Krita

Krita is a free and open-source graphics application focused on digital painting, illustration, comics, concept art, and 2D animation. The project began in 1999 as KImageShop within the KDE ecosystem and later became Krita.

The first public release appeared with KOffice 1.4 in 2004 or 2005, depending on whether the preview or official release is counted. The independent Stichting Krita Foundation was created in 2012 to support Krita development and services.

Krita runs as a desktop application on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Android builds are available, while iPad and iPhone versions are not supported. The software can be used for commercial artwork, studio production, education, and research.

Krita includes raster painting tools, more than 100 bundled brushes, multiple brush engines, brush stabilizers, customizable dockers, workspaces, drawing assistants, and layer-based editing.

Its vector and text tools use SVG-based workflows. Users can create comic panels, speech bubbles, shapes, and text elements. The application also supports resource bundles containing brushes, patterns, textures, and presets.

The animation workspace supports layered frame animation, audio, onion skinning, timeline playback, frame organization, tweening for selected properties, and export to video or still images.

Krita provides ICC and OpenColorIO color management, OpenEXR support, HDR and scene-referred workflows, GPU-assisted canvas operations, and PSD import and export. PSD compatibility is useful, but the documentation notes that the format is complex and not every feature transfers perfectly.

Krita includes Python scripting through its own API and PyQt. Scripts can automate tasks, create dockers, build exporters, and extend the application through plugins. It does not provide a conventional hosted SaaS API.

Krita is available free of charge from the official website under the GNU GPL v3 license. There is no time-limited trial because the main application is permanently free software.

Paid store editions are available through platforms including Microsoft Store, Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Mac App Store. The official site describes these editions as paid downloads that support development and provide store-based automatic updates. Store prices can vary by platform and region.

Pros

• Free and open-source licensing supports personal, educational, and commercial use.
• Strong digital-painting workflow with extensive brush and layer controls.
• Includes 2D animation, vector, text, HDR, color-management, and PSD capabilities.
• Works across Windows, macOS, Linux, and selected Android devices.
• Python scripting and plugins provide meaningful automation and extensibility.

Cons

• The interface and feature set can require substantial learning time.
• PSD interoperability is useful but cannot guarantee complete feature fidelity.
• Animation workflows are less specialized than dedicated animation applications.
• There is no supported iPad or iPhone version.
• Support relies primarily on documentation, community channels, and issue reporting rather than a standard commercial support desk.

GIMP is a free, open-source raster editor suited to image manipulation and compositing. It is a broader image-editing alternative, while Krita places greater emphasis on painting.

Adobe Photoshop offers extensive image editing, compositing, design, and ecosystem integration through a subscription model. It is a stronger fit for teams already using Adobe workflows.

Clip Studio Paint focuses on illustration, comics, manga, and animation. It provides specialized comic and drawing tools but uses commercial licensing.

Paint Tool SAI is a lightweight commercial painting application known for a focused drawing workflow on Windows.

Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor. It is more appropriate for primarily vector-based illustration than raster painting.

Is Krita free?

Yes. The official desktop downloads are free and open source under the GNU GPL v3 license. Paid store editions support development and store-based updates.

Can Krita be used commercially?

Yes. The Krita Foundation states that artists, studios, game developers, scientists, and students can use Krita commercially. Artwork created with Krita remains the creator’s property.

Does Krita have an API?

Yes. Krita includes a Python scripting API that can automate tasks, access application objects, create dockers, and support custom plugins. It is not a cloud or REST API.

Does Krita offer a free trial?

No trial is needed for the official desktop version because it is permanently free. Store versions are paid downloads of the same open-source application.

Which operating systems does Krita support?

Official downloads support Windows, macOS, and Linux. Android builds are available through Google Play and APK downloads. Krita does not support iPadOS or iOS.

Does Krita integrate with Photoshop?

Krita can load and save PSD files, including several raster, layer, vector, text, and mask elements. The documentation warns that PSD is complex, so full compatibility with Photoshop features is not guaranteed.