Paintbrush wants to save edited files as .HEIC type

LHofCA · Nov 12, 2023

Hi all,
This is my first post to this particular forum as I have only had windows 11 for about 6 months and haven't had too many issues but this one is annoying. Whenever I open photos that I've saved to my desktop from my phone and edit them with paintbrush it wants to save the edited file as a new file in the .HEIC format. I searched both .HEIC and Paintbrush in this forum to see if there was anything related to my issue but nobody is reporting it in here,... I did find another forum where someone posted this but the answer best fit windows 7 and I think won't work for 11. Anyhow, what do I need to do to prevent the Save As function coming up on existing but edited photos? I don't want to use this .HEIC format at all, I just want to leave the photo in .JPG and on the desktop after editing. Thanks.

Windows 11 Pro, build 22621.2428
Paint 11.2309.30.0

Ghot · Nov 12, 2023

Hello @LHofCA and welcome to ElevenForum.

I've never heard of Paintbrush.
Are you talking about PaintBrush for MACs?

In Windows you should be using PAINT.
Or if you want "more power".... use Paint Shop Pro. (I use version 7.04)

Paint Shop Pro 4.12 and 7.04 and 8.1 and 9.01

Due to popularity, powerful features and ease of use, here are: Paint Shop Pro 4.12 and 7.04 and 8.1 and 9.01 These are all free, legal and fully functional. These work flawlessly on all versions of Windows from 7 to 11. Paint Shop Pro 4.12 and if memory serves, 7.04 also work on Windows XP...

www.elevenforum.com

archfoto · Nov 12, 2023

Hi LHofCA -
I hadn't looked at the Paint app before. I brought mine up to see if I could figure out why you had it go to HEIC format. Screenshot 1 is the menu I had with choices shown in the red circle. Screenshot 2 came up when clicking on "Other Format." I hope that helps.

LHofCA · Nov 12, 2023

Ghot said:
I've never heard of Paintbrush.
Are you talking about PaintBrush for MACs?

Sorry, I remember it being called that at some early point in windows and it has stuck. Yes, it is the PAINT application within windows to which I am referring.

Ghot · Nov 12, 2023

LHofCA said:
Sorry, I remember it being called that at some early point in windows and it has stuck. Yes, it is the PAINT application within windows to which I am referring.

When you have an image open in PAINT. Click on Save As... and choose "other format".
You'll get a Windows like this. In the bottom box labeled "Save as File Type", click the drop down arrow and choose: JPEG

Then close PAINT, and open it again and paste another image in there.
Then choose: Save As... and see if it now defaults to JPEG

Another option is just uninstall PAINT and download a new copy from MS Store and install that.

The best option of all is to install Paint Shop Pro, and never have to deal with PAINT again.

If PSP 7.04 looks too complex... try PSP 4.12

Berton · Nov 12, 2023

I recall using Paintbrush years ago and did a Search, there was such a program for Windows, I started with Win3.1 in '92.

Microsoft Paintbrush 4.0

Microsoft Paintbrush is Microsoft's OEM version of Zsoft PC/Publisher's Paintbrush for MS-DOS. It was commonly bundled with Microsoft mice in the late 80s and early 90s.

Ghot · Nov 12, 2023

With Paint Shop Pro... you can make awesome pics, like this....

LHofCA · Nov 12, 2023

Hi Archfoto,
That is how it works if you create a drawing and save as a new file, it defaults to the .PNG format. The problem I'm having stems from saving an existing file, in this case some photos from my phone saved onto my desktop. After cropping and Ctrl S it brings up the Save As with location and the .HEIC format which I don't know much about nor do I wish to save in. I just want paint to save the edited file leaving alone any format or saved location changes like it used to do pre windows 11. In fact, if I recall correctly it didn't start out doing this when I upgraded from windows 10. This seems to be more recent than that, I want to say within maybe the last couple of months if that. I just hadn't been concerned with it enough to try to find a fix as I am busy moving but now that I have some free time I'd like to correct this if possible (which it should be unless MS has decided to perma-fix things into place). I've attached a screenshot of what I'm talking about.

EDIT
I've found that this is a first run issue. What I mean is that after I have done Ctrl S, selected .JPG and the location, and save, that when that image is reopened and after changes are made and Ctrl S is applied it will save as a .JPG like it used to do always. Only on that initial edit and save will it try to save in this .HEIC format. I hope that helps.

Ghot · Nov 12, 2023

@LHofCA

I also have PAINT, and it does default to .png.
That's why I suggested you uninstall PAINT and re-install it.

It may just be that your copy of PAINT is corrupted.

You can just get a fresh copy of PAINT at the Microsoft Store...

Fabler2 · Nov 12, 2023

Use the photo app to convert first. Select the edit icon then save without editing. Then edit with paint if you need.

archfoto · Nov 12, 2023

LHofCA said:
Hi Archfoto,
That is how it works if you create a drawing and save as a new file, it defaults to the .PNG format. The problem I'm having stems from saving an existing file, in this case some photos from my phone saved onto my desktop. After cropping and Ctrl S it brings up the Save As with location and the .HEIC format which I don't know much about nor do I wish to save in. I just want paint to save the edited file leaving alone any format or saved location changes like it used to do pre windows 11. In fact, if I recall correctly it didn't start out doing this when I upgraded from windows 10. This seems to be more recent than that, I want to say within maybe the last couple of months if that. I just hadn't been concerned with it enough to try to find a fix as I am busy moving but now that I have some free time I'd like to correct this if possible (which it should be unless MS has decided to perma-fix things into place). I've attached a screenshot of what I'm talking about.

EDIT
I've found that this is a first run issue. What I mean is that after I have done Ctrl S, selected .JPG and the location, and save, that when that image is reopened and after changes are made and Ctrl S is applied it will save as a .JPG like it used to do always. Only on that initial edit and save will it try to save in this .HEIC format. I hope that helps.

I don't generally use a program like Paint. I have been using Adobe Photoshop for years. Adobe PS will save one-layer jpeg with changes as a jpeg, but if I add a layer, it won't save it directly as a jpeg (a jpeg is one layer only), but give me options unless I flatten it to one layer before saving.
Some others here have given good advice, and I have found that just because something worked a certain way in Win 10, doesn't mean it will conform in Win 11!
I also had the HEIC thing come up when copying images from my iPhone to my PC thru WIFI or through an import program. I found that not using WIFI, and using the lightning cable, and going to My PC let me directly into my iPhone as a storage device, and I am able to copy from the phone to PC as a jpeg works well. I don't know if that has anything to do with your problem, but I just thought I'd throw that out there. Good luck!

Fabler2 · Nov 12, 2023

I've checked Paint and it seems to work ok for me. Check your version to see if in needs an update.

Anibor_11 · Nov 12, 2023

LHofCA said:
... it wants to save the edited file as a new file in the .HEIC format...

It´s not an issue, but a feature. HEIC is a better, more modern format, and normally it will be converted automatically to JPEG when needed. All the pictures I take on my phone are saved as HEIC files. No problem when I send them to the PC.

Fabler2 · Nov 12, 2023

It looks to be an issue for the OP. Works first time here after editing HEIC. RTM version of Paint is 11.2309.30.0.

LHofCA · Nov 12, 2023

I will give the uninstall/reinstall solution a try and see if it stops this but from what I'm seeing in here from the input that this is what MS wants to do and while I don't understand the whole convert from HEIC to JPG it's likely there isn't going to be any change in this so will have to get used to it wanting to save in another format instead of just saving the file as is. Unless there is something new from someone else I think this thread is likely done. Thanks all for your input, I learned a little and think I'm satisfied. I'll give it a few more hours and then mark as solved. Thanks again.

Fabler2 · Nov 12, 2023

LHofCA said:
I will give the uninstall/reinstall solution a try and see if it stops this but from what I'm seeing in here from the input that this is what MS wants to do and while I don't understand the whole convert from HEIC to JPG it's likely there isn't going to be any change in this so will have to get used to it wanting to save in another format instead of just saving the file as is. Unless there is something new from someone else I think this thread is likely done. Thanks all for your input, I learned a little and think I'm satisfied. I'll give it a few more hours and then mark as solved. Thanks again.

It will save in the HEIC format if you just select Save. So make a copy first in case of errors if you just select save.

Here I've just used save only so it just saves the altered original and you will have no backup to return to if any errors. Hence to make a copy first in that case. If I'm understanding you correctly.

glasskuter · Nov 12, 2023

I'm not big into photos nor an enthusiastic cell phone user. But what photos I take, I rarely leave on my phone very long. When I first started transferring them to my PC I had all kinds of issues dealing with them. I found it was much less hassle for me in the long run to take the easy way out and set my iphone to use .jpg rather than .heic. Then I didn't have to worry with it.