The More I Learn, the More I Love
I’ve been learning a lot of new open-source programs, including image creation and editing tools. Last spring, my Adobe Creative Cloud subscription came to an end, and I had to use alternative programs to get work done. My choices on Linux for image creation and editing were limited to GIMP, Krita, and Photopea.
The more I learn, the more I love
Krita’s decision to make their interface and keyboard shortcuts mostly reflect the way Photoshop expats work was the right decision. With 37 million Creative Cloud subscribers, why not make a transition from PS to Krita easy? Krita has done this by adopting a similar keyboard shortcut scheme to Photoshop.
Features and Capabilities
Diving into Krita’s preferences, I found some great features. For example, the menu SETTINGS > Configure Krita… allows me to select Keyboard Shortcuts. At the bottom of this dialog is "Shortcut Schemes" where I can select which application I want Krita to adopt the keyboard shortcuts from. Photoshop being one.
I also found a way to correct the tiny icons on my 4k screen. In the SETTINGS > General > Window… dialog, I toggled the "Enable HiDPI Support" option. This made things too large, but it was easy to fix with local adjustments.
Comparison with Photoshop and GIMP
Here’s a comparison table of Krita’s features and capabilities with those of Photoshop and GIMP.
| Feature | Krita | Photoshop | GIMP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healing Tool | 9 | 9 | 2 |
| Content Aware Fill | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| AI | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| Non Destructive tools | 9 | 9 | 4 |
| Range of filters | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| Ease of Layer Panel | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| Channel Ops/Alphas | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| RAW File Input | 9 | 9 | 5 |
The Question of AI
As a true production tool, AI is necessary to compete with Photoshop. However, many Krita community members do not want AI in Krita, citing that it is "stealing" artists’ jobs. But it is taking illustrative jobs from me as well, just as stock photography and Photoshop did before. That’s progress, and keeping it out of Krita won’t stop it.
Stealing the Crown
I think it’s high-time that the Krita leads fess up and admit that they have created a very powerful creative tool that can easily become the mainstay for a very wide range of creatives. Not just painters. As both individuals and even entire teams move away from subscription products and look for something else, I humbly suggest that Krita may be what they are looking for. And I can imagine a day not too long from now that both schools and shops start moving over. And why not, it works.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Krita has come a long way and has proven to be a powerful tool for image creation and editing. Its compatibility with Photoshop shortcuts, ease of use, and feature set make it a viable alternative to Adobe Photoshop. While it may not be perfect, it is certainly worth considering for anyone looking to transition away from subscription-based products.
FAQs
Q: Is Krita a free and open-source alternative to Adobe Photoshop?
A: Yes, Krita is a free and open-source image editing software that can be downloaded and used without a subscription.
Q: How does Krita compare to Photoshop and GIMP in terms of features and capabilities?
A: Krita has many features and capabilities similar to Photoshop and GIMP, but has some unique ones as well.
Q: Can Krita replace Photoshop completely?
A: While Krita can do many of the same tasks as Photoshop, it may not be able to replace it completely for everyone. However, it is certainly a viable alternative for many users.
