# Feature request for dedicated Eraser Tool **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Requests\ **Tags:** for-ui-ux, for-brush-engine, for-tools\ **Created:** [November 23, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300 "2021-11-23T17:33:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Daishishi](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/daishishi/32/24345_2.png) [@Daishishi](https://krita-artists.org/u/Daishishi)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/101 "2021-11-25T15:24:20Z")
Yep, but it is how Krita works. This might be one of the root causes of confusion between your request, and others Krita veteran here. If isn’t too hard for you to test Krita try this: 1. Selected a brush with the _Freehand Brush Tool_, draw with it. 2. Now select the _Polyline Tool_ or _Bezier Curve Tool_ and draw with it. 3. Go in the brush docker and select a different brush altogether. Result: You still are in the _Polyline_ or _Bezier_ but with a different brush. This is way some people are making the suggestion I talked about. While active the eraser tool makes any brush you change to an eraser. If you **had** an Eraser Tool, Krita users would expect to behave like others tools. ---
**Author:** ![AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/andreasresch/32/35894_2.png) [@AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/u/AndreasResch)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/102 "2021-11-25T15:24:33Z")
Yes. @Daishishi was asking what would happen if the selected the “Wet Circle” brush and his first assumption was right. And I confirmed that in the following post. ---
**Author:** ![tiar](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/tiar/32/22_2.png) [@tiar](https://krita-artists.org/u/tiar)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/103 "2021-11-25T15:24:39Z")
That really seems doable as a plugin, maybe someone could sacrifice themselves for the humanity and implement it nicely? (Implementing it in a plugin will be much much easier than in Krita itself\*). It would need a list of specific requirements, like - remembering the last used eraser brush preset and last used brush brush preset - switching to another preset (either eraser or normal) would best switch to the “mode” in the plugin - a shortcut switches to the eraser and back? Is that correct? Or rather, E for eraser and B for brush (so, separate shortcuts for both groups of presets)? What else? And could anyone please point me to the comment that stated the disadvantages of using Three Brushes (for comparison)? * * * \*) In Krita I guess a pointer system could be used for that; basically, if you have a Wacom or similar tablet with an eraser at the end, it probably works somewhat similar to what is being talked about here. A different pointer/stylus has a different brush preset selected, and you can select a different brush preset while using that pointer. And eraser pointer will by default have an eraser preset selected. ---
**Author:** ![raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/raghukamath/32/59144_2.png) [@raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/u/raghukamath)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/104 "2021-11-25T15:27:19Z")
> [@Daishishi](#): > > What happens if you decide to select the brush _Wet Circle_ in the brush docker? The Eraser Tool gets deactivated and goes back to the Freehand Brush? Or the brush becomes an Eraser? He is asking a question. Asking what will happen when you click on the the brush preset icon of wet circle in the brush preset docker when you have you have eraser tool active. The answer is the eraser will use wet circle as an eraser. it will not switch to brush tool with the wet circle preset like you said > [@AndreasResch](#): > > When you select “Wet Circle” which I assume is a brush, then the Brush tool should get activated again. I would not suggest to touch the eraser toggle, otherwise it gets confusing again. In Krita currently there is not way to switch to brush tool automatically by clicking on the brush preset. ---
**Author:** ![raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/raghukamath/32/59144_2.png) [@raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/u/raghukamath)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/105 "2021-11-25T15:30:08Z")
> [@tiar](#): > > Or rather, E for eraser and B for brush (so, separate shortcuts for both groups of presets)? I would suggest making it Shift + E for dedicated eraser tool and E for the eraser mode. Your analogy of the wacom tip is excellent here. Imagine the wacom eraser tip functionality having an icon in the toolbox. ---
**Author:** ![Grum999](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/grum999/32/66488_2.png) [@Grum999](https://krita-artists.org/u/Grum999)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/106 "2021-11-25T15:31:00Z")
Hi > [@tiar](#): > > That really seems doable as a plugin, maybe someone could sacrifice themselves for the humanity and implement it nicely? I suppose I’m technically able to implement a plugin do to something, but I’m afraid that what I’ll implement won’t satisfy everyone… 🤷‍♂️ There’s so much different vision of how the tool should work… even mine seems different 😅 So, do I have to spent time to create ans maintain a plugin that will satisfy nobody ? 🤔 Grum999 ---
**Author:** ![AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/andreasresch/32/35894_2.png) [@AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/u/AndreasResch)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:36pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/107 "2021-11-25T15:36:01Z")
OK. This would need a little consideration. I would see the the brush and the eraser as “twins”, which somehow they actually are. Here’s what might work … \*) When you select an eraser from the presets AND you are in the brush tool, the brush tool will switch to eraser tool (speaking of the buttons). \*) The other way around, when you select a brush preset AND you are in the eraser tool, you switch to the brush tool (again - buttons). \*) Likewise, the last button only gets remembered if you are in the brush tool right now OR switch to the brush tool from the eraser tool. \*) And vice versa, the eraser only gets remembered while you are in the eraser tool OR switch to the eraser toll from the brush tool. That should work unless I overlooked something. [EDIT] I could be considered if the brushes/erasers are also remembered when being in any other tool like gradient etc. But that basically boils down to testing and seeing how often each version would be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/andreasresch/32/35894_2.png) [@AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/u/AndreasResch)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/108 "2021-11-25T15:39:42Z")
Don’t worry. An army of non-Krita users will thank you. ---
**Author:** ![raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/raghukamath/32/59144_2.png) [@raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/u/raghukamath)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/109 "2021-11-25T15:39:58Z")
do not label users as you said to me. ---
**Author:** ![raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/raghukamath/32/59144_2.png) [@raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/u/raghukamath)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/110 "2021-11-25T15:41:21Z")
Isn’t it easy to just click on the the eraser preset in the brush preset docker and switch to a eraser brush. What difference it makes if you click on the toolbox or the brush preset docker? By clicking on the eraser preset you switch directly to eraser of your choice and switch back to brush by pressing the / key. ---
**Author:** ![tiar](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/tiar/32/22_2.png) [@tiar](https://krita-artists.org/u/tiar)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/111 "2021-11-25T15:49:36Z")
I’m sorry if this was asked before, but you could you please say, or maybe give me a link to comment that already said that, why Three Brushes plugin is insuffucient? Does it not work properly in the latest version? Or it’s because it doesn’t have a button? Does it have something else missing? Or something else? I ask because I want to know if a potential plugin should be based on Three Brushes or created from scratch. ---
**Author:** ![AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/andreasresch/32/35894_2.png) [@AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/u/AndreasResch)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/112 "2021-11-25T15:50:35Z")
The difference is mainly shortcuts and muscle memory. Something that’s very important when you spent many hours painting. I can switch between the two with my non-painting hand without looking away from the painting. And what if the eraser you want is somewhere in the list, outside the visible area. Then you not only have to click the eraser, you also have to scroll there first. ---
**Author:** ![raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/raghukamath/32/59144_2.png) [@raghukamath](https://krita-artists.org/u/raghukamath)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/113 "2021-11-25T15:53:00Z")
> [@AndreasResch](#): > > And what if the eraser you want is somewhere in the list, outside the visible area. Then you not only have to click the eraser, you also have to scroll there first. For that there is popup palette which you can summon on right click, The popup palette has brushe preset in it shown according the the tag, You can tag the required eraser brush preset etc and it appears right below your mouse cursor. Also muscle memory is not a good argument here. You will need to learn and unlearn something when you switch applications. ---
**Author:** ![AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/andreasresch/32/35894_2.png) [@AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/u/AndreasResch)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/114 "2021-11-25T16:00:06Z")
I’m done. This makes no sense. This kind of circular argumentation is frustrating. It feels like I’m made fun of a this point. With the comment of @Daishishi we were almost at the finish line. And now we should go back to square one again. No. If I find the motivation - and there is little left at this point - I will post a summary in the next days. @tiar … the link is here … [Feature request for dedicated Eraser Tool - #45 by AndreasResch](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/45) … thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Isamel\_Ray](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/isamel_ray/32/28755_2.png) [@Isamel\_Ray](https://krita-artists.org/u/Isamel_Ray)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 4:02pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/115 "2021-11-25T16:02:12Z")
@tiar here’s the message about Three Brushes. ---
**Author:** ![Isamel\_Ray](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/isamel_ray/32/28755_2.png) [@Isamel\_Ray](https://krita-artists.org/u/Isamel_Ray)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/116 "2021-11-25T16:29:46Z")
Here’s my proposal again but in more details, so I hope it’s more helpful: - The Brush “B” and Eraser mode “E” stay the same - A dedicated Eraser brush is introduced “D” (for example) - Pressing B takes you to the brush whatever brush you select will draw, Pressing E will make it erase - Pressing D will switch you to the Eraser Brush, whatever brush you select will always erase, pressing E does nothing. - The two brush tools remember the last brush selected respectively. - Optional but super useful: Pressing and holding D temporarily switches to the Eraser brush, releasing puts you back in Brush mode and vice versa. - Additional note: It might make more sense to switch the icon for the Eraser mode and Eraser brush. ![image](https://krita-artists.org/uploads/default/original/3X/6/b/6bbd23b6cd26daf13fcba764cfa3dcd3b829464e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Daishishi](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/daishishi/32/24345_2.png) [@Daishishi](https://krita-artists.org/u/Daishishi)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/117 "2021-11-25T17:07:37Z")
I too am tired of this circular discussion, but at this point it is obvious two things: - An Eraser Tool (in the sense of a Krita tool) is completely **useless** in this request. - The original feature as requested by AndreasResch is more akin to a new shortcut similar to the / shortcut, however it would only ‘memorize’ erasers (maybe brushes with the blend = Erase). - The point above would need a new shortcut similar to the / but for every brush, **except** erasers. I’m brewing in my mind a plugin that iterate in this idea, and goes further. I’ll try to explain a mockup of it (too time consuming to make a visual mockup). > **Plugin proposal** > > **First: Brushes and Tags** > Let’s assume Krita comes out of the box with 20 brushes, and 3 tags (digital, erasers, favorites) with some brushes on it. > You then make 3 _new_ brushes but **don’t** assign any tag to them. These brushes could be: > > - Favorite Pencil 1 > - Basic-1 from PS > - Utter Eraser > > **Second: Plugin and slots** > > 1. My idea of a plugin is a collection of slots. Similar to the plugin Ten Brushes > 2. For each slot when the shortcut key is pressed, this slot can either: Maintain the current tool active and only change the brush. Or change the brush and the tool to a predefined one. > 3. Each slot has a list of accepted brushes, and ignored brushes. So the slot only ‘remember’ the last valid brush used. Here how this would work in more detail. > > _This is only for ease to follow, not proposing the changing of Default Shortcuts._ > > Slot 1: _Shortcut_ b. Always activate the _Freehand Brush Tool_. > > - Accept list: All brushes. > - Except list: Brushes with **Eraser Tag** and the Brush **Utter Eraser** > > Slot 2: _Shortcut_ e. Always activate the _Freehand Brush Tool_. > > - Accept list: Brushes with **Eraser Tag** and the Brush **Utter Eraser** > - Except list: `None` > > **Third: Plugin Behavior** > > Now each Plugin slot will check the current brush and assign it to itself if valid. Using the brushes and plugin settings proposed earlier, here an example: > > 1. You are drawing with the brush _Basic-1_. The slot 1 will memorize this brush. Slot 2 won’t. > 2. You change to your custom _Favorite Pencil 1_. Slot 1 checks and remember this brush as the last used now. Slot 2 can’t assign this brush, does nothing then. > 3. You press the e key. If not already, you go to the _Freehand Brush_. The default or last used eraser is selected. Slot 1 will check the changing in brush. Because it is an eraser it will maintain the last valid brush: _Favorite Pencil 1_ > 4. You change the brush to your custom eraser _Utter Eraser_. Slot 1 will not memorized it. Slot 2 will. > 5. You press the b key (slot 1). The _Freehand Brush_ is activated. The last valid brush is activated, in this case _Favorite Pencil 1_ > > With this my idea is that you can press the e key, go to your last brush eraser. Then you can just click on the **Brush Docker** and select a paint brush and keep painting. Or press the b key to the previous brush in this slot. > > Sure, my idea is make a collection of slots that you can assign certain tags, and/or brushes. While remembering the last one used. > A side note is that it seems to act as the Eraser Tool requested here. > > Sorry for the lenghty text. Hope it was clear, if not I will try again. Maybe even a visual mockup. Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Grum999](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/grum999/32/66488_2.png) [@Grum999](https://krita-artists.org/u/Grum999)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/118 "2021-11-25T17:35:09Z")
> [@Hologram](#): > > This is a really good contribution Thanks 😅 But I’m not sure it was useful, how the topic continue to be “hot” 🤯 > [@AndreasResch](#): > > An army of non-Krita users will thank you 🤔 By definition, non-Krita users don’t use Krita and then, might not care about a plugin they won’t use 🙃 The thing is there’s still many proposal/idea of what the new tool should be. There’s too much to read, too much different point of view; I’m reading it with one eye, trying to follow as I do for most of topics here, but this one is particularly hard. Not used to see a such things here. Finally, my feeling is that any implementation might not satisfy _old_ Krita users as _new_ Krita users (or maybe 0.0001% 🤔) I’m used to build plugins that primarily match my own needs and then, _trying_ to improve them according to feedback. But looking how the topic turns here, if by taking time to _try_ to implement something that finally doesn’t match what is expected by A or B or C or D is to get a potential aggressive feedback, it’s clearly not a source of motivation… But I like this proposal: > [@kaichi1342](#): > > - a key that calls one of the dedicated eraser brushes - either tag as eraser or added to the eraser slots. > - an icon in the toolbar that loads this array of brushes or an off shoot of brush preset that loads all the assigned eraser brush only. / tag as eraser > - anything in this slot is force to be eraser mode. > - the key remembers which of the eraser brush is your last used brush. > - an eraser icon in the toolbox that is basically #1. > > to add on the idea [it seems editing post is currently limited here due to slow mode so a reply it is.] > > ![image](https://krita-artists.org/uploads/default/original/3X/e/5/e5cc543ef25ea2e891f0e1b25154b066b1e7d95b.jpeg) Sounds to be similar to my understanding of the problem: > [@Grum999](#): > > the thing that seems to be expected behind a dedicated eraser tool is to have: > > - The ability to quickly switch (by pressing a configurable key) from current brush (whatever the brush is) to an another brush for which: > – brush engine is (potentially) not the same than the current brush > – brush size, opacity, blending mode are not the same than the current brush > - The ability to switch back quickly (by pressing the same configurable key) to brush (for which size, opacity, color, …, are kept ) > - Also maybe, having the choice to define different brush (one configurable key per brush) have to be taken in account. I’ll take a look on that proposal; I don’t guarantee anything. I’m already working on 3 plugins in parallels, +trying to made art for a friend, +I have a job at the office that take me ~10hours a day taking transportation in account… +my cat asking for hugs and standing up between me and the keyboard at home… +my GF starting to think that coding plugins will never end… 😵 Grum999 ---
**Author:** ![TheTwo](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/thetwo/32/32836_2.png) [@TheTwo](https://krita-artists.org/u/TheTwo)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/119 "2021-11-25T17:48:41Z")
> [@tiar](#): > > Does it have something else missing? I am quite satisfied with it. The only downside is that the eraser cannot become a brush and the brush cannot become an eraser. Their mode is locked. I hope it only turns on or off the “eraser mode” when switching, and does not need to be locked during use > [@Daishishi](#): > > An Eraser Tool (in the sense of a Krita tool) is completely **useless** in this request. Indeed it is. But we can make such a change: each tool will record the last brush it used. When I switched to the straight and rectangular tools, I obviously didn’t want to use the smear brush or the dot brush. And krita can only use a brush for strokes, I have to find a common and small round pen. If the tool can record, then we can add an “eraser” tool ---
**Author:** ![tiar](https://krita-artists.org/user_avatar/krita-artists.org/tiar/32/22_2.png) [@tiar](https://krita-artists.org/u/tiar)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300/120 "2021-11-25T17:58:26Z")
Let’s not talk like “completely useless”, that’s a bit unkind. If it’s useful to some people, then it’s not really useless. Sure the usability of something for a bigger audience might different from the person usability but you talk with specific people, not a whole crowd at once. [Previous page](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300.md?page=5) [Next page](https://krita-artists.org/t/feature-request-for-dedicated-eraser-tool/32300.md?page=7)