How to Add Images to Krita, complete guide

In this tutorial, we'll look at various ways to add images to Krita, from the quickest, like dragging and dropping and copying and pasting, to the most precise and contextual, analyzing each procedure step-by-step, specifying possible variations and usage methods.
There are many reasons for importing images into Krita, whether you're starting a new drawing or adding detail to an existing one. You might need to add a background image, a logo, a texture to an illustration, a sketch to ink, a photo to retouch, figures to animate, etc., and each method may require a different approach.
We'll cover how to import a reference image in another tutorial; here, we'll discuss how to add an image to use in our project.

Table of Contents:

• Importing by dragging an image into Krita (Drag & Drop)
• How to import with copy and paste (copy from the clipboard) from another software to Krita
• How to copy an image from the web to Krita
• Create a new image by pasting it from the clipboard
• How to copy an image, or multiple images, from one document to another within Krita
• How to copy an image from another app to Krita when installed on a tablet
• How to open an image as a new document
• How to import an image as a new layer (or even in the same layer)
• How to import a link to an image using a File Layer
• How to import images as frames (for animation) in Krita

Importing by dragging an image into Krita (Drag & Drop):

This is the quickest and most intuitive method. Simply drag an image file from your file manager's folder into the Krita window.

With different results depending on the situation:

Dragging an image into Krita, creating a new document:

If we had just launched the Krita software, dragging the image will automatically create a new document, named after the image (in our case, "dandelion.jpg"), and the image will be placed in the first layer, which the software calls "Background."

Dragging multiple images into Krita:

If we had previously selected multiple images, dragging them all at once will create multiple documents, one for each image with its original name which identifies it.

Drag an image into Krita, into an existing document:

If a document has already been created in Krita, dragging an image from outside will display a pop-up menu

which will ask how and where we want to insert the image:

- "Insert as a New Layer", which will place it on a layer above the previous ones.

- "Insert as New File layer", like the "New Layer" function, but without importing the image into our project, but only a link to it. We'll cover this in another chapter of this tutorial.

- "Open in New Document" insert as a new document, as we saw before, if no project has yet been created.

- "Insert as Reference Image", a case we'll explain in another tutorial.

In the popup menu, only the first half of all the items are active. This is because they refer to the transfer of a single image. If you have selected and want to transfer more than one image, the items in the second half of the menu will be active. These have the same function as the first, but they refer to multiple images to be transferred.

How to import with copy and paste (copy from the clipboard) from another software to Krita:

Using the usual menu commands, or the usual keyboard shortcuts "Ctrl+C" for copy and "Ctrl+V" for paste, we can both transfer images (or portions of them) from another graphics or office software to Krita and easily import images from the Internet.

In the first case, we must use the tools available in the other software to copy the image (selection and copy tools from the menu or, after selecting, the simple command activated with the "Ctrl+C" keyboard shortcut) and then use the Krita tools to paste.

For example, if we're working on an image in GIMP, if the image you want to copy is contained entirely on a single layer, simply select the layer and press "Ctrl+C"

(Otherwise, we'll need to merge multiple layers together, or use a selection tool to copy what's visible.)

To paste the image into Krita, we have two options: we can position ourselves in the Krita document and simply press "Ctrl+V," which will create a new paint layer,

or, from the menu, we can choose "Edit" and one of the many options

which allow you to paste in the mode just seen, or where the cursor is located, or on the active layer without creating another, or create an image in a new document, or as a reference image etc.

In both cases, before pasting, considering that we're importing from another software that may use a different color profile (i.e., a different interpretation of the color data contained in the image file), Krita may display this pop-up window asking which color profile we want to use for the imported image: sRGB ("As Web (sRGB)")
or monitor-based ("As on Monitor").

The sRGB profile is a general standard that can work well in most cases. However, if you've configured your monitor with a dedicated colorimeter tool, thus setting all custom profiles in your computer's software, it's recommended to use the monitor option.

When allowed, you can copy and paste multiple images at once.

How to copy an image from the web to Krita:

To copy an image from the web into Krita, for use in a project or as inspiration without first saving the file to your computer, open the context menu to choose the copy option in the browser and then paste it into Krita.

A window may then appear asking whether we want to keep the original metadata and color profile or whether we want to acquire the bitmap image and assign the color profile ourselves.

If we choose the first option, the image will be pasted as is (with the original data). If we choose the latter option, the profile selection window will appear again. As the popup window also indicates, the best profile for this newly imported image is the first one, the one for Web and sRGB.

Create a new image by pasting it from the clipboard:

If we've already copied an image to the clipboard, when we create a new document (for example, using the "File > New" menu function), we can use the "Create from Clipboard" function in the form that appears.

The dimensions and settings of the copied image will automatically appear on the right.

How to copy an image, or multiple images, from one document to another within Krita:

If you want to copy an image, logo, text, or other object from one Krita document to another, you can use the methods already discussed.

An example using the copy and paste method: if you select one or more images spread across multiple layers in the first document,

if we copy them with "Ctrl+C" (or right-click, or from the "Layer" menu, choose "Copy Layer"), then to paste them into the new document, simply press "Ctrl+V", thus adding new layers.

Or, as before, select the options in the "Edit" menu (or right-click in the Layers panel and choose "Paste Layer").

We can also drag images/layers from one document to another: if we drag them from the layers of one document to the target tab of the other, the target document window is automatically activated; initially the prohibition symbol appears on the cursor (while it is still on the document tab),

but if we drag it into the window, the prohibition symbol will change to an arrow symbol.

This allows us to transfer the images to the layers of the new document.

How to copy an image from another app to Krita when installed on a tablet:

If we're using Krita on a tablet, it's not always easy to drag an image from another application into Krita. So, it might be more convenient to copy the image into a browser or image management software (by displaying the relevant menu, holding down the image, or something else), and then paste it from the menu into Krita, as we've already seen. 

How to open an image as a new document:

If you want to start working on a single pre-existing image, another easy method is to open the image from the menu with "File > Open" (or using the "Ctrl+O" key combination), or by clicking the appropriate link directly on the first screen when launching Krita.

This will create a new document with the dimensions, resolution, and basic characteristics of the uploaded image.

This is ideal if, for example, we need to retouch a person's photo or if we need to add elements sporadically, such as a logo.

With this method, we can also open images from graphics software like GIMP (*.xcf) or Photoshop (*.psd), or saved as PDFs.

How to import an image as a new layer (or even in the same layer):

If we've already created or opened a document, we can import an image using the "Layer > Import/Export > Import Layer" menu option. Once selected in the file manager, the imported image will appear in a new layer.
If we've selected and imported multiple images, each will be distributed on a different layer.
Instead, using the "Layer > Import/Export > Import" function, we can choose from more options,

if we want to import the new image not only into a paint layer but also as a transparency mask, filter, or selection.

This method is suitable for Matte Painting, or if we're importing a simple texture or logo onto one or more pre-existing images in a more or less structured project already underway.

How to import a link to an image using a File Layer:

Importing via a File Layer is an interesting method, activated from the menu with "Layer > New > Add File Layer" (or from the drop-down menu in the "Layers" panel). By embedding not the image but a link to it, it allows you to create even complex and large projects in Krita, with reusable assets whose separate modifications will propagate across all projects that reference them.
It is therefore useful for true graphic "assembly lines," since simply modifying an image, logo, or other common element instantly updates the content of countless projects.

For example, if we want to insert an image of a rose over a field of daisies, from the document containing the daisies, we activate the "Layer > New > Add File Layer" function from the menu. A pop-up window will appear, allowing you to select the file.

In this form, we can choose whether to not resize the imported image, resize it based on the image in the recipient document, or adapt it to its resolution.

The result will be

If now in the document, containing the rose, we modify the image by brushing over it

and save the file, the result will automatically and instantly propagate to the document where we imported the image.

How to import images as frames (for animation) in Krita:

Although specialized for a specific function, another way to import images into Krita is to bulk load a sequence of images to use in animations, using the "File > Import animation frames" function.

How to use it: Create a new document, then select the "Animation" workspace in the top right,

this will display the animation timeline at the bottom.

To import images, we use the "File > Import Animation Frames" menu function, which will display a pop-up form through which we can select one or more images,

these images will be distributed across the Timeline, one for each frame (or spaced, depending on the value we assign to the "Step" parameter, with "Step-1" frames between each image).

Which method to choose:

In this tutorial, we've seen various methods for importing an image into a Krita project, suggesting when it might be convenient to use them. So, considering they're seemingly similar and interchangeable, you might wonder which approach is best (for example, isn't it better to just drag and drop images into Krita?). To make a choice, however, you need to consider the constraints (not having a large enough screen, or not being able to view two software windows side by side for dragging and dropping), the features you're currently using, or what you're currently creating.
In conclusion, even if you have a preferred method, it's good to know all the available features so you can modify your workflow when necessary.

That's all for this tutorial on importing images into Krita. Happy painting!