I use Krita on a Surface Book, using only a pen with the Surface Book folded so the keyboard is not available. This is convenient as it is just like drawing on a sketch pad. The problem is that Krita, like most such programs, relies on keyboard sequences to do much of what it does (more easily at least). In addition there are times when you need to type in characters, as for labeling layers or saving files.

These are two solutions I have found to help with this.

1. Virtual Keyboard

There is an application, Tablet Pro, mentioned in the Krita documentation that helps with this. I tried it and found there were too many problems, including that it uses up part of the screen. Consequently, I wrote my own application, ArtPad. I have been using it a couple of years, now, and it works fine for me not only in Krita, but also in Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint (Manga Studio), Painter, and Rebelle.

Basically, it is just a small floating keypad, with buttons that can be configured to send keystrokes. For example, to save your file, you just click the button labeled Save, which sends Ctrl-S to the application. The number of rows and columns in the keypad, as well as what each key button does is configurable by you, and is stored in a .config file. For when you need to type characters, as when editing labels, for example, there are two ways to bring up an onscreen keyboard, and these are described in the documentation.

There is, of course, much more to it than that, and the full description is at https://rawgit.com/KennethEvans/VS-ArtPad/master/ArtPad/Help/Overview.html.

It is free and open source and can be obtained at https://github.com/KennethEvans/VS-ArtPad/releases. There is more information on this and other free applications I have written at https://kennethevans.github.io/, including download links and installation instructions. (For ArtPad, you just extract a ZIP file to a directory somewhere on your computer and delete that directory to uninstall it.)

Sample ArtPad configuration files (i. e. the ones I currently use) are available at https://github.com/KennethEvans/VS-ArtPad/tree/master/ArtPad/Sample%20Configuration.

It is a C# application and only works on Windows.

I also use Krita on a Cintiq 24 HD. While it is not so inconvenient to have a keypad available near the Cintiq, I still find myself using ArtPad, as it is usually closer and easier.

2. Reference Image Viewer

I find the Reference Image Tool in Krita quite limiting. Instead I use PureRef, which is free and available at https://www.pureref.com. With PureRef you can store many images and easily bring the one you want into view. You can have multiple instances up at the same time. The only disadvantage I see is that you cannot select colors from it using the Eyedropper as with the Krita Reference Image Tool. PureRef, like drawing programs, relies on key combinations to easily do most of what it does and is hence just as hard to use when there is no keyboard. I have however, worked out ways to do almost anything you want to do with just the pen or touch. Since I did not find these in one place anywhere, I will list them here. The ways are different on the Surface Book with touch and on the Cintiq, with pen only.

Selection in Window

Pan

SB: Single tap, pen or finger
C: Left drag

Zoom

SB: Two fingers (Does canvas)
C: Ctrl-Alt drag

Fit

SB: Double tap, pen or finger
C: Double tap

Canvas in Window

Pan

SB: Two fingers
C: Alt drag

Zoom

SB: Two fingers
C: Z + drag (Best I can do)

Window

Pan

SB: One finger drag (not pen)
C: Right drag

Resize

SB: Resize handles
C: Resize handles

Menu

SB: Tap hold, pen or finger
C: Tap hold

I really like the idea of ArtPad; we should link to it from https://docs.krita.org/en/resources_page.html and the FAQ! Could you send a screenshot to me?

As for picking colors from a pureref reference: that should work when using the dedicated color picker tool, or the color picker from the color selection dialog. Though it will not be color managed, of course...

boudewijn wrote:As for picking colors from a pureref reference: that should work when using the dedicated color picker tool, or the color picker from the color selection dialog. Though it will not be color managed, of course...

It doesn't work for me. Maybe because when I click on it, it receives the input, not Krita.

I will be happy to send a screenshot. I don't know how to add a screenshot in this forum, so I need some direction.

Sorry for not replying sooner. I didn't realize there had been a reply until happening to revisit it today. Apparently setting subscribe to this topic is not the default.

I've been having this unsolvable problem for over an hour now that makes Window's virtual keyboard not work with Krita + a display drawing tablet, there's nothing about it on the internet and I was about to completely give up and just get a new tablet from the warranty. Somehow though, I stumbled here through a google search (quite late to the thread) but your program worked wonders for me!! Works perfectly and quite better than using the on-screen keyboard, since I don't have to type full commands anymore. I felt the need to create an account to thank you, just saved me from a sleepless night!!

nyami wrote:I've been having this unsolvable problem for over an hour now that makes Window's virtual keyboard not work with Krita + a display drawing tablet, there's nothing about it on the internet and I was about to completely give up and just get a new tablet from the warranty. Somehow though, I stumbled here through a google search (quite late to the thread) but your program worked wonders for me!! Works perfectly and quite better than using the on-screen keyboard, since I don't have to type full commands anymore. I felt the need to create an account to thank you, just saved me from a sleepless night!!

You're welcome. I wrote this for my own use, but it's good that others find it useful.