KRA (Krita)
Also known as: kra file, Krita document, .kra
KRA is the native document format of Krita, the open-source painting app. It stores the complete editable project — layers, masks, vector and paint layers, and brush data — so KRA files are considerably larger than a flattened PNG or JPEG export.
- Native Krita project format with full layers
- Editable working file, not a flat image
- Larger than the exported PNG or JPEG
Krita’s editable project file
A .kra file is what Krita saves while you work: all paint and vector layers, layer masks, filter and group layers, and the canvas at full resolution. It keeps your painting fully editable instead of merging it into one picture.
Like GIMP’s XCF or Photoshop’s PSD, it is a working format. You open and re-edit the .kra, then export a PNG or JPEG when you want a shareable image.
Storage and what to keep
Digital paintings often use large canvases and many layers, so KRA files can grow large. They store the editable structure, which is exactly what makes them heavier than the final export.
Hold onto the .kra while a piece may still change; once it is finished and exported, you can archive the working file separately to free up space without losing the shareable result.