What it does
Milton is a free, open-source infinite-canvas painting program. It uses vector-backed marks with layers, automatically saves changes and exports bitmap images.
Hold Space while dragging to move around the canvas. B and E switch between brush and eraser, square brackets change brush size, and the number keys adjust transparency. These controls let a page of related studies grow beyond a fixed border.
Changes and undo history persist after closing the app. JPEG and PNG export produce a finished image at a resolution your computer can handle; keep the editable MLT document for further work. Files made by a newer minor version may not open in an older one.
The download page offers a Windows installer and a standalone ZIP. Linux and macOS require compiling the code, and the project does not list them as officially supported. Milton is free software under GPL version 3 or later.
Strengths
- The canvas has no fixed page boundary.
- Drawing changes and undo history persist between sessions.
Watch out for
- Linux and macOS require unsupported source builds.
- Older versions may not read MLT files created by a newer minor release.
Best for
- Exploratory sketch pages
- Drawing connected studies on one canvas
Sources
- Milton: Infinite canvas paint program (Oct 27, 2026)
- Milton: Download (Oct 27, 2026)
- Milton: Official repository and user manual (Oct 27, 2026)