> > > By default, the 'Tux Paint Installer' will put Tux Paint's folder in "`C:\Program Files\`", though you may have changed this when you ran the installer.

> > > If you used the 'ZIP-file' download, Tux Paint's folder will be wherever you extracted the contents of the ZIP file.

> > ### macOS Users

> > > Simply double-click the "`Tux Paint`" icon.

> ## Title Screen

> > When Tux Paint first loads, a title/credits screen will appear.

> > Once loading is complete, press a key or click or tap in the Tux Paint window to continue. (Or, after about 5 seconds, the title screen will go away automatically.)

> ## Main Screen

> > The main screen is divided into the following sections:
> > Left Side: Toolbar

> >   The toolbar contains the drawing and editing controls.

> > Middle: Drawing Canvas

> >   The largest part of the screen, in the center, is the drawing canvas. This is, obviously, where you draw!

> >   Note: The size of the drawing canvas depends on the size of Tux Paint. You can change the size of Tux Paint using the Tux Paint Config. configuration tool, or by other means. See the Options documentation for more details.

> > Right Side: Selector

> >   Depending on the current tool, the selector shows different things. e.g., when the Paint Brush or Line tool is selected, it shows the various brushes available. When the Rubber Stamp tool is selected, it shows the different shapes you can use. When the Text or Label tool is selected, it shows various fonts.

> > Lower: Colors

> >   A palette of available colors are shown near the bottom of the screen.

> >   On the far right are two special color options, the "color picker", which has an outline of an eye-dropper, and allows you to pick a color found within your drawing, and the rainbow palette, which allows you to pick a color from within a box containing thousands of colors.

> >   (Note: You can define your own colors for Tux Paint. See the "Options" documentation.)

> > Bottom: Help Area

> >   At the very bottom of the screen, Tux, the Linux Penguin, provides tips and other information while you use Tux Paint.

> ## Available Tools

> > ### Drawing Tools

> > > "Paint" Tool (Brush)

> > >   The Paint Brush tool lets you draw freehand, using various brushes (chosen in the Selector on the right) and colors (chosen in the Color palette towards the bottom).

> > >   If you hold the mouse button down, and move the mouse, it will draw as you move.

> > >   Some brushes are animated — they change their shape as you draw them. A good example of this is the vines brush that ships with Tux Paint. These brushes will have a small "filmstrip" icon drawn on their Selector buttons.

> > >   Other brushes are directional — they will draw a different shape depending on what direction you are painting with them. An example of this is the arrow brush that ships with Tux Paint. These brushes have a small 8-way arrow icon drawn on their Selector buttons.

> > >   Finally, some brushes can be both direction and animated. Examples of this are the cat and squirrel brushes that ship with Tux Paint. These brushes will have both the "filmstrip" and 8-way arrow icons.

> > >   As you draw, a sound is played. The bigger the brush, the lower the pitch.

> > > "Stamp" Tool (Rubber Stamps)

> > >   The Stamp tool is like a set of rubber stamps or stickers. It lets you paste pre-drawn or photographic images (like a picture of a horse, or a tree, or the moon) in your picture.

> > >   As you move the mouse around the canvas, an outline follows the mouse, showing where the stamp will be placed, and how big it will be. Click to place the stamp.

> > >   There can be numerous categories of stamps (e.g., animals, plants, outer space, vehicles, people, etc.). Use the Left and Right arrows near the bottom of the Selector to cycle through the collections.

> > >   Prior to 'stamping' an image onto your drawing, various effects can sometimes be applied (depending on the stamp):

> > >   - Some stamps can be colored or tinted. If the color palette below the canvas is activated, you can click the colors to change the tint or color of the stamp before placing it in the picture.
> > >   - Stamps can be shrunk and expanded, by clicking within the triangular-shaped series of bars at the bottom right; the larger the bar, the larger the stamp will appear in your picture.
> > >   - Many stamps may be flipped vertically, or displayed as a mirror-image, using the control buttons at the bottom right.

> > >   Different stamps can have different sound effects and/or descriptive (spoken) sounds. Buttons in the Help Area at the lower left (near Tux, the Linux penguin) allow you to re-play the sound effects and descriptive sounds for the currently-selected stamp.

> > >   (Note: If the "`nostampcontrols`" option is set, Tux Paint won't display the Mirror, Flip, Shrink and Grow controls for stamps. See the "Options" documentation.)

> > > "Lines" Tool

> > >   This tool lets you draw straight lines using the various brushes and colors you normally use with the Paint Brush.

> > >   Click the mouse and hold it to choose the starting point of the line. As you move the mouse around, a thin 'rubber-band' line will show where the line will be drawn. At the bottom, you'll see the angle of your line, in degrees. A line going straight to the right is 0°, a line going straight up is 90°, a line going straight left is 180°, a line going straight down is 270°, and so on.

> > >   Let go of the mouse to complete the line. A "sproing!" sound will play.

> > >   Some brushes are animated, and will show a pattern of shapes along the line. Others are directional, and will show a different shape depending on the angle of the brush. And finally some are both animated and directional. See "Paint", above, to learn more.

> > > "Shapes" Tool

> > >   This tool lets you draw some simple filled, and un-filled shapes.

> > >   Select a shape from the selector on the right (circle, square, oval, etc.).

> > >   Use the options at the bottom right to choose the shape tool's behavior:

> > >   Shapes from center
> > >     The shape will expand from where you initially clicked, and will be centered around that position. (This was Tux Paint's only behavior through version 0.9.24.)
> > >   Shapes from corner
> > >     The shape will extend with one corner starting from where you initially clicked. This is the default method of most other traditional drawing software. (This option was added starting with Tux Paint version 0.9.25.)

> > >   Note: If shape controls are disabled (e.g., with the "`noshapecontrols`" option), the controls will not be presented, and the "shapes from center" method will be used.

> > >   In the canvas, click the mouse and hold it to stretch the shape out from where you clicked. Some shapes can change proportion (e.g., rectangle and oval may be wider than tall, or taller than wide), others cannot (e.g., square and circle).

> > >   Let go of the mouse when you're done stretching.

> > >   Normal Shapes Mode

> > >     Now you can move the mouse around the canvas to rotate the shape. The angle your shape is rotated will be shown at the bottom, in degrees (similar to the "Lines" tool, described above).

> > >     Click the mouse button again and the shape will be drawn in the current color.

> > >   Simple Shapes Mode
> > >     If simple shapes are enabled (e.g., with the "`simpleshapes`" option), the shape will be drawn on the canvas when you let go of the mouse button. (There's no rotation step.)

> > > "Text" and "Label" Tools

> > >   Choose a font (from the 'Letters' available on the right) and a color (from the color palette near the bottom). Click on the screen and a cursor will appear. Type text and it will show up on the screen.

> > >   Press `[Enter]` or `[Return]` and the text will be drawn onto the picture and the cursor will move down one line.

> > >   Alternatively, press `[Tab]` and the text will be drawn onto the picture, but the cursor will move to the right of the text, rather than down a line, and to the left. (This can be useful to create a line of text with mixed colors, fonts, styles and sizes.)

> > >   Clicking elsewhere in the picture while the text entry is still active causes the current line of text to move to that location (where you can continue editing it).

> > >   "Text" versus "Label"

> > >     The Text tool is the original text-entry tool in Tux Paint. Text entered using this tool can't be modified or moved later, since it becomes part of the drawing. However, because the text becomes part of the picture, it can be drawn over or modified using Magic tool effects (e.g., smudged, tinted, embossed, etc.)

> > >     When using the Label tool (which was added to Tux Paint in version 0.9.22), the text 'floats' over the image, and the details of the label (the text, the position of the label, the font choice and the color) get stored separately. This allows the label to be repositioned or edited later.

> > >     The Label tool can be disabled (e.g., by selecting "Disable 'Label' Tool" in Tux Paint Config. or running Tux Paint with the "`nolabel`" option).

> > >   International Character Input

> > >     Tux Paint allows inputting characters in different languages. Most Latin characters (A-Z, ñ, è, etc.) can by entered directly. Some languages require that Tux Paint be switched into an alternate input mode before entering, and some characters must be composed using numerous keypresses.

> > >     When Tux Paint's locale is set to one of the languages that provide alternate input modes, a key is used to cycle through normal (Latin character) and locale-specific mode or modes.

> > >     Currently supported locales, the input methods available, and the key to toggle or cycle modes, are listed below. Note: Many fonts do not include all characters for all languages, so sometimes you'll need to change fonts to see the characters you're trying to type.

> > >     - Japanese — Romanized Hiragana and Romanized Katakana — right `[Alt]` key
> > >     - Korean — Hangul 2-Bul — right `[Alt]` key or left `[Alt]` key
> > >     - Traditional Chinese — right `[Alt]` key or left `[Alt]` key
> > >     - Thai — right `[Alt]` key
> > >   On-screen Keyboard

> > >     An optional on-screen keyboard is available for the Text and Label tools, which can provide a variety of layouts and character composition (e.g., composing "a" and "e" into "æ"). See the "Options" and "Extending Tux Paint" documentation for more information.

> > > "Fill" Tool

> > >   The 'Fill' tool 'flood-fills' a contiguous area of your drawing with a color of your choice. Three fill options are offered:

> > >   - Solid — click once to fill an area with a solid color.
> > >   - Brush — click and drag to fill an area with a solid color using freehand painting.
> > >   - Linear — click and then drag to fill the area with color that fades away (a gradient) towards where you drag the mouse.
> > >   - Radial — click once to fill an area with a color that fades away (a gradient) radially, centered on where you clicked.

> > >   Note: Prior to Tux Paint 0.9.24, this was a Magic tool (see below). Note: Prior to Tux Paint 0.9.26, this tool only offered the 'Solid' method of filling.

> > > "Magic" Tool (Special Effects)

> > >   The Magic tool is actually a set of special tools. Select one of the 'magic' effects from the selector on the right. Then, depending on the tool, you can either click and drag around the picture, and/or simply click the picture once, to apply the effect.

> > >   If the tool can be used by clicking and dragging, a 'painting' button will be available on the left, below the list of Magic tools on the right side of the screen. If the tool can affect the entire picture at once, an 'entire picture' button will be available on the right.

> > >   See the instructions for each Magic tool (in the 'magic-docs' folder).

> > > "Eraser" Tool

> > >   This tool is similar to the Paint Brush. Wherever you click (or click and drag), the picture will be erased. (This may be white, some other color, or to a background picture, depending on the picture.)

> > >   A number of eraser sizes are available, both round and square.

> > >   As you move the mouse around, a square outline follows the pointer, showing what part of the picture will be erased to white.

> > >   As you erase, a 'squeaky clean' eraser wiping sound is played.

> > ### Other Controls

> > > "Undo" Command

> > >   Clicking this tool will undo the last drawing action. You can even undo more than once!

> > >   Note: You can also press `[Control]` + `[Z]` on the keyboard to Undo.

> > > "Redo" Command

> > >   Clicking this tool will redo the drawing action you just un-did with the 'Undo' button.

> > >   As long as you don't draw again, you can redo as many times as you had undone!

> > >   Note: You can also press `[Control]` + `[R]` on the keyboard to Redo.

> > > "New" Command

> > >   Clicking the 'New' button will start a new drawing. A dialog will appear where you may choose to start a new picture using a solid background color, or using a 'Starter' or 'Template' image (see below). You will first be asked whether you really want to do this.

> > >   Note: You can also press `[Control]` + `[N]` on the keyboard to start a new drawing.

> > >   'Starter' & Template Images

> > >   > 'Starters' can behave like a page from a coloring book — a black-and-white outline of a picture, which you can then color in, and the black outline remains intact — or like a 3D photograph, where you draw in between a foreground and background layer.

> > >   > 'Templates' are similar, but simply provide a background drawing to work off of. Unlike 'Starters', there is no layer that remains in the foreground of anything you draw in the picture.

> > >   > When using the 'Eraser' tool, the original image from the 'Starter' or 'Template' will reappear. The 'Flip' and 'Mirror' Magic tools affect the orientation of the 'Starter' or 'Template', as well.

> > >   > When you load a 'Starter' or 'Template', draw on it, and then click 'Save,' it creates a new picture file — it doesn't overwrite the original, so you can use it again later (by accessing it from the 'New' dialog).

> > > "Open" Command

> > >   This shows you a list of all of the pictures you've saved. If there are more than can fit on the screen, use the up and down arrows at the top and bottom of the list to scroll through the list of pictures.

> > >   Click a picture to select it, and then...

> > >   > - Click the green 'Open' button at the lower left of the list to load the selected picture.

> > >   >   (Alternatively, you can double-click a picture's icon to load it.)

> > >   > - Click the brown 'Erase' (trash can) button at the lower right of the list to erase the selected picture. (You will be asked to confirm.)

> > >   >   Note: On Linux (as of version 0.9.22) and Windows (as of version 0.9.27), the picture will be placed in your desktop's trash can / recycle bin (where you may recover and restore it, if you change your mind).

> > >   > - Click the 'Export' button near the lower right to export the image to your export folder. (e.g., "`~/Pictures/TuxPaint/`")

> > >   > - Click the blue 'Slides' (slide projector) button at the lower left to go to slideshow mode. See "Slides", below, for details.

> > >   > - Click the red 'Back' arrow button at the lower right of the list to cancel and return to the picture you were drawing.

> > >   If choose to open a picture, and your current drawing hasn't been saved, you will be prompted as to whether you want to save it or not. (See "Save," below.)

> > >   Note: You can also press `[Control]` + `[O]` on the keyboard to bring up the 'Open' dialog.

> > > "Save" Command

> > >   This saves your current picture.

> > >   If you haven't saved it before, it will create a new entry in the list of saved images. (i.e., it will create a new file)

> > >   Note: It won't ask you anything (e.g., for a filename). It will simply save the picture, and play a "camera shutter" sound effect.

> > >   If you have saved the picture before, or this is a picture you just loaded using the "Open" command, you will first be asked whether you want to save over the old version, or create a new entry (a new file).

> > >   Note: If either the "`saveover`" or "`saveovernew`" options are set, it won't ask before saving over. See the "Options" documentation.

> > >   Note: You can also press `[Control]` + `[S]` on the keyboard to save.

> > > "Print" Command

> > >   Click this button and your picture will be printed!

> > >   On most platforms, you can also hold the `[Alt]` key (called `[Option]` on Macs) while clicking the 'Print' button to get a printer dialog. Note that this may not work if you're running Tux Paint in fullscreen mode. See below.

> > >   Disabling Printing

> > >     The "`noprint`" option can be set, which will disable Tux Paint's 'Print' button.

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.

> > >   Restricting Printing

> > >     The "`printdelay`" option can be set, which will only allow occasional printing — once every so many seconds, as configured by you.

> > >     For example, with "`printdelay=60`" in Tux Paint's configuration file, printing can only occur once per minute (60 seconds).

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.

> > >   Printing Commands

> > >     (Linux and Unix only)

> > >     Tux Paint prints by generating a PostScript representation of the drawing and sending it to an external program. By default, the program is:

> > >     > `lpr`

> > >     This command can be changed by setting a "`printcommand`" option in Tux Paint's configuration file.

> > >     An alternative print command can be invoked by holding the "`[Alt]`" key on the keyboard while clicking clicking the 'Print' button, as long as you're not in fullscreen mode, an alternative program is run. By default, the program is KDE's graphical print dialog:

> > >     > `kprinter`

> > >     This command can be changed by setting a "`altprintcommand`" option in Tux Paint's configuration file.

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.

> > >   Printer Settings

> > >     (Windows and macOS)

> > >     By default, Tux Paint simply prints to the default printer with default settings when the 'Print' button is pushed.

> > >     However, if you hold the `[Alt]` (or `[Option]`) key on the keyboard while clicking the 'Print' button, as long as you're not in fullscreen mode, your operating system's printer dialog will appear, where you can change the settings.

> > >     You can have the printer configuration changes stored between Tux Paint sessions by setting the "`printcfg`" option.

> > >     If the "`printcfg`" option is used, printer settings will be loaded from the file "`printcfg.cfg`" in your personal folder (see below). Any changes will be saved there as well.

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.

> > >   Printer Dialog Options

> > >     By default, Tux Paint only shows the printer dialog (or, on Linux/Unix, runs the "`altprintcommand`"; e.g., "`kprinter`" instead of "`lpr`") if the `[Alt]` (or `[Option]`) key is held while clicking the 'Print' button.

> > >     However, this behavior can be changed. You can have the printer dialog always appear by using "`--altprintalways`" on the command-line, or "`altprint=always`" in Tux Paint's configuration file. Conversely, you can prevent the `[Alt]`/`[Option]` key from having any effect by using "`--altprintnever`", or "`altprint=never`".

> > >     See the "Options" documentation.

> > > "Slides" Command (under "Open")

> > >   The 'Slides' button is available in the 'Open' dialog. It can be used to play a simple animation within Tux Paint, or a slideshow of pictures. It can also export an animated GIF based on the chosen images.

> > >   Chosing pictures

> > >     When you enter the 'Slides' section of Tux Paint, it displays a list of your saved files, just like the 'Open' dialog.

> > >     Click each of the images you wish to display in a slideshow-style presentation, one by one. A digit will appear over each image, letting you know in which order they will be displayed.

> > >     You can click a selected image to unselect it (take it out of your slideshow). Click it again if you wish to add it to the end of the list.

> > >   Set playback speed

> > >     A sliding scale at the lower left of the screen (next to the 'Play' button) can be used to adjust the speed of the slideshow or animated GIF, from slowest to fastest. Choose the leftmost setting to disable automatic advancement during playback within Tux Paint — you will need to press a key or click to go to the next slide (see below).

> > >     Note: The slowest setting does not automatically advance through the slides. Use it for when you want to step through them manually. (This does not apply to an exported animated GIF.)

> > >   Playback in Tux Paint

> > >     To play a slideshow within Tux Paint, click the 'Play' button. (Note: If you hadn't selected ANY images, then ALL of your saved images will be played in the slideshow!)

> > >     During the slideshow, press `[Space]`, `[Enter]` or `[Return]`, or the `[Right arrow]` — or click the 'Next' button at the lower left — to manually advance to the next slide. Press `[Left arrow]` to go back to the previous slide.

> > >     Press `[Escape]`, or click the 'Back' button at the lower right, to exit the slideshow and return to the slideshow image selection screen.

> > >   Exporting an animated GIF

> > >     Click the 'GIF Export' button near the lower right to have Tux Paint generate an animated GIF file based on the selected images.

> > >     Note: At least two images must be selected. (To export a single image, use the 'Export' option from the main 'Open' dialog.) If no images are selected, Tux Paint will NOT attempt to generate a GIF based on all saved images.

> > >     Pressing `[Escape]` during the export process will abort the process, and return you to the 'Slideshow' dialog.

> > >   Click 'Back' in the slideshow image selection screen to return to the 'Open' dialog.

> > > "Quit" Command

> > >   Clicking the 'Quit' button, closing the Tux Paint window, or pushing the `[Escape]` key will quit Tux Paint.

> > >   You will first be prompted as to whether you really want to quit.

> > >   If you choose to quit, and you haven't saved the current picture, you will first be asked if wish to save it. If it's not a new image, you will then be asked if you want to save over the old version, or create a new entry. (See "Save" above.)

> > >   Note: If the image is saved, it will be reloaded automatically the next time you run Tux Paint -- unless the "`startblank`" option is set.

> > >   Note: The 'Quit' button within Tux Paint, and quitting via the `[Escape]` key, may be disabled, via the "`noquit`" option.

> > >   In that case, the "window close" button on Tux Paint's title bar (if not in fullscreen mode) or the `[Alt]` + `[F4]` key sequence may be used to quit.

> > >   If neither of those are possible, the key sequence of `[Shift]` + `[Control]` + `[Escape]` may be used to quit.

> > >   See the "Options" documentation.

> > > Sound Muting

> > >   There is no on-screen control button at this time, but by using the `[Alt]` + `[S]` keyboard sequence, sound effects can be disabled and re-enabled (muted and unmuted) while the program is running.

> > >   Note that if sounds are completely disabled via the "`nosound`" option, the `[Alt]` + `[S]` key combination has no effect. (i.e., it cannot be used to turn on sounds when the parent/teacher wants them disabled.)

# Loading Other Pictures into Tux Paint

> Tux Paint's 'Open' dialog only displays pictures you created with Tux Paint. So what do you do if you want to load some other drawinng or even a photograph into Tux Paint, so you can edit or draw on it?

> You can simply convert the picture to the format Tux Paint uses — PNG (Portable Network Graphic) — and place it in Tux Paint's "`saved`" directory/folder. Here is where to find it (by default):

> Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista
>   Inside the user's "`AppData`" folder, e.g.: "`C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\TuxPaint\saved\`".
> Windows 2000, XP
>   Inside the user's "`Application Data`" folder, e.g.: "`C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\TuxPaint\saved\`".
> macOS
>   Inside the user's "`Library`" folder, e.g.: "`/Users/username/Library/Application Support/Tux Paint/saved/`".
> Linux/Unix
>   Inside a hidden "`.tuxpaint`" directory, in the user's home directory ("`$HOME`"), e.g. "`/home/username/.tuxpaint/saved/`".

> Note: It is also from this folder that you can copy or open pictures drawn in Tux Paint using other applications, though the 'Export' option from Tux Paint's 'Open' dialog can be used to copy them to a location that's easier and safer to access.

> ## Using the import script, "`tuxpaint-import`"

> > Linux and Unix users can use the "`tuxpaint-import`" shell script which gets installed when you install Tux Paint. It uses some NetPBM tools to convert the image ("`anytopnm`"), resize it so that it will fit in Tux Paint's canvas ("`pnmscale`"), and convert it to a PNG ("`pnmtopng`").

> > It also uses the "`date`" command to get the current time and date, which is the file-naming convention Tux Paint uses for saved files. (Remember, you are never asked for a 'filename' when you go to save or open pictures!)

> > To use this script, simply run it from a command-line prompt, and provide it the name(s) of the file(s) you wish to convert.

> > They will be converted and placed in your Tux Paint "`saved`" directory. (Note: If you're doing this for a different user (e.g., your child) you'll need to make sure to run the command under their account.)

> > Example:

> > > `$ tuxpaint-import grandma.jpg
> > > grandma.jpg -> /home/username/.tuxpaint/saved/20211231012359.png
> > > jpegtopnm: WRITING A PPM FILE`

> > The first line ("`tuxpaint-import grandma.jpg`") is the command to run. The following two lines are output from the program while it's working.

> > Now you can load Tux Paint, and a version of that original picture will be available under the 'Open' dialog. Just double-click its icon!

> ## Importing Pictures Manually

> > Windows, macOS, and Haiku users who wish to import arbitrary images into Tux Paint must do so via a manual process.

> > Load a graphics program that is capable of both loading your picture and saving a PNG format file. (See the documentation file "PNG.html" for a list of suggested software, and other references.)

> > When Tux Paint loads an image that's not the same size as its drawing canvas, it scales (and sometimes smears the edges of) the image so that it fits within the canvas.

> > To avoid having the image stretched or smeared, you can resize it to Tux Paint's canvas size. This size depends on the size of the Tux Paint window, or resolution at which Tux Paint is run, if in fullscreen. (Note: The default resolution is 800x600.) See "Calculating Image Dimensions", below.

> > Save the picture in PNG format. It is highly recommended that you name the filename using the current date and time, since that's the convention Tux Paint uses:

> > > `YYYYMMDDhhmmss.png`

> > - `YYYY` = Year
> > - `MM` = Month (two digits, "01"-"12")
> > - `DD` = Day of month (two digits, "01"-"31")
> > - `HH` = Hour (two digits, in 24-hour format, "00"-"23")
> > - `mm` = Minute (two digits, "00"-"59")
> > - `ss` = Seconds (two digits, "00"-"59")

> > Example: "`20210731110500.png`", for July 31, 2021 at 11:05am.

> > Place this PNG file in your Tux Paint "`saved`" directory/folder. (See above.)

> > ### Calculating Image Dimensions

> > > This part of the documentation needs to be rewritten, since the new "`buttonsize`" option was added. For now, try drawing and saving an image within Tux Paint, then determine what size (pixel width and height) it came out to, and try to match that when scaling the picture(s) you're importing into Tux Paint.

# Further Reading

> Other documentation included with Tux Paint (found in the "`docs`" folder/directory) includes:
> - Using Tux Paint:
>   - OPTIONS.html
>     Detailed instructions on command-line and configuration-file options, for those who don't want to use the Tux Paint Config. tool to manage Tux Paint's configuration.
>   - 'Magic' Tool Documentation ("`magic-docs`")
>     Documentation for each of the currently-installed 'Magic' tools.
> - How to extend Tux Paint:
>   - EXTENDING.html
>     Detailed instructions on extending Tux Paint: creating brushes, stamps, starters, and templates; adding fonts; and creating new on-screen keyboard layouts and input methods.
>   - PNG.html
>     Notes on creating PNG format bitmapped (raster) images for use in Tux Paint.
>   - SVG.html
>     Notes on creating SVG format vector images for use in Tux Paint.
> - Technical information:
>   - INSTALL.html
>     Instructions for compiling and installing Tux Paint, when applicable.
>   - SIGNALS.html
>     Information about the POSIX signals that Tux Paint responds to.
> - Development history and license:
>   - AUTHORS.txt
>     List of authors and contributors.
>   - CHANGES.txt
>     Summary of what has changed between releases of Tux Paint.
>   - COPYING.txt
>     Tux Paint's software license, the GNU General Public License (GPL)

# How to Get Help

> If you need help, there are numerous ways to interact with Tux Paint developers and other users.

> - Report bugs or request new features via the project's bug-tracking system
> - Participate in the various project mailing lists
> - Contact the developers directly

> To learn more, visit the "Contact" page of the official Tux Paint website: http://tuxpaint.org/contact/

# How to Participate

> Tux Paint is a volunteer-driven project, and we're happy to accept your help in a variety of ways.

> - Translate Tux Paint to another language
> - Improve existing translations
> - Create artwork (stamps, starters, templates, brushes)
> - Add or improve features or magic tools
> - Create classroom curriculum
> - Promote or help support others using Tux Paint

> To learn more, visit the "Help Us" page of the official Tux Paint website: http://tuxpaint.org/help/