Krita Animation

How animation works in Krita

You work on a timeline of frames, drawing each one by hand. Onion skinning shows ghosted versions of the frames before and after the current one, so you can judge spacing and movement as you draw. When the motion looks right, you play it back on the canvas and refine.

• Timeline docker: add, duplicate and reorder frames across multiple layers.
• Onion skinning: see neighbouring frames to guide your drawing.
• Animation curves: control opacity and other properties over time.
• Frame-by-frame: draw with the same brushes you paint with.

Exporting your animation

When the animation is finished, Krita exports it to a video file or to an image sequence you can bring into a video editor. Because everything from the first sketch to the final render happens in one free program, it is a genuinely low-cost way to make short animations, animated illustrations or looping clips.

It suits beginners and experienced artists alike: the timeline is simple to learn, but the same tools scale up to longer hand-drawn work. To try it, get the free Krita download, and see the brushes guide for the tools you will animate with.

Tips for your first animation

• Start short: a simple looping cycle of a few frames teaches the timeline fast.
• Use onion skinning: it is the single biggest help for judging movement.
• Animate on a new layer: keep your rough motion separate from clean-up.
• Pick a simple brush: a clean inking brush from the brushes set keeps frames consistent.

Because you are drawing every frame by hand, planning the key poses first and filling in between them keeps the work manageable.

What you can make

With frame-by-frame tools and Krita's brushes you can make animated illustrations, short clips, looping GIFs, effects like fire or smoke, and simple character animation. It is a natural next step for anyone who already draws in Krita, and it costs nothing to try — the same free Krita download includes everything you need. For the painting side that feeds into your frames, see the feature overview.

Is Krita good for animation?

For 2D, frame-by-frame animation, Krita is a strong free choice — especially if you already paint or draw in it, since there is nothing new to install and no extra cost. It is not a rigging or cut-out animation tool like some dedicated packages, but for traditional hand-drawn animation it covers the essentials well. Combined with its brush engine and layer system, it lets you take a piece from first sketch to finished animated clip without leaving the program or paying a penny. See the full feature overview for how animation fits with the rest of Krita.

Common questions