Introduction to Krita

What is Krita

Krita \index{Krita} is a computer program that you can use to draw pictures and create art on your computer! It’s kind of like having a virtual canvas and painting supplies, but on your computer screen.

Krita has lots of tools that can help you draw, like different brushes and pens that you can use to make different types of lines and textures. You can also choose from lots of different colors and use layers to make your art look really cool.

Krita is used by lots of artists and designers to create all kinds of art, from digital paintings to animations. It’s a fun and easy way to express your creativity and make beautiful artwork without having to worry about messy paint or pencils.

Creating a New Doucment in Krita

In Krita, a document \index{document} is a digital canvas where you can draw, paint, and create artwork. Think of it like a blank piece of paper that you can use to create your artwork, but it’s on your computer screen instead of on a physical piece of paper. The instructions below show how to create a document in Krita

1. Open Krita: Launch Krita by clicking on the Krita icon in your applications folder or taskbar.

   
   

1. Click the “Create” button at the bottom of the dialog to create the document. Krita will then create a new blank document with the properties you specified.

   
   

Freehand Drawing

The freehand brush tool \index{freehand brush tool} in Krita is a tool that allows you to draw freely on your digital canvas using your computer mouse or a drawing tablet. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Krita and create a new document

2. Select the freehand brush tool from the toolbar on the left side of the screen. It looks like a paintbrush.

   
   

3. Choose a brush from the brush presets at the right side of the screen under “Brush Presets”. If you can not find the brush presets click the “F7” key on the top of your keyboard.

   
   

4. Adjust the size of your brush using the brush size slider at the top of the screen. Make it bigger or smaller depending on what you want to draw.

   
   

5. Start drawing on the canvas using your mouse or drawing tablet. You can make different types of strokes, like dots, lines, and curves, by moving the mouse or pen in different ways.

6. When you’re done drawing, you can save your artwork or export it as an image file.

Activity: Draw with Freehand Brush Tool

Create a new document in Krita and use the freehand brush tool in Krita to draw a simple image

Zoom in and Out

Zooming in and out in Krita is a handy tool that lets you make your canvas larger or smaller, so you can get a closer look at your artwork or see more of it at once. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Krita and create a new document or open an existing one.

2. Look for the zoom slider at the bottom right corner of the screen. It’s a little bar with a plus and minus sign on either side.

   
   

3. To zoom in, click on the plus sign or drag the slider to the right. This will make everything on your canvas bigger, so you can see the details more clearly.

4. To zoom out, click on the minus sign or drag the slider to the left. This will make everything on your canvas smaller, so you can see more of it at once.

5. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to zoom in and out. Press and hold the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard and scroll up or down with your mouse wheel. This will zoom in and out smoothly.

Color Selector

The color selector \index{color selector} in Krita is a tool that lets you choose different colors for your artwork. Here’s how it works:

1. Open Krita and create a new document or open an existing one.

2. Look for the color selector on the left side of the screen. It’s a square with different colors in it.

   
   

3. Click on the color selector to open it up. You should see a range of colors that you can choose from.

4. To choose a color, click on the color you want to use. You can also drag your mouse or stylus around the color selector to find the exact shade you’re looking for.

That’s it! The color selector in Krita is a simple tool that lets you choose from a range of colors or create your own custom color. This way, you can add some personality and creativity to your artwork.

Activity: Working with Colors

Experiment with the color selector in Krita by creating a new document and painting with different colors.

Putting It All Together

1. Open Krita and create a new document.

2. Use the freehand brush tool to draw a simple image on the canvas.

3. Experiment with different colors by using the color selector.

4. Zoom in and out on your artwork by using the zoom tool, adding detail to your art.

5. Continue working on your artwork, until you feel comfortable with the different tools you have learned about.

6. Save your artwork by selecting “Save” from the “File” menu.

Vocabulary Review

\item In Krita, what does a "document" refer to?
\begin{enumerate}[(a)]
    \item A file format used for storing artwork
    \item A layer within a project
    \item A collection of brushes and presets
    \item The canvas where you create your artwork
\end{enumerate}

\item Which tool in Krita is used for drawing or painting with a natural, hand-drawn effect?
\begin{enumerate}[(a)]
    \item Select tool
    \item Text tool
    \item Freehand brush tool
    \item Transform tool
\end{enumerate}

\item What does the "color selector" feature in Krita allow you to do?
\begin{enumerate}[(a)]
    \item Choose a color palette for your artwork
    \item Adjust the brightness and contrast of an image
    \item Select and modify specific colors in your artwork
    \item Switch between different color modes (RGB, CMYK, etc.)
\end{enumerate}

\item Which menu option in Krita allows you to customize and manage brushes?
\begin{enumerate}[(a)]
    \item Edit
    \item File
    \item View
    \item Brush
\end{enumerate}

\item What is the primary file format used for saving Krita projects?
\begin{enumerate}[(a)]
    \item .jpg
    \item .png
    \item .kra
    \item .psd
\end{enumerate}