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White-Heron — Krita tutorial - Basics by

Published: 2012-09-08 05:13:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 82935; Favourites: 703; Downloads: 1478
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Description Getting started with Krita isn't too complicated: just start it up, select a brush preset and experiment away. A better understand of the interface will really improve your workflow though. I've added various tips that so-so artists (like me...) may find useful, but ultimately everyone will find his or her ideal workflow.

This tutorial is under a CC-0 / Public Domain license.

To find back other tutorials mentioned in these tutorials and more, visit Krita's resource page: [link]

My Krita tutorial series:
Big thanks to Claus for converting all these to a wiki format as well. Everybody is welcome to submit improvements, updates and translations to this wiki, so it may be more up-to-date. These tutorials were done with Krita 2.5.2 ~ 2.5.3. To my knowledge, Krita 2.6 should have a mostly similar interface.

Part 1 - Basics ( Wiki version )
- Symmetry mode, Interface, Quick overview of some brushes

Part 2 - Layers and Editing ( Wiki version )
- Layer management: alpha locking, layer mask and erase mode, filter brushes, masks and layers, local selections, clone layers, use recommendations
- Image properties and editing: basics, selections, transformation tool and deform brush,

Part 3 - Brushes

Part A: General ( Wiki version )
- Preliminary: common "issues"
- Brush management: Saving/Deleting presets, brush folders
- Drawing modes
- Assistants

Part B - Pixel Brushes 1/2 ( Wiki version )
- Brush tips: Autobrush, Predefined brush, Custom brush, Text brush
- Paint build-up behaviours: Default (Opacity vs Flow, Build vs Wash-up, Airbrush mode), Blending modes

Part B - Pixel Brushes 2/2 ( Wiki version )
- Brush shape dynamics: common settings, opacity, size, spacing, softness and sharpness, rotation, scatter
- Color source, color dynamics, Texture -> Pattern
- Combos!

Pixel brushes - Appendix 1 : Gallery of predefined brushes
Pixel brushes - Appendix 2 : Brush presets from the tutorial

Part C - Color Smudge Brush ( Wiki version )

Part D - Curve, Particle and Dyna brushes ( Wiki version )

Part E - Sketch, Hairy and Chalk brushes ( Wiki version )

Part F - Hatching, Grid, Spray and Experiment brushes ( Wiki version )
Related content
Comments: 125

White-Heron In reply to ??? [2012-10-09 14:09:11 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! I'm actually working on a second tutorial.
Most embarrassing moment I've had recently: suggesting a bunch of features in the forum, only to realize a few days later that half were already in Krita. ;_;
And so they're going straight into my next tutorial. xP

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

SteelJaw In reply to White-Heron [2012-10-09 16:45:28 +0000 UTC]

There's so much to Krita, I can see how you might miss things! I know there's a lot that I've missed so far! Can't wait for your next tutorial.

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the-tea-zombie [2012-09-25 15:44:21 +0000 UTC]

Thanks... this make it so much easier to get into it

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White-Heron In reply to the-tea-zombie [2012-09-26 01:31:15 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! I'm glad it helps.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Deevad In reply to ??? [2012-09-11 18:12:33 +0000 UTC]

Realy cool tutorials, Krita lack of documentation and this is precious
Thanks for making it, you deserve a lama !

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to Deevad [2012-09-12 01:29:00 +0000 UTC]

Whooooaaa, I got a llama from Deevad! xD I don't know what to say!

Truthfully, I should have made that tutorial a long time ago. Though, I guess I was also waiting for a proper Windows version, so my friends won't get mad at me for promoting an awesome program that they can't even use. xD

Thank You for all those awesome brush presets and tutorials too! They are a big reason why Krita is so usable "right out of the box", which is quite significant for new users who'd otherwise get intimidated by all the options.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Deevad In reply to White-Heron [2012-09-13 11:47:42 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the Lama trade

Yep , Krita is awesome I'm also preparing on my side content to help users, maybe a simple video timelapse. Depend the time I found for it. Thanks for this contribution.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to Deevad [2012-09-13 13:01:30 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! Really looking forward to it!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Silverstroller1 In reply to ??? [2012-09-11 06:20:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for this. Very good tutorial.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to Silverstroller1 [2012-09-11 07:58:45 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! I hope you enjoy using the program!

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WayneParker [2012-09-11 05:01:31 +0000 UTC]

Very good, and detailed. Like I said on the forum Krita does have great potential.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to WayneParker [2012-09-11 05:09:55 +0000 UTC]

It sure does! I've been keeping an eye on Krita for several years now, and it has been developing really FAST. In the beginning the aliasing was bad when you zoomed in and out and it was really buggy, but now at least it's reached a stage where hobbyists can really use it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

LukasTdev In reply to ??? [2012-09-08 11:54:46 +0000 UTC]

Very nice tutorial!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to LukasTdev [2012-09-08 12:19:06 +0000 UTC]

... LukasT? Hey! Thank YOU for bringing us the Sketch brush by integrating Project Harmony into Krita! It's SUCH a fun brush.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LukasTdev In reply to White-Heron [2012-09-12 19:49:36 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for your great tutorial. Very insightful and I like how you exposed the features that should make krita usable even without tablet. That was my intention when I was working on them -- just great

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to LukasTdev [2012-09-13 05:21:00 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for working on it in a way that also benefits non-tablet users! I can definitely afford a tablet and plan to buy one (eventually), but I think users should not be distracted by the lack of one. The most important thing is still to improve one's basic drawing skills. Tablets are handy, but if you can't draw with a pencil, you can't draw with a tablet either. xD

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

murxao In reply to ??? [2012-09-08 07:36:34 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! This is a great introduction to Krita!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to murxao [2012-09-08 09:50:18 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! I hope this helps!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Ashenjay In reply to ??? [2012-09-08 06:09:22 +0000 UTC]

Wow, it sounds great! :3 Must try it!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to Ashenjay [2012-09-08 06:39:41 +0000 UTC]

Please do! It's fun!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Mythee In reply to ??? [2012-09-08 05:34:43 +0000 UTC]

Whoa, that's insane. O3O

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to Mythee [2012-09-08 05:35:58 +0000 UTC]

Thanks? xD (what's insane though?)
Anyway, you should try out the program. Soooo fun.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Mythee In reply to White-Heron [2012-09-08 13:37:17 +0000 UTC]

How practical it makes some things. I need to try the smoothing thing.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

White-Heron In reply to Mythee [2012-09-08 13:56:32 +0000 UTC]

Whoa, I just realized that I confused the Particle Brush and the Curve Brush. They're so much alike. D: Gotta fix that.

That said, my favourite method of drawing lineart is still paper. x'D (more used to it)

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