GIMP and Krita are two of the most popular free and open-source graphics programs, and they are often compared because they target different creative needs. Both support layers, masks, brushes, and a wide range of file formats, but they are built with different workflows in mind. GIMP is mainly used for photo editing, image manipulation, and graphic design, while Krita focuses on digital painting, illustration, and 2D animation. Although they may look similar at first, their tools, performance, and ideal use cases can be quite different.
In this GIMP vs Krita comparison, we'll look at their key features, system requirements, and real-world performance to help you decide which one fits your workflow best.
What Are GIMP and Krita
What Is GIMP
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source raster graphics editor that has been around for many years. It is widely used for photo retouching, image composition, and general graphic design tasks such as creating banners, thumbnails, social media visuals, and web graphics.
GIMP offers a complete set of tools for working with layers, masks, selections, color correction, filters, and plugins. For many users, it serves as a free alternative to Adobe Photoshop, especially for tasks like cropping, background removal, color grading, and advanced image editing.
What Is Krita
Krita is also a free and open-source graphics application, but it is primarily designed for digital painting and illustration. It is popular among concept artists, comic creators, and illustrators who work with drawing tablets and need natural brush behavior, pen pressure support, and advanced painting tools.
In addition to painting, Krita also includes features for frame-by-frame 2D animation, making it a versatile tool for artists who want to sketch, ink, color, and animate in one program. While Krita can handle basic photo editing, its main strength lies in creative drawing and artwork rather than traditional image manipulation.
GIMP vs Krita: Features Compared
Core Focus
The biggest difference between GIMP and Krita lies in their core purpose.
GIMP is built mainly for image manipulation, photo retouching, and graphic design. It is well suited for tasks like fixing exposure, removing objects, compositing multiple photos, and preparing images for web or print.
Krita, in contrast, is designed for digital painting and illustration. Its tools are optimized for drawing from scratch, working with pen tablets, and creating artwork such as concept art, comics, and storyboards. It also supports frame-by-frame 2D animation, which makes it attractive to illustrators and animators.
Brushes & Drawing
Krita has a highly advanced brush engine with hundreds of customizable brushes, pen pressure and tilt support, brush stabilizers, and drawing assistants. These features make line work smoother and more natural, especially when using a graphics tablet.
GIMP also provides brushes and basic tablet support, but its brush system is not as refined for painting. While it works for simple drawing, it lacks the natural feel, stabilization, and fine control that digital artists usually expect.
Image Editing
GIMP excels at photo editing and retouching. It offers powerful selection tools, layer masks, curves, levels, color correction, healing and clone tools, and a large collection of filters. These make it suitable for tasks such as portrait retouching, background removal, and complex image compositing.
Krita can edit photos as well, but its tools are more oriented toward painting over images rather than precise photo manipulation. For heavy retouching and professional image correction, GIMP is generally the better choice.
Even with powerful tools like GIMP and Krita, working with low-resolution images or upscaling artwork can be time-consuming and sometimes challenging. That's where Aiarty Image Enhancer comes in. It allows you to quickly enhance image clarity, remove noise, and upscale photos or digital art without compromising detail. Whether you're refining a photo in GIMP or polishing a painting from Krita, Aiarty helps you save time and get professional-looking results effortlessly. Its fast processing works well even on lower-spec PCs, making it a handy companion for both photographers and digital artists.
Color & Bit Depth
Krita supports a wider range of color models and higher bit depths, which is important for professional digital painting and color-critical workflows. It handles HDR, 16-bit and 32-bit color more smoothly, giving artists better control over gradients and color transitions.
GIMP also supports high bit depth, but its color management and workflow are more focused on standard photo editing and filter-based adjustments rather than painting-oriented color workflows.
Animation
Krita includes a dedicated animation workspace with a timeline, onion skinning, and frame management. This allows artists to create hand-drawn 2D animations directly inside the software. GIMP, on the other hand, only supports basic frame-based animation for formats like GIF. It lacks a full animation timeline and is not designed for serious animation work.
Interface & Usability
Krita's interface is designed with artists in mind. Brushes, layers, and painting tools are easy to access, and the workspace can be customized for drawing and animation workflows. For tablet users, it feels more intuitive and fluid.
GIMP uses a more traditional, menu-heavy interface. While it is highly customizable and powerful, it can feel complex and less friendly for beginners, especially those focused on drawing rather than editing photos.
File Support
GIMP supports a wide range of image formats and has strong compatibility with PSD files, making it useful in mixed workflows where Photoshop files are involved.
Krita supports most common image formats and its own KRA format for layered projects. While its PSD support is good, it is mainly optimized for its native painting and illustration workflow.
GIMP vs Krita: Specs & Performance
GIMP vs Krita: Pros & Cons
- Excellent for photo editing, retouching, and graphic design
- Supports a wide range of file formats, including PSD
- Lightweight and runs well on low-spec PCs
- Large community with abundant plugins and tutorials
- Interface can feel clunky or menu-heavy for beginners
- Brush engine and painting tools are less advanced
- Some features require plugins to match professional workflows
GIMP is ideal if your focus is on editing photos, creating web graphics, or working on older hardware. Its flexibility and plugin ecosystem make it a solid choice for both hobbyists and professional users who need a free Photoshop alternative.
- Advanced brush engine with pen pressure, tilt, and stabilizers
- Perfect for digital painting, concept art, and illustration
- Includes 2D animation tools and frame-by-frame timeline
- Intuitive interface for artists and tablet users
- Can be resource-intensive on older or low-end computers
- Photo editing tools are basic compared to GIMP
- Some learning curve for new users unfamiliar with digital painting
Krita shines for illustrators, comic artists, and animators who want a free tool that handles drawing, painting, and animation all in one program. It's less suited for heavy photo editing but excels in creative workflows.
GIMP vs Krita: Which One Should You Choose
Choosing between GIMP and Krita largely depends on your creative needs and workflow. Here's a breakdown of typical scenarios:
GIMP: Best For Photo Editing & Graphic Design
- Photographers who need retouching, color correction, or background removal
- Graphic designers creating banners, social media posts, and web graphics
- Users on low-spec PCs who want fast, responsive software
- Anyone needing Photoshop compatibility through PSD support or plugins
If your work is focused on modifying existing images rather than creating art from scratch, GIMP is usually the better choice.
Krita: Best For Digital Art & Animation
- Digital painters and illustrators working with pen tablets
- Concept artists, comic artists, and manga creators
- Animators creating frame-by-frame 2D animations
- Artists needing advanced brush customization and drawing assistants
Krita excels when your main goal is creating original artwork or animation, offering tools specifically designed to streamline painting workflows.
FAQs
Krita is excellent for digital painting, illustration, and animation, but it doesn't have the full photo-editing tools of Photoshop. For graphic design and photo retouching, GIMP or Photoshop are better options.
Yes, GIMP is free and lightweight, but its menu-heavy interface can feel complex at first. Beginners can start with basic photo editing and gradually explore advanced tools and plugins.
GIMP is lighter and runs more smoothly on older or less powerful hardware. Krita can run on low-end PCs, but large canvases, advanced brushes, and animations may be slower.
Krita can perform basic photo edits, such as color adjustments or cropping, but it is primarily designed for painting and illustration. Complex photo retouching is more efficient in GIMP.
Yes, both GIMP and Krita are completely free and open-source, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
For digital painting, concept art, comics, or 2D animation, Krita is generally the better choice. For photo editing, graphic design, or low-spec systems, GIMP is preferred.
This post was written by Brenda Peng who is a seasoned editor at Digiarty Software who loves turning ordinary photos into extraordinary works of art. With AI assistance for brainstorming and drafting, the post is reviewed for accuracy by our expert Abby Poole for her expertise in this field.
