MyPaintLinux
vs
ProcreateWindows
MyPaint as a Linux alternative to Procreate
Updated
Our verdict
MyPaint can replace Procreate for users who need a free, open‑source raster painting tool on Linux and who are comfortable with a minimal interface. It offers robust brush dynamics, pressure sensitivity, layers, and export to common formats, making it suitable for illustrators, concept artists, and hobbyists who prefer a lightweight canvas‑only workflow. However, it lacks Procreate’s extensive brush library, advanced animation tools, and the polished iPad touch interface, so power users accustomed to Procreate’s ecosystem may find it limiting.
- License
- GPL-2.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 2.0.1 (May 29, 2020)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both provide pressure‑sensitive brush painting with configurable parameters
- Both support layers and basic blending modes
- Both export to standard image formats like PNG and JPEG
- Both allow custom brush creation and use of pre‑installed brush packs
- Both are designed for digital painting rather than photo editing
What is different
- MyPaint has a distraction‑free canvas‑only UI, no panels or toolbars
- Procreate offers a richer set of brushes and animation features
- Procreate’s interface is optimized for touch and gestures, MyPaint relies on mouse/pen
- Procreate includes advanced color mixing and blending tools not fully present in MyPaint
- Procreate’s file format (.procreate) is proprietary and not natively supported by MyPaint
Opening your Procreate files
MyPaint does not natively open Procreate’s .procreate files. Users would need to export artwork from Procreate as PNG or JPEG and then import those images into MyPaint. Direct conversion is not available.
Switching from Procreate to MyPaint, step by step
- Export your Procreate canvas as a PNG or JPEG from the iPad.
- Transfer the exported file to your Linux machine via USB, cloud, or email.
- Open the image in MyPaint using File → Open.
- Create a new layer if you want to paint over the existing artwork.
- Save your work in MyPaint’s native OpenRaster format or export to PNG/JPEG for sharing.
- Back up your original Procreate files before starting the migration.
- faq
Key features of MyPaint
- Brush engine with hundreds of configurable parameters
- Supports pressure sensitivity and tilt on graphics tablets
- Simple, distraction‑free canvas‑only interface
- Layer support with basic blending modes
- Export to PNG, JPEG, OpenRaster and other common formats
- Extensible via Python plugins
- Pre‑installed brush packs from professional artists
- Undo/redo history with unlimited steps
How to install MyPaint on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.mypaint.MyPaintsudo apt install mypaintsudo apt install mypaintsudo dnf install mypaintsudo pacman -S mypaintsudo zypper install mypaint3 other alternatives to Procreate
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