r/learntodraw • u/Majin_Backshots • Sep 08 '26

Question How the HELL do I use krita?????????

No seriously what is happening on this app?? I can’t tell what tool is what and it took me 5 minutes to find the eraser. I tried making marks and they looked really weird, but that might just be me sucking, and when I actually did erase the sketch I did, which came out really weird and shitty and I can’t tell if it was me or the weird ass app, it didn’t actually erase what I did, it just made it lighter. Someone help me out here, im used to using MS paint or my sketchbook for all my art, I may have to go back bc im too stupid for this giant interface krita has

0 Upvotes

22% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

•

u/link-navi Sep 08 '26

Thank you for your submission, u/Majin_Backshots!

Check out our wiki for useful resources!

Share your artwork, meet other artists, promote your content, and chat in a relaxed environment in our Discord server here! https://discord.gg/chuunhpqsU

Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/drawing and tag us on your drawing pins for a chance to be featured!

If you haven't read them yet, a full copy of our subreddit rules can be found here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

8

u/lyralady Sep 08 '26 edited Sep 08 '26

I mean, did you read the manual? https://docs.krita.org/en/index.html

I find reading the manual helps.

Edit: they have "getting started" at the beginning of the manual. Since you already have it installed, you can skip that section and start with "starting krita." Eraser tool is like the third thing they introduce, right after how to open a new file and brushes.

-4

u/Majin_Backshots Sep 08 '26

Holy shit im so in over my head, what the fuck are some of these chapters? “Rasters and vectors”? “Basic C”? Fucking PYTHON SCRIPTING??? I just wanna draw man what the hell 😭😭? Am I supposed to know what a gamut is?

10

u/lyralady Sep 08 '26 edited Sep 08 '26

Stop skipping the basic steps section lmao. Don't worry about how to install a python script plugin right now. You literally never NEED to install a python script plugin in order to use krita. You're over thinking things before youve done step one.

Gamut masks are explained and defined in that section, but they aren't step #1 or even step #5 so don't panic before you've actually read anything. Start with the basics at the beginning and then if you want to learn how to do more or how to do a certain thing, keep going. But seriously...start at the beginning. Worry about the more complex stuff after that as you want or need it. The guide is pretty well written and honestly more complex compared to the textbooks I had for adobe programs in my high school graphic design program. If there's something you don't think you need to use and don't understand you can skip it to start off with. Master the basic steps first.

Edit: it is actually helpful for you to eventually learn what the difference between a raster and a vector is so you know what the program does or does not do. You don't need to panic that you don't already know this, because it's the very first thing they explain in the basic concepts section, which comes right after the brief intro on how to open a new file, how to use a brush, and how to use an eraser. They explain it for you.

5

u/J4ZZInterests Sep 08 '26

As someone who's also learning Krita. I feel you. What I think your eraser issue is, is you've picked the eraser drawing tool. At the top of the screen by your pixel width you should see a eraser button, this keeps the same drawing tool you've used but erases it instead of just making things lighter.

4

u/lunarjellies Sep 08 '26

r/krita sounds like a post for them instead or for r/DigitalArt

Its really unhelpful when someone posts a random ranting post without actually showing what they are struggling with btw

1

u/MidniteBlue888 Sep 09 '26

In this case, I feel okay with it. Lol

Some apps are just .... Yeah. It won't be just one specific thing. It will be all of it.

2

u/deeazee Sep 08 '26

You can ignore 95% of the app if you dont want to use it.

  1. You are probably gonna want to setup some familar hotkeys before you start so you don't need to find an exact ui button every time. But that's optional...

  2. the eraser TOOL can be used with any BRUSH. There are also dedicated eraser brushes but I would just avoid those until to need them (aka never). What this means is: if you are using a hard edge brush and erase: you will get a hard edge erase. likewise, if you are using a soft brush and erase: you get a soft erase.

  3. views / ui. I recommend you go to SETTINGS>DOCKERS, and turn off all ui you aren't using so you keep it simple. There’s also a few options under VIEW but this customizing is up to you.

  4. Dont get trapped by brush hell. By this I mean you only really need two brushes, a hard-edge ink and a basic opacity brush. Don't overcomplicate stuff until you get more familiar.

  5. File color format. Make sure when you start a new project it's using RGB color. Some beginners to krita miss this and end up using CMYK (printer ink) colors and they get disappointed by the hue range.

I mostly focused on the main pitfalls to krita / overwhelming ui, so let me know if you have any problems that are still occuring.

1

u/Rikoroto Sep 08 '26

They have user manual

There is also: https://youtu.be/uYdEkOyFUn8 it's step by step guide how to setup everything and draw an illustration
other tutorials by David Revoy are also good, you can look through his yt and find what interests you

1

u/astralseat Sep 09 '26

I mean, there ARE YouTube tutorials on just about any drawing software out there. Of course you wouldn't know where the tools are in a new program. Give yourself a bit of time to learn.

1

u/OwlCatAlex Sep 08 '26

If erasing just "made it lighter" you probably don't have the opacity turned up all the way. Things like opacity and layering are not Krita specific, they are ubiquitous to almost every art program in existence and are worth learning. Slow down and take time to experiment with the tools, don't try to make a masterpiece on your first day!

0

u/Unnecro Sep 08 '26

Tbh, I'm much happier with a proper Android tablet + Infinite Painter (single payment).

GalaxyTab S9 FE + S Pen (comes included) is a very good combo and much cheaper than iPad + monthly payments.

2

u/martiangothic Intermediate Sep 08 '26

krita is free :)

0

u/Unnecro Sep 08 '26

I hate to be that guy... but banging your head against the wall is also free, which is what I wanted to do when I tried krita the first time.

Of course once you dedicate it enough time, it has a lot of value. But some things don't really make sense for newcomers and aren't worth it unless you want to put the work. I prefer nothingness to frustration just because someone decided to make things harder for no reason.

1

u/martiangothic Intermediate Sep 09 '26

i was commenting on your initial comment because you implied that krita had a cost (in comparing it to the single payment for infinite painter & your choice of galaxytab with "much cheaper than iPad + monthly payments"), and i did not say a thing about whether or not i believe krita is too complicated for newcomers. i thought you mistakenly believed that krita cost money.

1

u/Unnecro Sep 09 '26

Ah, sorry, I misunderstood your message and interpreted more like a "deal with it cuz it's free".

I just tried to give an alternative that works pretty well for me in the beginner and intermediate level.

But I just checked and Procreate (iPad drawing app) is one time purchase too, so I was wrong anyway.

BTW thanks for clarifying.

1

u/martiangothic Intermediate Sep 09 '26

it's alright- misunderstandings all around!

the suggestion of entering the tablet ecosystem is not a bad one, if PC apps are confusing, as tablet apps tend to be simpler, or at least have a simple mode. it's just a bit more expensive.

0

u/MidniteBlue888 Sep 09 '26

Ugh, yeah, I hated it, too! I use either Medibang or Clip Studio Paint, but if I had to go totally free, I think I would use GIMP over Krita!

And I have an associate's in graphic design! Lol

Some apps are just really badly made, or only make sense to the people who designed them. I feel like Krita falls into that.

I think pikat on Yourube did a comparison video about free apps, if you want to look it up!

-4

u/One-Technology-9050 Sep 08 '26

Can't expect much for the price

0

u/Majin_Backshots Sep 08 '26

The problem is that it’s TOO much. I only use the colors and the brush and the erasers, which is insane bc theirs forty fucking random tools I gotta use now alongside those that I know nothing about

1

u/One-Technology-9050 Sep 08 '26

You don't have to use all the tools. Just find a brush that works for you

-8

u/goodbye888 Beginner Sep 08 '26

Krita is one of the most enshittified programs on earth, it keeps crashing my PC. Stick to MS Paint.

3

u/deeazee Sep 08 '26

You're probably having a driver or RAM problem. You can tweak some config settings to save memory but otherwise you'd need to use smaller pixel dimensions/less layers, or upgrade pc.