Block-based coding has emerged as one of the most effective methods for teaching children to code.
Scratch is the most popular and widely used of a plethora of block-based coding languages and platforms.
Aside from being a block-based programming language, the Scratch platform has incredible features for exploring one’s creativity.
In this blog, I will discuss one of its awesome features, the Paint Editor in Scratch, and all of its new features within the paint editor.
Excited? Let’s jump right to it!
Table of contents
Introduction to Paint Editor in Scratch
Paint editor in Scratch is a tool or function in a graphics editing or painting program that modifies the picture on the canvas and/or tries to alter its color strokes or fill process of the paint.
The most common painting tools are the brush, pencil, paintbrushes, smudges, colors are required to draw and transform any picture irrespective of digital or real canvas.
Used to paint a single-pixel or color an entire canvas, and each type of painting tool has its own set of functions and options that can be used to create unique art styles.
Types of Paint Editor in Scratch
A paint editor can be of two categories:
- Graphical
- Physical.
• A graphical editor is diverse and uses different platforms very diversely.
Example Scratch, MS-office paint, etc.
Scratch with old features in Paint Edition
| Scratch 1.0 | Scratch 1.1 |
| The Next Costume block is a Looks block and a Stack block. The block changes its sprite’s costume to the next one in the costume’s pane, but if the current costume is the last in the list, the block will loop to the first. | A single sprite can now play multiple notes at once (i.e. chords) (previously, a sprite could play only one note at a time) |
| The Stage’s version is the Next Backdrop block. |
| Scratch1.2 | Scratch 1.4 |
| • Better image compression for some images. | • A new stage mode, added to presentation mode and regular mode: Small stage mode. |
| • A revised color picker in the paint editor. |
Scratch with Old features vs New Features in the new edition
- The Scratch Paint Editor is Scratch’s built-in image editor. Many scratchers create their own sprites and backdrops using it.
- The new Paint Editor in Scratch had large differences from the Scratch 1.4 version. The recent scratch was the first version to have a vector paint editor. It had a different look than any previous versions, and many features were different.
- Graphics are two types: Bitmap and Vector respectively.
- Bitmap graphics store images as arrays and pixels. They are also called raster graphics.
- Vector graphic looks smoother than Bitmap graphics. The smoothness is the storage of images in shapes rather pixels.
- The new pen tool renders a spline (mathematical curve) through a set of control points
- There is a mode to convert the vector mode of graphics to bitmap and vice versa.
- Creation of new costumes or backdrops
- Switching of backdrops to costume
- The color palette’s spectrum had expanded with new shades and shadows, gradients, and transparency.
- Importing any new costume, grouping, flipping, rotating, shrinking expanding all are inclusive of the editor.
- Different bitmap tools like geometric shapes drawing, line tool, text tool, paintbrush all are a part of the editor to create any new sprites or characters of choice.
Conclusion
Scratch is a popular educational tool for teaching children how to code. Click learning programs for kids to learn more about the scratch.
The platform’s popularity can also be attributed to its extensive feature set, which allows young coders to explore their creative sides and create amazing projects.
Paint editor in Scratch is one such tool that comes in handy when creating projects.
Learn Scratch at BrightChamps with its specially designed curriculum that makes learning programming easy for students in Grade 1-12.
BrightChamps also teaches a variety of other programs that help kids build a foundation in computer programming through activities, interactive lessons, and other means.
To get your hands on more educational and free resources on coding for kids, financial education for kids, and robotics for kids do check out the BrightCHAMPS Page now!
