How to install and use Krita on elementary OS

Krita is a free, open-source painting program built for illustration, concept art, comics, and image editing. It combines a capable brush engine with layers, masks, reference tools, vector drawing, and tablet-pressure support while remaining entirely usable offline. Installing it on elementary OS gives the desktop a professional creative workspace without introducing a Windows-only application or a paid subscription.

elementary OS is well suited to that workflow because its settings and file chooser remain lightweight, while Flatpak gives Krita a clean, maintained package that does not disturb the rest of the system. The route is straightforward: install from AppCenter, allow the first launch to create its preferences and brushes, choose a workspace that suits your screen, and learn a small set of drawing and saving habits before beginning a large piece.

This guide covers the complete setup for Australian users, from the first click to exporting finished artwork. It uses Australian spelling such as “colour” and “customise”, and it accounts for the AU PC keyboard mapping used in many Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane offices. It also considers local buying realities: some drawing tablets sold by Australian electronics retailers configure correctly on Linux while their Windows setup utilities do not, and studios working with Adobe clients still need dependable PSD interchange.

Choosing the best installation route

AppCenter is the simplest choice for most people. Open the Applications grid, search for Krita, select the Flathub listing, and choose Install. AppCenter manages dependencies and future updates through the graphical interface. If the Flathub remote is not already configured, accept its setup prompt before continuing. A Flatpak build is generally preferable to the distribution package because it is isolated and receives new Krita releases more promptly.

Prefer the terminal? Once Flathub is enabled, run flatpak install flathub org.kde.krita. Use flatpak run org.kde.krita to start it immediately, or launch the new entry in the Applications grid. The Flatpak uses its own runtime, so a system-library update is unlikely to break the application. Keep only one active copy to avoid confusion over profiles, default brushes, and which version receives updates.

On releases where AppCenter offers a Debian package, sudo apt install krita is an alternative. It can be useful for testing or on a machine that avoids Flatpak, but the packaged version may be older and require more troubleshooting with tablet drivers. Installing both routes is unnecessary. Whichever method you choose, check the About page after launch and record the version shown there.

Installing Krita and checking the first launch

Start with a small test rather than a large illustration. Create a new document, draw several strokes, add a layer, and undo a change. This confirms that the brush engine, keyboard controls, and saving dialog are working. Krita often opens with several docks arranged around the canvas; they can be moved later, so there is no need to memorise the default layout immediately.

Open Settings, then Configure Krita to set your working directory, autosave interval, backup count, and general appearance. The Brush Editor should contain the standard brush set, and the Colour docker should open with HSV controls. Check the shortcut editor for Save, New, Export, Undo, and layer operations. On an AU keyboard, confirm that punctuation and modifier shortcuts match the layout used by your keyboard rather than assuming a US arrangement.

Flatpak keeps Krita in a sandbox, although the file chooser can grant access to selected folders. If artwork stored elsewhere is invisible, place a working copy in Pictures or use the folder-access option in the system chooser. Update the application with flatpak update org.kde.krita. If the window is blank or slow, disable hardware acceleration under Display settings before changing unrelated graphics packages.

Setting up a painting workspace

Krita’s workspace is built from movable panels called tool windows. The Toolbox holds common tools, while separate windows can show Brushes, Brush Editor, Layers, Colour, and Overview. Use View > Tool Windows to open a missing panel, then drag its title bar to the edge you prefer. Two monitors help, but a single 1080p display can still work if the Overview and Colour panels are closed when not needed.

A focused setup beats a crowded collection of controls. Think of a brush and palette collection like building a capsule wardrobe: a compact, coordinated set is more useful than dozens of near-duplicates. Keep the default essentials visible, then add specialist brushes only for a particular style. Save a custom workspace after arranging it; Krita can restore that layout later. This is particularly handy in studios where a tablet is shared between painting, editing, and communication.

For a pressure-sensitive stylus, select the device under Configure Krita > Tablet Tools, then test pressure, tilt, and eraser support with a broad brush. Adjust the pressure curve and stabiliser in the Brush Editor. Some tablets sold by Australian retailers work as standard USB devices on elementary OS even when the vendor’s configuration utility supports only Windows; avoid software that is required for basic pressure input. If the stylus behaves like an ordinary mouse, check its connection and tablet mode before changing Krita settings.

Preparing brushes, colours, and canvases

Brush behaviour is where Krita offers extensive control. Start with a small selection suited to your work: a pencil for lines, a soft round for shading, an eraser, and an inking brush for clean edges. Adjust opacity, flow, size, spacing, and stabiliser independently for each preset. Importing a .bundle brush is convenient, but it does not guarantee a good result; test its pressure response at several brush sizes before using it throughout an illustration.

Colour work becomes more consistent when the palette is prepared before painting. Add a few swatches for recurring skin tones, clothing, or environmental colours, and keep them grouped by purpose rather than by hue alone. The Colour docker can switch between HSV, wheel, triangle, and other selectors. Gradients are useful for lighting and backgrounds, while the Palette docker lets you switch between colour sets without rebuilding them repeatedly.

Document dimensions should match the final purpose. For print, an A4 page at 300 DPI is approximately 2480 by 3508 pixels; at 150 DPI it is about 1240 by 1754 pixels. DPI alone does not add detail, so draw at a resolution that suits the intended output. Australian design studios may also need PSD files for clients using Adobe tools. Krita can export to PSD, but advanced layer effects and some adjustment data may differ, so inspect the exported file and retain the editable Krita original as the reliable master.

Painting efficiently with layers and tools

Separate concerns into layers instead of trying to correct everything at once. A practical structure might include a sketch, clean line art, base colours, shadows, highlights, corrections, and optional colour adjustments. Use groups to organise those stages, masks for reversible changes, and clipping masks for effects confined to another layer. Keeping opacity and blend modes at sensible values also makes it easier to diagnose a problem without flattening the artwork.

Krita includes raster and vector drawing tools. Raster brushes suit natural textures and hand-painted marks, while vector shapes are useful for crisp lines, logos, and precise curves. The Bezier Curve tool and Shape tool can remain editable, but using them for every painted passage may slow the workflow. For selection, use the Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygonal, and Outline tools, then refine the edge with Select by Colour or a mask when an antialiased boundary is needed.

Reference images can sit beside the canvas in their own docker, where they can be faded, flipped, and scaled without being merged into the artwork. Use a low opacity when tracing or checking proportions. For performance, close unused docks, avoid unnecessary full-canvas filters, and work at the smallest practical resolution. Autosave and recovery files can protect long sessions, but they are not replacements for saving the main document deliberately.

Saving, exporting, and protecting your work

Save finished stages as native .kra files because they preserve layers, masks, brush settings, and other Krita-specific data. Use Save As for major revisions so an earlier state remains available. A sensible naming pattern includes the project title, chapter or scene, version number, and date. Retain the working file rather than repeatedly overwriting it, and copy important projects to another drive or storage service. This matters for Australian artists working across local desktop systems, shared studio computers, and portable drives.

Export creates a separate file for viewing or delivery. Press Ctrl+Shift+E to open Export As, choose PNG for a lossless image with transparency, or JPEG when a smaller file is needed for ordinary web use. The export panel can resize an image, but keeping the original canvas as the master gives you more control if the destination changes. Check the preview for unwanted transparency, shifted colours, or text that appears too soft.

The main output choices differ in the ways below.

The essential sequence to remember is simple: keep one maintained Krita installation, arrange a clear workspace and deliberate colour range, build artwork on separate layers, and preserve the editable KRA file as the master while exporting a shareable copy.