Krita

The free creative software that even Adobe Photoshop (in sub-areas) teaches fear

I see a white canvas and I want to paint it bright – Bright colours everywhere, I want to make it pop – I see the layers stacking up, organized just how I like – I have to turn my brush around until my art’s complete…

In a world where creative software costs hundreds of dollars or is only available as a subscription model, one application stands out: Krita. This open source software has evolved from a small project to a serious alternative for professional artists and hobbyists. But what makes Krita so special, and can it really keep up with the big names in the industry?

What is Krita?

Krita is a free, open source software for digital painting and illustration. Originally launched in 1999 as part of the KDE desktop environment, Krita has evolved into a standalone application that now runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The name ‘Krita’ is derived from the Swedish word ‘krita’, which means ‘draw’ or ‘sketch’ – a reference to the core philosophy of the software.

The strengths of Krita

Designed for artists

Unlike many other image editing programs, Krita was designed from the ground up for digital artists. This can be seen in every detail: from the intuitive user interface to the specialized tools for different painting techniques.

Impressive brush engine

The heart of Krita is its sophisticated brush engine. With over 100 pre-installed brushes and the ability to create your own, Krita offers a variety that eclipses even expensive commercial software. From realistic oil paint brushes to experimental texture tools, every artist will find the right tool.

Animation made easy

A special highlight is Krita's animation feature. The software offers a full-fledged timeline, onion peel view and various export options. For 2D animators who don't want to spend hundreds of euros on specialized software, Krita is a real insider tip.

Performance that convinces

Despite the extensive feature set, Krita also runs smoothly on older computers. The developers have placed great emphasis on optimization, which means that even large screens with many levels can be easily edited.

Who is Krita suitable for?

Digital artists and illustrators

Krita shines particularly in conceptual art, character design and illustrations. The natural-looking brushes and intuitive color mixing make it an ideal tool for creative projects.

hobby painter

If you want to get into digital painting first, you will find a perfect companion in Krita. The learning curve is smooth, and the extensive community offers numerous tutorials and help.

Budget-conscious professionals

Freelance artists and small studios can achieve professional results with Krita without paying high licensing costs. The money saved can be invested in other important areas such as hardware or marketing.

Borders of Krita

With all the enthusiasm, you should be honest: Krita is primarily a wonderful painting and drawing program. For extensive photo editing or complex layout work, there are also better freeware alternatives (Gimp or Paint.Net, for example). Support for certain professional features such as CMYK color spaces is also still expandable.

The community makes the difference

What sets Krita apart is its vibrant community. Regular updates, responsive developers and an active user community ensure that the software is continuously improved. The Krita forum and the numerous YouTube tutorials make it easy to get started and help with advanced techniques. Community and support. Here you can find help:

Reddit r/krita – for casual exchanges
Krita-Artists.org – A comprehensive forum
David Revoy's YouTube Tutorials – brilliantly explained!
Krita documentation – if it becomes technical

prospects

The development of Krita is constantly progressing. Planned features such as improved vector tools and advanced animation features show that the software will continue to play an important role in the digital art scene in the future.

Conclusion:

Free doesn't mean less valuable! Krita impressively proves that open source software must not only be a cheap alternative, but can even be superior in many areas. For digital artists looking for a powerful, intuitive and free tool, there's hardly a way around Krita.

The investment is very small – only the time to download and familiarise yourself. The profit, on the other hand, is considerable: a professional creative tool that can compete with the best commercial solutions.