Quick answer: Here is how to use drawing tablet with Krita: install your tablet’s official driver, open Krita, go to Settings > Configure Krita > Tablet settings, and on Windows choose the tablet input API (Windows Ink or WinTab) that gives working pressure. Use the Tablet Tester to confirm pressure, adjust the global pressure curve, set a pen button to right-click for Krita’s pop-up palette, and pick a brush preset that responds to pressure. If pressure fails, switch the API and restart Krita.
Krita is a free, open-source painting program built with digital painters in mind, and it works with most drawing tablets on Windows, macOS and Linux. Out of the box, many tablets work immediately. When they do not, the fix is usually one setting buried in Krita’s configuration.
This guide walks through the setup from driver to first brushstroke, explains the Krita-specific features that make tablet painting faster, and covers fixes for the problems Krita users report most. If you are shopping for a tablet that pairs well with free painting software, see our guide to the best drawing tablets for digital painting.
Before You Start
- Install Krita from the official Krita website or a trusted app store.
- Install your tablet driver from the manufacturer’s official support page, matching your exact model and operating system.
- Restart the computer after installing the driver, then plug in the tablet.
- Test the pen on the desktop. If it moves the cursor, the basic connection works.
Part 1: Configure Krita for Your Tablet
Step 1: Open Tablet settings
Launch Krita and open Settings > Configure Krita (on macOS, Krita > Preferences). Select Tablet settings in the left list.
Step 2: Choose the tablet input API (Windows)
On Windows, Krita offers two ways to read pen data:
- Windows 8+ Pointer Input (Windows Ink): uses Windows’ built-in pen system. Generally works well with modern tablets and with multiple monitors.
- WinTab: the older tablet interface supported by many tablet drivers. Some users prefer it for certain models.
Pick one, click OK and restart Krita. If pressure does not work or strokes behave oddly, switch to the other option and restart again. Make sure the corresponding setting in your tablet driver (often a “Use Windows Ink” checkbox) matches: if Krita uses Windows Ink, Windows Ink should usually be enabled in the driver.
On macOS and Linux, there is no API choice to make; Krita uses the system’s tablet support.
Step 3: Use the Tablet Tester
In Tablet settings, click Tablet Tester. Draw in the test area. The log shows pressure values and other data from your pen. If pressure stays at zero or jumps straight to maximum, revisit the driver and API settings.
Step 4: Adjust the global pressure curve
Tablet settings also includes a global pressure curve. Drag the curve to change how Krita interprets pressure:
- Bow the curve upward if you draw lightly and want darker or thicker strokes without pressing hard.
- Bow it downward if your strokes come out too heavy.
Make small changes and test with a pressure-sensitive brush. Individual brushes have their own curves too, covered below.
Step 5: Set up pen buttons
In your tablet driver, set one pen button to right-click. In Krita, right-clicking on the canvas opens the pop-up palette, a radial menu with your favorite brushes, recent colors and a color selector. Set the other button to something useful, such as middle-click for panning or a keystroke like E for the eraser toggle.
Step 6: Map the tablet on multi-monitor setups
Map the tablet to one monitor in the tablet driver. With WinTab, Krita may also need its tablet area configured; if the cursor is offset from the pen on one screen, try Windows Ink or adjust the mapping.
Part 2: Choose and Tune Brushes
Pick a pressure-sensitive preset
Open the Brush Presets docker (Settings > Dockers if it is hidden). Many default presets respond to pressure for size, opacity or both. Good starting points include basic round brushes for sketching and inking, and blender or textured presets for painting.
Edit pressure for a single brush
Press F5 or click the brush settings button on the toolbar to open the Brush Editor. Select an option such as Size or Opacity, make sure it is enabled, and choose the Pressure sensor. Shape its curve: a gentle S-curve often feels natural. Save as a new preset so you keep the original.
Use tilt and rotation if your pen supports them
Krita can map pen tilt and rotation to brush angle, size or other parameters. In the Brush Editor, choose sensors like Tilt direction, Tilt elevation or Rotation for an option. Tilt-aware brushes are great for pencil shading and calligraphy.
Set brush smoothing
Select the Freehand Brush tool and open the Tool Options docker. Brush Smoothing modes include None, Basic, Weighted and Stabilizer. Use None or Basic for sketching and Weighted or Stabilizer for clean inking. Higher stabilization adds visible lag, so keep it modest unless you want very smooth lines.
Part 3: Krita Features That Make Tablet Painting Faster
| Feature | How to use it | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pop-up palette | Right-click (pen button) on the canvas | Switch brushes and colors without leaving the canvas |
| Brush size | Shift + drag on canvas, or [ and ] keys | Resize with the pen in hand |
| Pan, zoom, rotate | Space + drag; Ctrl + Space + drag; Shift + Space + drag | Navigate without menus |
| Eraser toggle | Press E | Any brush becomes an eraser with the same shape |
| Mirror view | Press M | Flip the view to catch proportion errors |
| Canvas-only mode | Press Tab | Hide the interface for maximum drawing space |
| Wrap-around mode | Press W | Paint seamless, tiling textures |
| Color picker | Hold Ctrl and click | Sample colors quickly |
| Assistant tool | Select Assistant Tool, place perspective or ellipse guides | Snap strokes to perspective and shapes |
You can change many of these in Settings > Configure Krita > Canvas Input Settings and Keyboard Shortcuts, and assign the most-used ones to tablet express keys.
Customize the pop-up palette
The pop-up palette shows brush presets that carry a chosen tag. In the Brush Presets docker, create a tag such as “Favorites,” add your go-to brushes to it, then select that tag for the pop-up palette in Krita’s General settings or the palette’s own options. You can also change how many presets appear. A palette with eight to ten well-chosen brushes keeps decisions quick.
Save a tablet-friendly workspace
Arrange the dockers you actually use, such as Layers, Brush Presets and an Advanced Color Selector, and hide the rest. Then choose Window > Workspace > New Workspace to save it. Switching to that workspace restores your layout instantly, which is handy after updates or on a second computer.
Pen Display vs Screenless Tablet in Krita
Krita works the same with both, but a few adjustments help each:
- Pen displays: run the driver’s calibration, keep dockers on a second monitor if you have one, and use canvas-only mode so your hand is not reaching for small icons. Mirror view (M) is especially useful because your hand covers part of the image.
- Screenless tablets: map the tablet to a single monitor with matching proportions, and rely on keyboard shortcuts or express keys more heavily, since you are not looking at your hand.
Part 4: A Simple First Painting Workflow in Krita
- Create a new document (File > New) at around 3000 x 2000 pixels, RGB, 8-bit for practice.
- Sketch on a paint layer with a pencil-style preset. Lower the layer’s opacity afterward.
- Add a new layer for line art and ink with a pressure-sensitive pen preset and moderate smoothing.
- Add a color layer below the lines. Use the Fill tool or the Colorize Mask (from the tool box) for flat colors in line art.
- Shade with a layer set to Multiply, using Alpha Inheritance or clipping-like layer groups to keep shading inside shapes.
- Mirror the view (M) to check proportions and fix problems.
- Save as .kra to keep layers, then File > Export to PNG or JPEG for sharing.
Troubleshooting Krita and Tablet Problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No pressure sensitivity | Wrong API, missing driver or brush without pressure | Switch between Windows Ink and WinTab and restart; reinstall driver; check brush’s Pressure sensor |
| Pressure works elsewhere but not in Krita | API mismatch between Krita and driver | Match Windows Ink setting in driver and Krita |
| Cursor offset on one monitor | Mapping with multiple screens | Map tablet to one screen in the driver; try Windows Ink |
| Strokes lag behind the pen | High stabilizer, large canvas or heavy brush | Lower Brush Smoothing; reduce canvas size; check Performance settings |
| Pen button right-click does nothing | Button not mapped to right-click | Set it in the tablet driver; check Krita’s mouse-event workaround option in Tablet settings for some devices |
| Lines start with a heavy blob | Pressure curve too sensitive | Flatten the start of the global or brush curve |
| Strokes become straight segments when fast | System load or low report rate | Simplify brushes, enable canvas graphics acceleration in Display settings, close other apps |
| Tablet stopped working after an update | Driver or OS change | Reinstall latest driver; on macOS recheck Privacy & Security permissions |
Performance settings worth checking
- Settings > Configure Krita > Display: make sure canvas graphics acceleration is enabled if your graphics card supports it.
- Settings > Configure Krita > Performance: adjust the memory limit and undo stack size for large files.
- Brush complexity: some textured and smudge presets are heavier. Test a basic round if lag appears.
Krita on Different Operating Systems
Windows
Most tablet setup questions in Krita on Windows come down to the Windows Ink versus WinTab choice. Try one, restart Krita, test, and switch if needed.
macOS
Install the tablet driver and approve it in System Settings > Privacy & Security. Krita reads the tablet through macOS directly.
Linux
Many tablets are supported by the Linux kernel and desktop environment, with some brands also offering Linux drivers. Configure tablet mapping in your desktop’s settings or command-line tools, then test pressure in Krita’s Tablet Tester.
Android and ChromeOS
Krita has been available on some Android tablets and Chromebooks. Stylus support varies by device, so check that pressure works with your specific hardware.
Tips for Getting Comfortable
- Spend the first week with just three presets: a pencil, an ink pen and a soft brush.
- Practice using the pop-up palette instead of the docker panels.
- Assign undo and brush size to express keys or pen buttons.
- Use canvas-only mode on small screens.
- Save custom presets and workspaces once you are happy with them.
FAQs
Does Krita work with drawing tablets?
Yes. Krita supports pressure, tilt and rotation from most drawing tablets on Windows, macOS and Linux, as long as the tablet driver or system support is installed.
Why is pen pressure not working in Krita?
Usually because of the tablet input API or driver. On Windows, switch between Windows Ink and WinTab in Krita’s Tablet settings, match the driver setting, restart Krita and test with the Tablet Tester.
Should I use Windows Ink or WinTab in Krita?
Either can work. Windows Ink often handles multiple monitors more reliably, while WinTab suits some older tablets. Use whichever gives correct pressure and smooth strokes on your setup.
How do I open the pop-up palette in Krita?
Right-click on the canvas. Map a pen button to right-click in your tablet driver to open it with the pen.
How do I change brush pressure sensitivity in Krita?
Adjust the global curve in Settings > Configure Krita > Tablet settings, or edit individual brush curves in the Brush Editor under Size or Opacity with the Pressure sensor.
Is Krita good for beginners with a drawing tablet?
Yes. It is free, full-featured and tablet-friendly, though its many options can take some time to learn.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to use a drawing tablet with Krita mostly comes down to a working driver, the right tablet API on Windows and a pressure curve that suits your hand. After that, the pop-up palette, canvas shortcuts and brush tuning make painting fast and enjoyable. If you are ready to upgrade your hardware for Krita, browse our picks for drawing tablets that suit every kind of digital painter.
