What is MIME type "application/x-krita"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

application/x-krita is a MIME type that identifies files created with Krita, a digital painting and image editing app.

Files using this MIME type, such as KRA, store complex image data. They preserve layers, effects, masks, and other painting elements that let you edit your work non-destructively.

Main Use: Saving and preserving detailed digital paintings.
Key Fact: The format allows you to maintain all editing history and structural elements, making rework easier.
Usage: Only Krita can fully interpret this file's structure and features for further editing.

Learn more about Krita and its document format on the official Krita site.

Associated file extensions

.kra

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: application/x-krita

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/x-krita">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-krita');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.kra

FAQs

How do I open a file with the MIME type application/x-krita?

You need to install Krita, the free and open-source digital painting application. While the file format is technically a ZIP container, only Krita can fully interpret the layers, masks, and color profiles correctly. You can download the software from the official Krita website.

Can web browsers display application/x-krita files directly?

No, modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari do not support rendering .kra files natively. To display your artwork on the web, you must export the file from Krita to a standard web format like image/png, image/jpeg, or WebP.

How do I configure my web server to handle .kra files?

To ensure users download the file correctly instead of the browser treating it as generic text, you should define the MIME type.

Apache: Add AddType application/x-krita .kra to your .htaccess file.
Nginx: Add application/x-krita kra; to your mime.types file.

Why is application/x-krita not used for displaying images on websites?

This MIME type is designed for editing and preservation, meaning files contain uncompressed layer data and history, resulting in very large file sizes. Using it on a website would result in slow page loads and broken images for users; always use optimized formats for final display.

What is the relationship between application/x-krita and ZIP archives?

Krita files are actually compressed ZIP archives. If you cannot open a .kra file, you can rename the extension to .zip and extract it. Inside, you will typically find a mergedimage.png file, which allows you to view a flattened preview of the image without installing Krita.

Is application/x-krita an officially registered IANA media type?

The x- prefix generally indicates a non-standard or experimental type that has not been registered in the core IANA database. However, application/x-krita is the widely accepted standard used by operating systems and the Krita software to identify these documents.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.