Krita 5.2.6 evaluation: at last, a legitimate Photoshop substitute surfaces

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Krita 5.2.6, a recent version of the free digital painting software, offers targeted enhancements for digital art and animation, differentiating itself from Adobe Photoshop's broader design and editing toolset. This article provides an overview of Krita 5.2.6's features and how it compares to Adobe Photoshop.

Krita 5.2.6 provides functionality for effortlessly isolating elements of an image, similar to Photoshop's Auto Select tool, through its Segmentation Tools plugin. The software offers a variety of brushes, including pencils, chalk, watercolor, charcoal, bristles, rollers, painting knives, markers, technical pens, airbrushes, textures, sprays, stamps, hair brushes, halftone brushes, and more.

One of the key features of Krita 5.2.x is the synchronized audio playback and FFmpeg bundle, which is particularly useful for animators. This integration allows for audio playback synchronized with the animation timeline, a feature outside Photoshop's scope. The software also boasts a new text layout engine, enhancing text rendering capabilities inside the software, and a wide gamut color selector, supporting wide gamut color spaces, helping artists working with professional color profiles.

Brush stabilizers and pop-up palettes are UI and usability enhancements targeting artists needing precise stroke control and fast access to brush presets and colors. Krita's open-source and donationware model appeals to users preferring a non-subscription creative tool, contrasting with Photoshop’s proprietary paid model.

Comparing Krita 5.2.6 directly to Photoshop, we can see that Krita's primary user focus is digital painting, illustration, and animation, while Photoshop is more versatile for photo editing, compositing, and broader graphic design workflows. Krita's animation with audio sync, text engine, color management, brush engine & stabilizers, and licensing differ significantly from Photoshop.

| Feature/Improvement | Krita 5.2.6+ | Photoshop (Latest) | |----------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Primary User Focus | Digital painting, illustration, animation | Broad raster image editing, graphic design, photo manipulation | | Animation with Audio Sync | Yes, synchronized audio playback | Basic video timeline, no direct audio sync for animation | | Text Engine | New text layout engine | Robust text tools with advanced typography | | Color Management | Wide gamut color selector | Advanced color profiles and editing | | Brush Engine & Stabilizers | Advanced brush stabilizers & control | Rich brush dynamics and editing | | Licensing | Free, open-source donationware | Subscription-based proprietary software | | User Interface | Intuitive, artist-centric UI | Industry-standard UI with extensive features |

While Krita lacks some features found in Photoshop, such as distortion tools, text generation controls, and Levels with Black Point, White Point, and Midtone buttons, it offers a Content Aware Fill tool similar to Photoshop's. Krita's Smart Patch Tool is similar to Photoshop's Healing Tool, but may have more blurring and slower performance. Sharpen, Blur, Dodge, and Burn functions in Krita are implemented as Brushes, which can slow down the workflow.

Krita also lacks the ability to print to a desktop printer, requiring exporting and printing with another application. However, the software does run on multiple platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and ChromeOS, and is available for download from its official website, with no serial numbers, verification codes, or dongles required.

Recently, Krita has started bundling a suite of plugins called G'MIC, which includes over 500 functions, bringing it more in line with other programs. The software's non-destructive workflows are comparable to those in Photoshop, with tools like File Layers and Filter Layers. Krita is suitable for creating illustrations, comics, animation, concept art, and storyboards, with workflows and tools for traditional onion-skinning animation and comic book project management.

In summary, Krita 5.2.6 brings targeted enhancements for digital art and animation, differentiating itself from Photoshop's broader design and editing toolset, with the strong advantage of being free and open-source. While it may not offer all the features of Adobe Photoshop, it provides a viable alternative for digital artists and animators seeking a more artist-centric UI and a focus on digital painting and illustration.

Krita 5.2.6, a free digital painting software, offers enhancements for digital art and animation, setting it apart from Adobe Photoshop's broader design and editing tools.
Krita's Segmentation Tools plugin allows for easy isolation of image elements, similar to Photoshop's Auto Select tool.
The software offers a plethora of brushes, including pencils, chalk, watercolor, charcoal, for digital painting and illustration.
Krita's synchronized audio playback and FFmpeg bundle are beneficial for animators, a feature not found in Photoshop.
The software's new text layout engine improves text rendering capabilities, while the wide gamut color selector supports professional color profiles.
Brush stabilizers and pop-up palettes in Krita provide precise stroke control and quick access to brush presets and colors.
Krita's primary focus is digital painting, illustration, and animation, contrasting Photoshop's broader graphic design workflows.
While Krita lacks some features compared to Photoshop, it includes a Content Aware Fill tool and non-destructive workflows like File Layers and Filter Layers.
Krita is suitable for creating illustrations, comics, animation, concept art, and storyboards, with workflows for traditional onion-skinning animation and comic book project management.
Krita is available for multiple platforms and is free, open-source donationware, unlike Adobe Photoshop's subscription-based proprietary software.