Krita logo

    Krita

    A professional free and open-source digital painting, illustration, and animation application.

    NLNetherlands
    Headquarters
    🇳🇱Netherlands
    Data Hosting
    EU-based
    Structure
    Independent
    Compliance
    —

    Krita key facts

    Last updated
    Legal entity
    Stichting Krita Foundation
    Headquarters
    Netherlands (NL)
    Ownership
    Independent
    Infrastructure
    Self-hosted (Desktop Application)
    Open source
    Yes
    US Cloud Act exposure
    Low (no US parent)
    Replaces
    Adobe Photoshop

    About Krita

    Krita is a professional-grade, open-source raster graphics editor designed primarily for digital painting and 2D animation. Developed by the Stichting Krita Foundation based in the Netherlands, it originated within the KDE community. The software is built using the Qt framework and is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). As a desktop-first application, Krita emphasizes artist workflows with features like an innovative pop-up palette, brush stabilization, and advanced layer management. It serves as a sovereign alternative to proprietary creative suites, offering professional tools without subscription fees or vendor lock-in. The project is sustained through community donations and professional development sponsorship.

    Alternative to

    Hosting & Security

    Infrastructure

    Self-hosted (Desktop Application)

    Key Features

    High-performance brush engines
    Animation tools with cache swapping and reference images
    Vector and text tools
    Python scripting support
    Session management
    Drawing tablet and Cintiq support
    Customizable user interface
    Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android)

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