Compress an image in Krita by exporting it with lower quality settings

Krita is a painting and illustration program, not primarily a compression tool, but it can reduce file size when you export your work. The most direct way is to use File > Export As, choose your format (JPEG compresses more than PNG), and lower the quality slider before saving. A JPEG at 75% quality typically cuts file size in half compared to the original, with minimal visible loss on screen.

This approach works best if you are finishing a project and do not need to preserve every detail. If you want to keep your original Krita file (.kra) untouched and only compress a copy for sharing or uploading, exporting is the right move. The trade-off is permanent — once you save the compressed version, you cannot recover the detail you removed.

Key Takeaways

  • Export your image as JPEG instead of PNG to achieve the smallest file size, since JPEG uses compression that PNG does not.
  • Lower the quality percentage in the export dialog (75% is a common starting point) to reduce file size further without making the image look obviously worse on screen.
  • If you need to keep your original Krita file unchanged, export to a new filename so the compressed version stays separate.
  • Resizing the image to smaller dimensions before export cuts file size more dramatically than quality adjustment alone.

Export as JPEG for maximum compression

JPEG format compresses images by discarding some color information that human eyes typically do not notice. PNG, by contrast, preserves every pixel exactly and compresses only the file itself, which results in larger files. If file size is your main concern, JPEG is the faster route.

Go to File > Export As. In the filename field at the bottom, change the extension from .kra to .jpg (or .jpeg). Krita will recognize the format and show you compression options. The quality slider appears in the export dialog — drag it left to compress more, right to preserve more detail. Start at 75 and check the preview; if the image still looks good to you, you can go lower.

One warning: JPEG compression creates visible artifacts (blocky areas or color banding) if you push quality below 60%, especially on images with text, sharp lines, or large flat colors. Photographs and paintings tolerate lower quality better than technical drawings or screenshots.

Adjust quality and resolution before exporting

The quality slider in the JPEG export dialog controls how much detail the format discards. At 90%, the file is nearly as large as the original. At 75%, you lose roughly 30% of the file size with almost no visible difference. At 50%, the savings are dramatic but artifacts become obvious.

Reducing the image dimensions is often more effective than lowering quality alone. If your image is 4000 × 3000 pixels but will only be viewed at 1200 × 900 pixels (on a website, for example), resize it first. Go to Image > Scale Image, enter the new width or height, and Krita will adjust the other dimension proportionally. A 4000-pixel image scaled to 1200 pixels shrinks the file to roughly one-tenth the original size.

Combine both techniques for the best result: resize to the dimensions you actually need, then export as JPEG at 75% quality. This usually produces a file small enough to email or upload quickly, while still looking sharp on screen.

Save your original Krita file separately from the compressed version

Krita's native format is .kra, which preserves layers, text, and all editing information. When you export as JPEG, that data is lost — you cannot undo the compression or edit the layers later. Always save your working file as .kra first, then export a copy for sharing.

Use File > Save As to save your project as a .kra file with a clear name like "painting_final.kra". Then use File > Export As to create the compressed JPEG with a name like "painting_final.jpg". This way your original remains untouched, and you can always re-export at different quality settings if needed.

Flatten the image if you no longer need layers

If your image has many layers, flattening it before export can reduce file size slightly. Flattening merges all layers into one, which removes the layer structure that Krita stores. Go to Image > Flatten Image. This does not affect the final JPEG size much, but it does make the .kra file smaller if you choose to save it.

Only flatten if you are certain you will not need to edit layers again. Once flattened, you cannot separate the layers back out. For most workflows, just export directly without flattening — the export process handles the layers automatically.

Use PNG only if you need transparency

PNG files are larger than JPEG because PNG does not discard color information. However, PNG is the only common format that preserves transparency (the ability to see through parts of the image). If your image has a transparent background and you need to keep it, export as PNG.

PNG compression is lossless, meaning the file size depends on the image content, not a quality slider. A PNG of a simple graphic with few colors will be small. A PNG of a detailed photograph will be large — often larger than a JPEG of the same photo. If you must use PNG, resizing the image is your best way to reduce file size.

Frequently Asked Questions

What quality setting should I use for JPEG export?

Start at 75% and look at the preview. If it looks good to you on screen, that is the right setting. For photographs and paintings, you can often go as low as 60% without obvious problems. For images with text or sharp lines, stay at 80% or higher. Below 50%, artifacts become very visible.

Can I compress a JPEG that is already saved?

Yes, but with a catch: opening an existing JPEG in Krita and re-exporting it at lower quality will degrade it further. JPEG compression is lossy, so each compression cycle removes more detail. If you have the original Krita file, export from that instead. If you only have the JPEG, re-exporting it is your only option, but expect visible quality loss.

Does resizing the image in Krita before export make a big difference?

Yes. Resizing cuts file size much more dramatically than lowering quality. An image scaled from 4000 pixels to 1200 pixels shrinks to roughly one-tenth the file size. If your image is larger than you need, resize first, then adjust quality.

What if the compressed image looks blurry or blocky?

Raise the quality slider in the export dialog and try again. If you already saved the file, open your original Krita project and re-export at higher quality. If you only have the compressed JPEG, you cannot recover the lost detail — you would need the original file to start over.

Should I use JPEG or PNG for artwork I plan to edit later?

Neither. Save your working file as .kra so you keep all layers and editing information. Export as JPEG or PNG only when you are finished and ready to share the final image. Once exported, you cannot edit layers or undo the compression.