Archives For Krita

For users of Krita 5.2, the first point release of this major release was out few days ago.

The Krita 5.2.1 release includes over 50 bug-fixes, so everyone is encouraged to update!

The official announcement didn’t mention any detailed changes in the release. Here are what I found according to the source page commits:

  • Fix rendering failure or wrong audio offset when start frame is non-zero.
  • Fix pasting image data issue.
  • Fix Size brush option to be checkable again
  • Fix initialization of “Checked” and “Checkable” values for masked brush options
  • Implement ‘Other->Reset Transparent filter’ to guarantee all the fully transparent pixels are zeroed.
  • Add update-ahead feature to outline updates
  • Add back edit toolbar
  • Add a flag for dockers that should be shown on the welcome screen
  • Prevent crash when a default profile in missing.
  • Make halftone filter work well with python
  • Add alpha-preserve attribute to ORA import/export
  • Implement ctrl+stroke for measure tool to change the baseline
  • Add eraser cursors for non-brush tools
  • Improve the quality of overview thumbnail on scaled high-dpi displays

There are as well initial import snapcraft files and a few other snap related changes. However, the official Snap package is still at v5.1.6 at the moment of writing.

How to Install Krita 5.2.1 in Ubuntu

Krita so far provides official packages through AppImage and Flatpak.

Option 1: AppImage

The official AppImage for modern x86 64-bit (amd64) Linux is available to download at the link below:

It’s non-install portable package. Just right-click on AppImage file and go to its ‘Properties’ page, then enable ‘Executable as program’ under Permissions tab. Finally, click run to launch the image editor.

Run Krita AppImage (forgive me for the version number)

Option 2: Flatpak

Flatpak is another universal package format runs in most Linux, through runs in sandbox.

At the moment of writing, Krita Flatpak package is still at v5.2.0 (check this page). Once it’s updated to v5.2.1, you may run the 2 commands below one by one to get it:

  • First, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal, and verify Flatpak daemon is installed:
    sudo apt install flatpak
  • Then, install Krita as Flatpak by running command:
    flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/org.kde.krita.flatpakref

If you’ve already have Krita installed as Flatpak, run command to check updates for the package:

flatpak update org.kde.krita

Option 3: Ubuntu PPA (Unofficial)

For those who prefer the classic native .deb package format, I’ve made the new release package into this unofficial PPA.

So far, it supports Ubuntu 22.04 (amd64, arm64/armhf), Ubuntu 23.04 & 23.10 (amd64, armhf).

1. First, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open a terminal window. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/krita

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it asks and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then, either launch Software Updater and upgrade the graphics editor from an old version:

or run the command below in terminal to install/upgrade it:

sudo apt install krita

NOTE: Linux Mint may have to run sudo apt update first.

Uninstall:

For the Flatpak package, simply open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to remove it:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.kde.krita

Also, run flatpak uninstall --unused to free up some disk space by removing useless run-time libraries.

To remove the PPA as well as downgrade the Krita package to stock versions, run command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/krita

Or, open Software & Updates and remove the repository source line under “Other Software” tab (Linux Mint users go to Software Sources -> PPA).

And, remove Krita graphics editor .deb package by running command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove krita krita-data

That’s all. Enjoy!

For those prefer the classic .deb package, the Krita Lime PPA is finally updated with the latest v4.4.8 package for Ubuntu 20.04, Linux Mint 20 and Ubuntu 21.04.

Krita Lime PPA:

Krita provides official Linux binaries in a few package formats, e.g., Flatpak and Appimage. The Krita Lime PPA (Personal Package Archive) is one of them maintained by Alexey Samoilov, which provides the classic deb packages of the graphics editor for all current Ubuntu releases (so far Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.04) and their based systems, e.g, Linux Mint 20, Elementary OS 6 and Zorin OS 16.

For unknown reason the PPA package stopped at v4.4.3 for almost half an year, missing a few release updates. And finally it’s updated today with the recent Krita 4.4.8 package for Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 21.04, while the Ubuntu 18.04 package is still being working.

Install the Latest Krita from the PPA

For those sticking to the apt package, you can add the PPA and upgrade the digital painting software via following steps.

1.) Add Krita Lime PPA.

Firstly, click the top-left ‘Activities’ button to bring up overview screen, then search for and open terminal. Or search for and open terminal from your system start menu.

When terminal opens, paste the command below into it and hit Enter:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kritalime/ppa

For running sudo command you have to type user password to authenticate, and then hit Enter to continue.

2.) Install or Upgrade Krita.

After adding the PPA repository, you can now open system update manager (Software Updater) app and upgrade this popular digital painting and 2D animation software if an old version was installed.

Or just run this command in a terminal window to install or upgrade it:

sudo apt install krita

Once installed, launch it from your system start menu and enjoy!

Uninstall Krita and Remove the PPA:

It’s always easy to remove the packages from your system. Also open a terminal window and run the command below will do the job:

sudo apt remove --autoremove krita krita-data

To remove the PPA, simply add --remove flag in the command used to add it. So the command will be:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:kritalime/ppa

Or open the Software & Updates utility and remove relevant line from ‘Other Software’ tab.

Krita

For those prefer installing apps via apt method, the digital painting software Krita 4.4.2 now is available to install via another well trusted PPA for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 20.10, Linux Mint 20.

Krita 4.4.2 was released a week ago as the latest version of the free open-source painting software, with new features: SVG mesh Gradients, mesh transform, new gradient fill layer type, new brushes, and improved HiDPI support.

While the official packages in Krita Lime PPA for some reason stuck at version 4.4.0, the Ubuntu Studio Backports PPA now maintains the latest packages for Ubuntu 20.04 and ubuntu 20.10.

As an official Ubuntu flavor for audio / video production, graphics desigin, photography, and desktop publishing, Ubuntu Studio also maintains the most recent packages of Audacity, Darktable, DigiKam, GIMP, OBS Studio, etc in the PPA.

Install Krita via Ubuntu Studio Backports PPA:

1.) Remove Krita Lime PPA:

If you have the official Krita Lime PPA added in your system, you have to remove it first as it contains version 3:4.4.0, which is higher than the Krita 1:4.4.2 package provided in the Ubuntu Studio backports PPA.

Open terminal from system application launcher. When it opens, run command to remove the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:kritalime/ppa

Type user password when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

And remove old Krita packages installed from the official PPA:

sudo apt remove --autoremove krita krita-data

2.) Add Ubuntu Studio backports PPA:

Then run command to add the new Ubuntu PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntustudio-ppa/backports

3.) Finally install the latest Krita packages via apt command:

sudo apt install krita

Remove Krita and Ubuntu Studio PPA:

To remove the Ubuntu Studio Backports PPA, run the command in step 1.) by replacing ppa:kritalime/ppa with ppa:ubuntustudio-ppa/backports.

You can also open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab, then remove the relevant repository line to uninstall the PPA.

To remove Krita software, run the second command in steps 1.).

Krita

Krita, free open-source painting program, released version 4.4.2 yesterday with some key new features though it’s mainly a bug-fix release.

Krita 4.4.2 comes with over 300 changes. New features in the release include:

  • SVG Mesh Gradients implementation.
  • Mesh transform allowing complex transformations
  • New gradient fill layer type to quickly create a variety of gradients non-destructively.
  • New halftone filter
  • Updated macOS integration plugins
  • A paste shape style action under the edit menu.
  • Added a toolbar button for Wraparound Mode
  • New brushes.
  • Improved HiDPI support.
  • Various bug-fixes, stability and performance improvements.

How to Get Krita 4.4.2 in Ubuntu:

The non-install Appimage package is available to download at the link below:

Download Krita (.appimage)

Just grab the package, right-click and go to its Properties dialog, then add ability to executing as program in Permissions tab. And finally click run the Appimage to launch Krita.

Krita also has an official PPA though it still offers version 4.4.0 packages at the moment.

Krita

Just a few weeks after the release of Krita 4.4, the first point release Krita 4.4.1 now is out with various bug-fixes and stability improvements.

For Android and Chrome OS, Krita now uses SDK v29 so it doesn’t need permissions to run anymore and can access external files more easily. There are also fixes to color picker, copy and paste on the platforms.

Other fixes in Krita 4.4.1:

  • Fix a crash when loading a file with a pattern fill layer
  • Fix loading masks with vector selections
  • Fix a crash in the text tool when opening the editor by double-clicking the text
  • Fix a crash when using the move tool on a pixel selection

How to install Krita 4.4.1:

The painting software is also available as non-install single executable .appimage package.
It’s also available as Flatpak package, an universal Linux package runs in sandbox.

The Krita Lime PPA (check the link before getting started) contains the most recent software packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Ubuntu 20.10.

1. Open terminal either by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or by searching for ‘terminal’ from system application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kritalime/ppa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then upgrade Krita via Software Updater:

upgrade krita

or run command one by one in terminal to install or upgrade the painting software:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install krita

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

To remove Krita, run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove krita krita-*