KritaLinux
vs
Microsoft Paint 3DWindows
Krita as a Linux alternative to Microsoft Paint 3D
Updated
Our verdict
Krita can replace Paint 3D for users who mainly need 2D painting, texture work, and basic layering. It excels at raster illustration and offers far more brush control, color‑space options, and file‑export flexibility. However, it lacks native 3D mesh creation and manipulation, so anyone who relies on Paint 3D's 3D modeling features will need a dedicated 3D tool instead.
- License
- GPL-3.0-only
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 5.3.4.1 (October 7, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both allow freehand drawing with a mouse or tablet
- Both support basic layering of elements
- Both can export to common raster formats such as PNG and JPEG
- Both have a relatively simple UI for quick sketches
What is different
- Krita has no built‑in 3D mesh editor or viewport for positioning objects
- Paint 3D can apply simple 3D materials and export OBJ/GLTF, which Krita cannot
- Krita offers advanced brush engines, color‑space management, and HDR painting that Paint 3D lacks
- Paint 3D includes basic 3D animation frames; Krita only supports 2D frame‑by‑frame animation
Opening your Microsoft Paint 3D files
Krita cannot open Paint 3D's native .3mf or .glb files directly. It can import exported raster images (PNG, JPEG) that Paint 3D saves, and you can export 2D layers from Paint 3D as PNG to continue work in Krita. For 3D meshes you would need to convert them to a format Krita can read (e.g., PNG textures) or use a separate 3D editor.
Switching from Microsoft Paint 3D to Krita, step by step
- Install Krita from your distribution’s repository or via Flatpak.
- Export any 2D work from Paint 3D as PNG or JPEG.
- Open the exported images in Krita and recreate layers if needed.
- If you need to reuse 3D textures, save them as image files and import them as brushes or textures in Krita.
- Adjust brush settings and color profiles to match your workflow.
Key features of Krita
- Advanced brush engine with dozens of preset brushes
- Full CMYK, RGB, and HDR color space support
- Layer groups, masks, and vector layers
- HDR painting and 16/32‑bit float channels
- Resource manager for brushes, gradients, and palettes
- Python scripting for custom tools
- Docker panels for quick access to tools and filters
- Export to PSD, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, and OpenRaster
How to install Krita on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.kde.kritasudo apt install kritasudo apt install kritasudo dnf install kritasudo pacman -S kritasudo zypper install kritaFrequently asked questions
Can I model 3D objects in Krita?
No, Krita is a 2D painting program; you’ll need a separate 3D modeling application for that.
Will my Paint 3D projects lose data when opened in Krita?
Only the 2D layers can be transferred as flat images; 3D geometry and material settings are not preserved.
Is Krita free and open source?
Yes, it is released under the GPL‑3.0‑only license and is maintained by the Krita Foundation.
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