Getting Started with Krita: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
If you’re new to Krita, it can feel like there’s a lot to take in at first. This is especially true if you’ve always worked traditionally and you’re now finding your way into digital art.
I remember how strange digital art can feel when you’re used to paper and pencils. Suddenly you’ve got layers, brushes, menus and loads of buttons staring back at you!
The good news is that you really don’t need to learn everything at once.
One of the things I like about Krita is that it’s completely free, so you can have a good play around with it without having to spend money on expensive software straight away.
Get Your Workspace Set Up
Before you start painting, it’s worth spending a little time getting Krita set up in a way that feels comfortable.
Start by choosing the canvas size and resolution you need for your project. If you’re creating artwork to print, you’ll generally want a higher resolution than you would for something that’s just going to be viewed on a screen.
If you’re using a graphics tablet, have a play with the pen pressure settings too. You want your pen to feel as natural as possible. If you press lightly and get a thin line, then press harder and get a thicker one, it should feel reasonably similar to using a real pencil or brush.
You can also move the different panels around until you find a layout that works for you. Keep the things you use most often somewhere easy to reach.
Once you’ve got everything set up the way you like it, save your workspace. It’s one of those little things that can save you quite a bit of messing around later.
Don’t Try to Learn Everything at Once
Krita has loads of tools, which is great, but it can also be a little overwhelming when you first open it.
You really don’t need to know what every button does.
Start with a few basic brushes and get comfortable with things like the freehand brush, eraser and colour selector. That’s enough to get you started.
As you use Krita more, you’ll naturally start discovering other tools when you actually need them.
Keyboard shortcuts are worth learning too. You don’t need to memorise dozens of them. Just learn the ones you use regularly and add more as you go.
And if all those panels start getting in the way, try Krita’s canvas-only mode. It gives you a nice, clean view of your artwork without lots of distractions around it.
Get to Know Layers
Layers are probably one of the first things that feels completely different if you’re coming from traditional art.
At first, they can seem a bit confusing. Once you get used to them, though, you’ll probably wonder how you ever worked without them.
You can have your sketch on one layer, your line art on another and your colours on another. This means you can change one part of your artwork without messing up everything else.
Once you’re comfortable with basic layers, you can start playing around with layer groups, masks and clipping masks.
Don’t worry if those terms sound complicated. You can learn them gradually.
Make Something Small
One of the best ways to learn Krita is to stop worrying about learning Krita and actually make something!
It doesn’t need to be a masterpiece.
Try painting something simple, such as a cup, a plant, a piece of fruit or a little character.
Start with a rough sketch, add some basic colours, then have a go at adding shadows and highlights.
You’ll probably make mistakes along the way. That’s fine. In fact, those mistakes are often how you discover what different tools actually do.
You might accidentally paint on the wrong layer, wonder why your pen pressure has disappeared or find that your brush suddenly feels enormous.
We’ve all been there!
Usually, there’s a simple solution once you know where to look.
Don’t Forget to Experiment
Once you’re feeling a little more comfortable, start experimenting.
Try different brushes. Change the opacity. Play around with colours. Test out different layer settings.
You might discover that you really like a brush you never would have thought to use.
You can also experiment with Krita’s canvas-only mode, symmetry tools and transform tools. If you like making patterns, the wrap-around mode is particularly useful because it lets you see how your artwork will repeat.
You don’t have to understand every setting before you use it. Sometimes the easiest way to learn is simply to have a play and see what happens.
Ready to Take Your Illustrations Further?
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start thinking about how to make your artwork cleaner and your workflow a little quicker.
Before jumping straight into your final illustration, try doing a few small sketches first.
Gather some references, make a few thumbnail sketches and think about where you want the main elements of your artwork to go.
It might only take a few minutes, but it can save you a lot of frustration later.
Making Line Art Easier
If your lines tend to come out a little wobbly, don’t panic.
Krita has stabilising and smoothing options that can help you get cleaner lines. Have a play with the settings until you find something that feels comfortable.
Different brushes will give you completely different results too, so experiment until you find one that suits the way you draw.
Selection tools are also incredibly useful. If you’ve spent ages drawing something and then realise that part of it needs moving, you don’t necessarily have to erase the whole thing and start again.
That’s one of the lovely things about digital art.
Playing with Colour and Light
This is where things can get really fun.
Colour and lighting can completely change the mood of an illustration, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
One useful trick is to occasionally look at your artwork in grayscale. It can help you see whether your light and dark areas are working without the colours distracting you.
You can also have a play with blending modes, gradient maps and filter masks once you’re ready.
And if you’re not sure where to start with lighting, try doing a few little studies from photographs. You don’t need to create a finished painting. Just look at where the light is coming from and how it changes the colours and shadows.
Find a Few Brushes You Love
You really don’t need hundreds of brushes.
It can actually be much easier to work when you have a small collection of brushes that you know and like.
Try a few out and see which ones feel right for you. Save your favourites and organise them so you can find them easily.
Over time, you’ll probably develop your own little collection of brushes that you reach for again and again.
And that’s when Krita starts to feel much less intimidating.
Before You Call It Finished…
When you think your artwork is finished, zoom out and have another look at it.
This is one of those simple things that can make a surprisingly big difference.
When you’re staring at your artwork zoomed in, it’s easy to miss things. Zooming right out gives you a completely different view and can help you spot problems with the composition, proportions or values.
And don’t throw away your original Krita file!
Keep the layered version somewhere safe. If you need to change something later, you’ll be very glad you did.
If you’ve used somebody else’s artwork or photography as a reference, make sure you check how you’re allowed to use it and give credit where it’s needed.
When you’re ready to export your finished artwork, choose the format that suits what you’re doing. PNG and JPG are both useful, but the right choice will depend on where you’re planning to use the image.
Most Importantly, Have Fun
You don’t need to become a Krita expert before you can make good digital art.
Learn one thing, use it, then learn something else.
The more you use Krita, the more familiar it will become, and eventually you’ll stop thinking about where all the buttons are and start concentrating on the artwork instead.
And honestly, that’s when the fun really begins.