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Hell freezes over, MS Paint adds support for layers and PNG transparency
(arstechnica.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Try Paint.net. Layers, transparency, filters and even plugins. It's free to download from their website. Install from Windows Store does have cost as a way to donate.
Idk why you got downvote but paint.net is where its at.
Because OP said his PC is locked down.
There's a portable version I'm pretty sure.
When a computer is locked down by an employer it doesn't just mean you can't install software, it means that you CANNOT RUN software that isn't approved.
I've found that level of locked down to be rare, usually portable apps still work. That being said running portable apps is still risky since it's likely against company policy and could be logged by IT.
Paint.net is nice because it has plugin support.