Fill an Area with Color in Microsoft Paint

To fill an area with color in Microsoft Paint, select the Paint Bucket tool (the icon that looks like a pouring paint can) and click inside the area you want to fill. The area will change to the current color, which is shown in the Color 1 box at the top of the ribbon.

Formula

The pace formula is:

pace = time / distance

where:

• time is the total time taken, in minutes
• distance is the distance traveled, in kilometers
• pace is the average time per kilometer, in minutes per kilometer

The speed formula is:

speed = distance / (time / 60)

where:

• time is in minutes, so time / 60 converts it to hours
• speed is in kilometers per hour

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator:

• Finish time = 50 minutes
• Distance = 10 km

First, calculate the pace:

pace = 50 / 10 = 5 minutes per kilometer

Then, calculate the speed:

speed = 10 / (50 / 60) = 10 / 0.8333 = 12 km/h

So the average pace is 5:00 min/km and the average speed is 12.00 km/h.

How the Fill Tool Works

The Fill tool in Paint replaces every pixel that is connected to the point you click and has the same color as that pixel. This is called a “flood fill” or “bucket fill.” It does not fill the entire canvas—only the contiguous region of the same color. If you click on a white background, it fills all white pixels that are touching each other, stopping at any line of a different color.

For example, if you draw a black circle on a white canvas and click inside the circle with the Fill tool, the inside becomes the selected color, but the white outside remains unchanged. If you click outside the circle, the white area fills, but the inside stays white.

How to Choose a Color

Before using the Fill tool, you must select a color. In the top ribbon, click the Color 1 box (the top color square). Then choose a color from the palette below, or click “Edit colors” to create a custom color using the color wheel and sliders. The Color 2 box is for the right-click fill color—if you right-click with the Fill tool, it uses Color 2 instead of Color 1.

You can also use the Eyedropper tool to pick a color directly from your image. Click the Eyedropper, then click on a pixel in your image to set that color as Color 1. This is useful when you want to match an existing color exactly.

Common Problems and Fixes

• Fill doesn’t cover the whole area: This happens when there are gaps in the outline or when the area contains multiple colors. Zoom in and check for tiny gaps, or use a smaller brush to close them.
• Fill covers the whole canvas: If you click on a background that is connected to the edges, the fill will spread across the entire canvas. To avoid this, make sure the area you want to fill is enclosed by a border.
• Fill leaves a white edge: This is often due to anti-aliasing (smoothing) on the edges of shapes. The fill only affects pixels that exactly match the clicked color. To fix, use the Pencil tool with a small size to manually color the edge pixels.
• Right-click doesn’t fill: Make sure you have selected a color in the Color 2 box. Right-click uses Color 2, not Color 1.

Tips for Better Fills

• Zoom in (use Ctrl + mouse wheel) to see the exact pixels you are filling.
• Use the Magnifier tool to check for gaps in outlines before filling.
• If you want to fill a complex shape, first make sure the outline is a solid, continuous line.
• For large areas, the Fill tool is fast, but for very large images, it may take a moment to process.
• Use the Undo (Ctrl+Z) if the fill goes wrong.

Comparing Paint to Other Tools

Microsoft Paint’s Fill tool is basic but effective for simple tasks. Other free editors like Paint.NET or GIMP offer more advanced fill options, such as filling with a gradient, filling only transparent areas, or adjusting tolerance (which controls how close a color must be to be replaced). However, Paint is pre-installed on Windows, requires no installation, and is perfectly fine for quick color fills on simple images.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the fill tool not work on some parts of my image?

The Fill tool only replaces pixels that are the exact same color as the pixel you clicked, and only those that are connected. If your image has anti-aliased edges (smooth transitions between colors), the fill will not cover those blended pixels. You can either use a smaller brush to color them manually or use a more advanced editor with tolerance settings.

How do I fill a shape with a gradient in Paint?

Microsoft Paint does not support gradients. You can only fill with a solid color. For a gradient effect, you would need to use a different program like Paint.NET or GIMP, or manually draw multiple lines of different shades.

Can I fill with a color from my own image?

Yes, use the Eyedropper tool to select a color from your image. Click the Eyedropper, then click on the pixel with the color you want. That color becomes your Color 1, and you can then use the Fill tool with it.

How do I fill a transparent area in Paint?

Paint does not support transparency in the traditional sense. If you have a transparent background (like a PNG), Paint will show it as white. To fill a transparent area, you would need to use a program that supports layers and transparency, such as Paint.NET or GIMP.

What is the difference between Color 1 and Color 2?

Color 1 is the primary color used for left-click actions (drawing, filling). Color 2 is the secondary color used for right-click actions. When using the Fill tool, left-click fills with Color 1, and right-click fills with Color 2.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for the Fill tool?

Yes, you can press Ctrl + B to select the Fill tool in Microsoft Paint. This works in the classic version of Paint on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2