# Error "Encountered incorrectly encoded content" when trying to add a reference image

**URL:** <https://krita-artists.org/t/error-encountered-incorrectly-encoded-content-when-trying-to-add-a-reference-image/190358>\
**Category:** Bundles and resources help\
**Created:** [September 12, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/error-encountered-incorrectly-encoded-content-when-trying-to-add-a-reference-image/190358 "2026-09-12T19:09:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Roma\_Solomatin](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/roma_solomatin/32/241667_2.png) [@Roma\_Solomatin](https://krita-artists.org/u/Roma_Solomatin)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/error-encountered-incorrectly-encoded-content-when-trying-to-add-a-reference-image/190358/1 "2026-09-12T19:09:20Z")

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Hello! I am trying to add a reference image into Krita, but I keep getting this error: “Encountered incorrectly encoded content”.

I tried dragging and dropping the file and using the Reference Images tool, but nothing works. What could be the issue and how can I fix this? Thanks in advance for the help!

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**Author:** ![AhabGreybeard](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/ahabgreybeard/32/2969_2.png) [@AhabGreybeard](https://krita-artists.org/u/AhabGreybeard)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/error-encountered-incorrectly-encoded-content-when-trying-to-add-a-reference-image/190358/2 "2026-09-12T19:45:23Z")

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Hello @Roma_Solomatin and welcome to the forum 🙂

I don’t know what the issue could be but I have a quick idea that **might** fix the situation.

Open the reference image file in krita then Export it as a .png file with the options `Force convert to sRGB` and `Force convert to 8 bits/channel` enabled. All other options disabled.

Then try using that exported .png image file as a reference image in krita.

Whether or not that works, please provide that problematic image file for examination by using a download link to a file sharing service.  
Someone may be able to figure out why it’s causing a problem.