Content

• To step

Microsoft Paint has some fixed settings for changing the size of the eraser, but there is also a hidden key combination to make it whatever size you want. Unfortunately, this key combination will not work on many laptops without a numeric keypad. Fortunately, you can use the on-screen keyboard in Windows to perform the key combination, thus changing the size of the eraser.

To step

1. Select the Eraser Tool in Paint. You can select the Eraser Tool from the Home tab in Paint. Paint must be the active window for this to work.
2. Use the Size button to choose one of four sizes. The Size button is located in the Home tab on the left side of the color palette. If you need more options, use the "+" key to change their size.
3. Open the Windows on-screen keyboard. You usually use the numeric keypad to change the size of the eraser, with Ctrl++/-. If you have a laptop without a numeric keyboard, you can use the Windows on-screen keyboard, a graphical representation of a real keyboard.
   • To open the on-screen keyboard, click the Windows Start button and type "keyboard". Select "On-Screen Keyboard" from the list of results.
   • The on-screen keyboard remains visible even when Paint is the active window.
4. Click the "Options" button on the on-screen keyboard. By default, the numeric keypad is not visible on the on-screen keyboard. You can change this via the Options menu.
5. Check the "Enable Numeric Keypad" box and click "OK". The numeric keypad will appear on the right side of the on-screen keyboard.
6. Click the "Ctrl" key and then the "+" key on the numeric keypad. You will notice that the "Ctrl" key remains selected until you click the "+" key. You must click the "+" key on the numeric keypad and not the one next to Backspace.
7. Hold down "Ctrl" and keep clicking the "+" until the eraser tool expands. Each time you click on the two keys, the eraser will enlarge by one pixel. This means that you have to run this key combination several clothes, until you notice a difference in size of the eraser. Click "Ctrl" and "+" ten times to see a noticeable difference.
   • If the Eraser does not resize, make sure Paint is the active window before attempting to resize the Eraser.
   • You can do the same with the numeric "-" to make the Eraser smaller by one pixel at a time.
   • If you are using the on-screen keyboard, you must first click the "Ctrl" key before clicking the "+" or "-".