Krita 6.0 debuts with Linux Wayland & HDR support, new text tools, and comic panel editor

Krita 5.3 and 6.0 have been released, delivering a broad set of upgrades for digital painters and animators. While both versions share most features, Krita 6 is based on Qt6, distinguishing it from Krita 5.3, which continues to use Qt5.

Krita 6 features explicit Linux Wayland support, including implementation of the Wayland Color Management protocol. This adds high dynamic range (HDR) display options, fractional scaling, and 10-bit display capabilities for Linux users. Following these platform improvements, HDR painting workflows also see broader support.

Among the most noticeable changes, the text tool has been overhauled to provide on-canvas editing, full OpenType font compatibility, and the ability to flow text into shapes. These enhancements are especially relevant for illustration and comic professionals. It is now easier to create vector-based comic panels, which streamlines page layout for artists.

Building on these design-centric features, several painting tools received updates. The fill tool now closes gaps in shapes, and the liquify mode in the transform tool operates with improved speed. The recorder docker adds real-time recording options, expanding use cases for demonstration or streaming. New filter effects, such as propagate colors and reset transparent, further extend creative control. File format compatibility is enhanced, particularly with the ability to handle text objects embedded in Photoshop PSD files.