diff --git a/libs/ui/CMakeLists.txt b/libs/ui/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/libs/ui/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libs/ui/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
     brushhud/kis_dlg_brush_hud_config.cpp
     brushhud/kis_brush_hud_properties_list.cpp
     brushhud/kis_brush_hud_properties_config.cpp
+
     kis_aspect_ratio_locker.cpp
     kis_autogradient.cc
     kis_bookmarked_configurations_editor.cc
@@ -150,10 +151,13 @@
     kis_tooltip_manager.cpp
     kis_multinode_property.cpp
     kis_stopgradient_editor.cpp
+    KisWelcomePageWidget.cpp
+
     kisexiv2/kis_exif_io.cpp
     kisexiv2/kis_exiv2.cpp
     kisexiv2/kis_iptc_io.cpp
     kisexiv2/kis_xmp_io.cpp
+
     opengl/kis_opengl.cpp
     opengl/kis_opengl_canvas2.cpp
     opengl/kis_opengl_canvas_debugger.cpp
@@ -251,7 +255,7 @@
     widgets/KoDualColorButton.cpp
     widgets/KoStrokeConfigWidget.cpp
     widgets/KoFillConfigWidget.cpp
-
+    
 
     utils/kis_document_aware_spin_box_unit_manager.cpp
 
@@ -480,6 +484,8 @@
     forms/wdgstopgradienteditor.ui
     forms/wdgsessionmanager.ui
     forms/wdgnewwindowlayout.ui
+    forms/KisWelcomePage.ui
+
     brushhud/kis_dlg_brush_hud_config.ui
     dialogs/kis_delayed_save_dialog.ui
     input/config/kis_input_configuration_page.ui
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisApplication.cpp b/libs/ui/KisApplication.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/KisApplication.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/KisApplication.cpp
@@ -124,28 +124,9 @@
     }
 
     ~ResetStarting()  {
-        if (m_splash) {
 
-            KConfigGroup cfg( KSharedConfig::openConfig(), "SplashScreen");
-            bool hideSplash = cfg.readEntry("HideSplashAfterStartup", false);
-            if (m_fileCount > 0 || hideSplash) {
-                m_splash->hide();
-            }
-            else {
-                m_splash->setWindowFlags(Qt::Dialog);
-                QRect r(QPoint(), m_splash->size());
-                m_splash->move(QApplication::desktop()->availableGeometry().center() - r.center());
-                m_splash->setWindowTitle(qAppName());
-                m_splash->setParent(0);
-                Q_FOREACH (QObject *o, m_splash->children()) {
-                    QWidget *w = qobject_cast<QWidget*>(o);
-                    if (w && w->isHidden()) {
-                        w->setVisible(true);
-                    }
-                }
-                m_splash->show();
-                m_splash->activateWindow();
-            }
+        if (m_splash) {
+            m_splash->hide();
         }
     }
 
@@ -626,6 +607,7 @@
     }
 }
 
+
 bool KisApplication::notify(QObject *receiver, QEvent *event)
 {
     try {
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisAutoSaveRecoveryDialog.cpp b/libs/ui/KisAutoSaveRecoveryDialog.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/KisAutoSaveRecoveryDialog.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/KisAutoSaveRecoveryDialog.cpp
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
         KoStore* store = KoStore::createStore(path, KoStore::Read);
 
         if (store) {
-            if(store->open(QString("Thumbnails/thumbnail.png"))
+            if (store->open(QString("Thumbnails/thumbnail.png"))
                || store->open(QString("preview.png"))) {
                 // Hooray! No long delay for the user...
                 QByteArray bytes = store->read(store->size());
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisMainWindow.h b/libs/ui/KisMainWindow.h
--- a/libs/ui/KisMainWindow.h
+++ b/libs/ui/KisMainWindow.h
@@ -108,6 +108,17 @@
     void addRecentURL(const QUrl &url);
 
     /**
+     * get list of URL strings for recent files
+     */
+    QList<QUrl> recentFilesUrls();
+
+    /**
+     * clears the list of the recent files
+     */
+    void clearRecentFiles();
+
+
+    /**
      * Load the desired document and show it.
      * @param url the URL to open
      *
@@ -120,6 +131,18 @@
      */
     void showDocument(KisDocument *document);
 
+
+    /**
+     * Toggles between showing the welcome screen and the MDI area
+     *
+     *  hack: There seems to be a bug that prevents events happening to the MDI area if it
+     *  isn't actively displayed (set in the widgetStack). This can cause things like the title bar
+     *  not to update correctly Before doing any actions related to opening or creating documents,
+     *  make sure to switch this first to make sure everything can communicate to the MDI area correctly
+     */
+    void showWelcomeScreen(bool show);
+
+
     /**
      * Saves the document, asking for a filename if necessary.
      *
@@ -260,6 +283,20 @@
 
     void notifyChildViewDestroyed(KisView *view);
 
+    /// Set the active view, this will update the undo/redo actions
+    void setActiveView(KisView *view);
+
+    void subWindowActivated();
+
+    void windowFocused();
+
+    /**
+     * Reloads the recent documents list.
+     */
+    void reloadRecentFileList();
+
+
+
 private Q_SLOTS:
     /**
      * Save the list of recent files.
@@ -337,6 +374,7 @@
      */
     void slotReloadFile();
 
+
     /**
      * File --> Import
      *
@@ -370,9 +408,15 @@
     void newWindow();
     void closeCurrentWindow();
     void checkSanity();
+
     /// Quits Krita with error message from m_errorMessage.
     void showErrorAndDie();
 
+    void initializeGeometry();
+    void showManual();
+    void switchTab(int index);
+
+
 protected:
 
     void closeEvent(QCloseEvent * e) override;
@@ -384,7 +428,7 @@
     void dragMoveEvent(QDragMoveEvent * event) override;
     void dragLeaveEvent(QDragLeaveEvent * event) override;
 
-    void mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event) override;
+    void moveEvent(QMoveEvent *e) override;
 
 
 private:
@@ -396,18 +440,6 @@
      */
     void addView(KisView *view);
 
-public Q_SLOTS:
-
-    /// Set the active view, this will update the undo/redo actions
-    void setActiveView(KisView *view);
-
-    void subWindowActivated();
-
-    void windowFocused();
-
-private:
-
-    friend class KisApplication;
     friend class KisPart;
 
 
@@ -421,10 +453,6 @@
 
     bool openDocumentInternal(const QUrl &url, KisMainWindow::OpenFlags flags = 0);
 
-    /**
-     * Reloads the recent documents list.
-     */
-    void reloadRecentFileList();
 
     /**
      * Updates the window caption based on the document info and path.
@@ -444,18 +472,9 @@
 
     QByteArray borrowWorkspace(KisMainWindow *borrower);
 
-protected:
-
-    void moveEvent(QMoveEvent *e) override;
-
-private Q_SLOTS:
-    void initializeGeometry();
-    void showManual();
-    void switchTab(int index);
 
 private:
 
-
     /**
      * Struct used in the list created by createCustomDocumentWidgets()
      */
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisMainWindow.cpp b/libs/ui/KisMainWindow.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/KisMainWindow.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/KisMainWindow.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@
 #include <QMenuBar>
 #include <KisMimeDatabase.h>
 #include <QMimeData>
+#include <QStackedWidget>
+
 
 #include <kactioncollection.h>
 #include <QAction>
@@ -95,6 +97,7 @@
 #include <KoToolManager.h>
 #include <KoZoomController.h>
 #include "KoToolDocker.h"
+#include "KoToolBoxDocker_p.h"
 #include <KoToolBoxFactory.h>
 #include <KoDockRegistry.h>
 #include <KoPluginLoader.h>
@@ -142,6 +145,7 @@
 #include <KisUpdateSchedulerConfigNotifier.h>
 #include "KisWindowLayoutManager.h"
 #include <KisUndoActionsUpdateManager.h>
+#include "KisWelcomePageWidget.h"
 
 #include <mutex>
 
@@ -178,11 +182,16 @@
         , windowMenu(new KActionMenu(i18nc("@action:inmenu", "&Window"), parent))
         , documentMenu(new KActionMenu(i18nc("@action:inmenu", "New &View"), parent))
         , workspaceMenu(new KActionMenu(i18nc("@action:inmenu", "Wor&kspace"), parent))
+        , welcomePage(new KisWelcomePageWidget(parent))
+        , widgetStack(new QStackedWidget(parent))
         , mdiArea(new QMdiArea(parent))
         , windowMapper(new QSignalMapper(parent))
         , documentMapper(new QSignalMapper(parent))
     {
         if (id.isNull()) this->id = QUuid::createUuid();
+
+        widgetStack->addWidget(welcomePage);
+        widgetStack->addWidget(mdiArea);
         mdiArea->setTabsMovable(true);
         mdiArea->setActivationOrder(QMdiArea::ActivationHistoryOrder);
     }
@@ -252,6 +261,11 @@
 
     Digikam::ThemeManager *themeManager {0};
 
+    KisWelcomePageWidget *welcomePage {0};
+
+
+    QStackedWidget *widgetStack {0};
+
     QMdiArea *mdiArea;
     QMdiSubWindow *activeSubWindow  {0};
     QSignalMapper *windowMapper;
@@ -369,14 +383,17 @@
     d->mdiArea->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::North);
     d->mdiArea->setTabsClosable(true);
 
-    setCentralWidget(d->mdiArea);
+    setCentralWidget(d->widgetStack);
+    d->widgetStack->setCurrentIndex(0);
 
     connect(d->mdiArea, SIGNAL(subWindowActivated(QMdiSubWindow*)), this, SLOT(subWindowActivated()));
-    connect(d->windowMapper, SIGNAL(mapped(QWidget*)), this, SLOT(setActiveSubWindow(QWidget*)));
-    connect(d->documentMapper, SIGNAL(mapped(QObject*)), this, SLOT(newView(QObject*)));
+    connect(d->windowMapper, SIGNAL(mapped(QWidget*)), this, SLOT(setActiveSubWindow(QWidget*)));    connect(d->documentMapper, SIGNAL(mapped(QObject*)), this, SLOT(newView(QObject*)));
 
     createActions();
 
+    // the welcome screen needs to grab actions...so make sure this line goes after the createAction() so they exist
+    d->welcomePage->setMainWindow(this);
+
     setAutoSaveSettings(d->windowStateConfig, false);
 
     subWindowActivated();
@@ -728,11 +745,24 @@
     }
 }
 
+QList<QUrl> KisMainWindow::recentFilesUrls()
+{
+    return d->recentFiles->urls();
+}
+
+void KisMainWindow::clearRecentFiles()
+{
+    d->recentFiles->clear();
+}
+
+
 void KisMainWindow::reloadRecentFileList()
 {
     d->recentFiles->loadEntries(KSharedConfig::openConfig()->group("RecentFiles"));
 }
 
+
+
 void KisMainWindow::updateCaption()
 {
     if (!d->mdiArea->activeSubWindow()) {
@@ -881,6 +911,8 @@
 
 KisView* KisMainWindow::addViewAndNotifyLoadingCompleted(KisDocument *document)
 {
+    showWelcomeScreen(false); // see workaround in function header
+
     KisView *view = KisPart::instance()->createView(document, resourceManager(), actionCollection(), this);
     addView(view);
 
@@ -1312,6 +1344,9 @@
 
 void KisMainWindow::dragEnterEvent(QDragEnterEvent *event)
 {
+    d->welcomePage->showDropAreaIndicator(true);
+
+
     if (event->mimeData()->hasUrls() ||
         event->mimeData()->hasFormat("application/x-krita-node") ||
         event->mimeData()->hasFormat("application/x-qt-image")) {
@@ -1322,6 +1357,8 @@
 
 void KisMainWindow::dropEvent(QDropEvent *event)
 {
+    d->welcomePage->showDropAreaIndicator(false);
+
     if (event->mimeData()->hasUrls() && event->mimeData()->urls().size() > 0) {
         Q_FOREACH (const QUrl &url, event->mimeData()->urls()) {
             if (url.toLocalFile().endsWith(".bundle")) {
@@ -1359,26 +1396,13 @@
 
 void KisMainWindow::dragLeaveEvent(QDragLeaveEvent * /*event*/)
 {
+        d->welcomePage->showDropAreaIndicator(false);
+
     if (d->tabSwitchCompressor->isActive()) {
         d->tabSwitchCompressor->stop();
     }
 }
 
-void KisMainWindow::mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event)
-{
-    /**
-     * This ensures people who do not understand that you
-     * need to make a canvas first, will find the new image
-     * dialog on click.
-     */
-    if (centralWidget()->geometry().contains(event->pos())
-            && KisPart::instance()->documents().size()==0 && event->button() == Qt::LeftButton) {
-        this->slotFileNew();
-        event->accept();
-    } else {
-        event->ignore();
-    }
-}
 
 void KisMainWindow::switchTab(int index)
 {
@@ -1388,6 +1412,11 @@
     tabBar->setCurrentIndex(index);
 }
 
+void KisMainWindow::showWelcomeScreen(bool show)
+{
+     d->widgetStack->setCurrentIndex(!show);
+}
+
 void KisMainWindow::slotFileNew()
 {
     const QStringList mimeFilter = KisImportExportManager::supportedMimeTypes(KisImportExportManager::Import);
@@ -2090,6 +2119,7 @@
     }
 }
 
+
 void KisMainWindow::updateWindowMenu()
 {
     QMenu *menu = d->windowMenu->menu();
@@ -2216,6 +2246,28 @@
         }
     }
 
+
+
+    bool showMdiArea = windows.count( ) > 0;
+    if (!showMdiArea) {
+        showWelcomeScreen(true); // see workaround in function in header
+
+        // keep the recent file list updated when going back to welcome screen
+        reloadRecentFileList();
+        d->welcomePage->populateRecentDocuments();
+    }
+
+    // enable/disable the toolbox docker if there are no documents open
+    Q_FOREACH (QObject* widget, children()) {
+        if (widget->inherits("QDockWidget")) {
+            QDockWidget* dw = static_cast<QDockWidget*>(widget);
+
+            if ( dw->objectName() == "ToolBox") {
+                dw->setEnabled(showMdiArea);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     updateCaption();
 }
 
@@ -2401,6 +2453,8 @@
 {
     KisActionManager *actionManager = d->actionManager();
 
+
+
     actionManager->createStandardAction(KStandardAction::New, this, SLOT(slotFileNew()));
     actionManager->createStandardAction(KStandardAction::Open, this, SLOT(slotFileOpen()));
     actionManager->createStandardAction(KStandardAction::Quit, this, SLOT(slotFileQuit()));
@@ -2462,6 +2516,9 @@
     d->themeManager->registerThemeActions(actionCollection());
     connect(d->themeManager, SIGNAL(signalThemeChanged()), this, SLOT(slotThemeChanged()));
 
+
+    connect(d->themeManager, SIGNAL(signalThemeChanged()), d->welcomePage, SLOT(slotUpdateThemeColors()));
+
     d->toggleDockers = actionManager->createAction("view_toggledockers");
     KisConfig(true).showDockers(true);
     d->toggleDockers->setChecked(true);
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisWelcomePageWidget.h b/libs/ui/KisWelcomePageWidget.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/ui/KisWelcomePageWidget.h
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/* This file is part of the KDE project
+ * Copyright (C) 2018 Scott Petrovic <scottpetrovic@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Library General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Library General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public License
+ * along with this library; see the file COPYING.LIB.  If not, write to
+ * the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
+ * Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef KISWELCOMEPAGEWIDGET_H
+#define KISWELCOMEPAGEWIDGET_H
+
+#include "kritaui_export.h"
+#include "KisViewManager.h"
+#include "KisMainWindow.h"
+
+#include <QWidget>
+#include "ui_KisWelcomePage.h"
+#include <QStandardItemModel>
+
+/// A widget for diplaying if no documents are open. This will display in the MDI area
+class KRITAUI_EXPORT KisWelcomePageWidget : public QWidget, public Ui::KisWelcomePage
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+
+    public:
+    explicit KisWelcomePageWidget(QWidget *parent);
+    ~KisWelcomePageWidget() override;
+
+    void setMainWindow(KisMainWindow* mainWindow);
+
+public Q_SLOTS:
+    /// if a document is placed over this area, a dotted line will appear as an indicator
+    /// that it is a droppable area. KisMainwindow is what triggers this
+    void showDropAreaIndicator(bool show);
+
+    void slotUpdateThemeColors();
+
+    /// this could be called multiple times. If a recent document doesn't
+    /// have a preview, an icon is used that needs to be updated
+    void populateRecentDocuments();
+
+
+private:
+    KisMainWindow* mainWindow;
+    QStandardItemModel *recentFilesModel;
+
+private Q_SLOTS:
+    void slotNewFileClicked();
+    void slotOpenFileClicked();
+    void slotClearRecentFiles();
+
+    void recentDocumentClicked(QModelIndex index);
+
+    /// go to URL links
+    void slotGoToManual();
+
+    void slotGettingStarted();
+    void slotSupportKrita();
+    void slotUserCommunity();
+    void slotKritaWebsite();
+    void slotSourceCode();
+    void slotKDESiteLink();
+
+};
+
+#endif // KISWELCOMEPAGEWIDGET_H
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisWelcomePageWidget.cpp b/libs/ui/KisWelcomePageWidget.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/ui/KisWelcomePageWidget.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+/* This file is part of the KDE project
+ * Copyright (C) 2018 Scott Petrovic <scottpetrovic@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Library General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Library General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public License
+ * along with this library; see the file COPYING.LIB.  If not, write to
+ * the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
+ * Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+ */
+
+#include "KisWelcomePageWidget.h"
+#include <QDebug>
+#include <QDesktopServices>
+#include "kis_action_manager.h"
+#include "kactioncollection.h"
+#include "kis_action.h"
+
+#include "KConfigGroup"
+#include "KSharedConfig"
+
+#include <QListWidget>
+#include <QListWidgetItem>
+#include "kis_icon_utils.h"
+#include "krita_utils.h"
+#include "KoStore.h"
+
+
+KisWelcomePageWidget::KisWelcomePageWidget(QWidget *parent)
+{
+   Q_UNUSED(parent);
+   setupUi(this);
+
+   recentDocumentsListView->viewport()->setAutoFillBackground(false);
+   recentDocumentsListView->setSpacing(2);
+}
+
+KisWelcomePageWidget::~KisWelcomePageWidget()
+{
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::setMainWindow(KisMainWindow* mainWin)
+{
+    if (mainWin) {
+        mainWindow = mainWin;
+
+
+        // set the shortcut links from actions (only if a shortcut exists)
+        if ( mainWin->viewManager()->actionManager()->actionByName("file_new")->shortcut().toString() != "") {
+            newFileLinkShortcut->setText(QString("(") + mainWin->viewManager()->actionManager()->actionByName("file_new")->shortcut().toString() + QString(")"));
+        }
+
+        if (mainWin->viewManager()->actionManager()->actionByName("file_open")->shortcut().toString()  != "") {
+            openFileShortcut->setText(QString("(") + mainWin->viewManager()->actionManager()->actionByName("file_open")->shortcut().toString() + QString(")"));
+        }
+
+
+        populateRecentDocuments();
+        connect(recentDocumentsListView, SIGNAL(clicked(QModelIndex)), this, SLOT(recentDocumentClicked(QModelIndex)));
+
+
+        // we need the view manager to actually call actions, so don't create the connections
+        // until after the view manager is set
+        connect(newFileLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotNewFileClicked()));
+        connect(openFileLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotOpenFileClicked()));
+
+        // URL link connections
+        connect(manualLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotGoToManual()));
+
+        connect(gettingStartedLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotGettingStarted()));
+        connect(supportKritaLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotSupportKrita()));
+        connect(userCommunityLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotUserCommunity()));
+        connect(kritaWebsiteLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotKritaWebsite()));
+        connect(sourceCodeLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotSourceCode()));
+        connect(clearRecentFilesLink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotClearRecentFiles()));
+        connect(poweredByKDELink, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(slotKDESiteLink()));
+
+
+        slotUpdateThemeColors();
+    }
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::showDropAreaIndicator(bool show)
+{
+    if (!show) {
+        QString dropFrameStyle = "QFrame#dropAreaIndicator { border: 0px }";
+        dropFrameBorder->setStyleSheet(dropFrameStyle);
+    } else {
+        QColor textColor = qApp->palette().color(QPalette::Text);
+        QColor backgroundColor = qApp->palette().color(QPalette::Background);
+        QColor blendedColor = KritaUtils::blendColors(textColor, backgroundColor, 0.8);
+
+        // QColor.name() turns it into a hex/web format
+        QString dropFrameStyle = QString("QFrame#dropAreaIndicator { border: 2px dotted ").append(blendedColor.name()).append(" }") ;
+        dropFrameBorder->setStyleSheet(dropFrameStyle);
+    }
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotUpdateThemeColors()
+{
+
+    QColor textColor = qApp->palette().color(QPalette::Text);
+    QColor backgroundColor = qApp->palette().color(QPalette::Background);
+
+    // make the welcome screen labels a subtle color so it doesn't clash with the main UI elements
+    QColor blendedColor = KritaUtils::blendColors(textColor, backgroundColor, 0.8);
+    QString blendedStyle = QString("color: ").append(blendedColor.name());
+
+
+    // what labels to change the color...
+    startTitleLabel->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    recentDocumentsLabel->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    helpTitleLabel->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    manualLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    gettingStartedLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    supportKritaLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    userCommunityLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    kritaWebsiteLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    sourceCodeLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    newFileLinkShortcut->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    openFileShortcut->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    clearRecentFilesLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    poweredByKDELink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    recentDocumentsListView->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+
+    newFileLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+    openFileLink->setStyleSheet(blendedStyle);
+
+
+    // giving the drag area messaging a dotted border
+    QString dottedBorderStyle = QString("border: 2px dotted ").append(blendedColor.name()).append("; color:").append(blendedColor.name()).append( ";");
+    dragImageHereLabel->setStyleSheet(dottedBorderStyle);
+
+
+    // make drop area QFrame have a dotted line
+    dropFrameBorder->setObjectName("dropAreaIndicator");
+    QString dropFrameStyle = QString("QFrame#dropAreaIndicator { border: 4px dotted ").append(blendedColor.name()).append("}");
+    dropFrameBorder->setStyleSheet(dropFrameStyle);
+
+    // only show drop area when we have a document over the empty area
+    showDropAreaIndicator(false);
+
+    // add icons for new and open settings to make them stand out a bit more
+    openFileLink->setIconSize(QSize(30, 30));
+    newFileLink->setIconSize(QSize(30, 30));
+    openFileLink->setIcon(KisIconUtils::loadIcon("document-open"));
+    newFileLink->setIcon(KisIconUtils::loadIcon("document-new"));
+
+    // needed for updating icon color for files that don't have a preview
+    if (mainWindow) {
+        populateRecentDocuments();
+    }
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::populateRecentDocuments()
+{
+    // grab recent files data
+    recentFilesModel = new QStandardItemModel();
+    int recentDocumentsIterator = mainWindow->recentFilesUrls().length() > 5 ? 5 : mainWindow->recentFilesUrls().length(); // grab at most 5
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < recentDocumentsIterator; i++ ) {
+
+       QStandardItem *recentItem = new QStandardItem(1,2); // 1 row, 1 column
+       QString recentFileUrlPath = mainWindow->recentFilesUrls().at(i).toString();
+       QString fileName = recentFileUrlPath.split("/").last();
+
+
+       // get thumbnail -- almost all Krita-supported formats save a thumbnail
+       // this was mostly copied from the KisAutoSaveRecovery file
+       QScopedPointer<KoStore> store(KoStore::createStore(QUrl(recentFileUrlPath), KoStore::Read));
+
+       if (store) {
+           if (store->open(QString("Thumbnails/thumbnail.png"))
+              || store->open(QString("preview.png"))) {
+
+               QByteArray bytes = store->read(store->size());
+               store->close();
+               QImage img;
+               img.loadFromData(bytes);
+               recentItem->setIcon(QIcon(QPixmap::fromImage(img)));
+
+           }
+           else {
+               recentItem->setIcon(KisIconUtils::loadIcon("document-export"));
+           }
+
+       }
+       else {
+           recentItem->setIcon(KisIconUtils::loadIcon("document-export"));
+       }
+
+
+       // set the recent object with the data
+       recentItem->setText(fileName); // what to display for the item
+       recentItem->setToolTip(recentFileUrlPath);
+       recentFilesModel->appendRow(recentItem);
+
+
+    }
+
+
+    // hide clear and Recent files title if there are none
+    bool hasRecentFiles = mainWindow->recentFilesUrls().length() > 0;
+    recentDocumentsLabel->setVisible(hasRecentFiles);
+    clearRecentFilesLink->setVisible(hasRecentFiles);
+
+
+    recentDocumentsListView->setIconSize(QSize(40, 40));
+    recentDocumentsListView->setModel(recentFilesModel);
+}
+
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::recentDocumentClicked(QModelIndex index)
+{
+    QString fileUrl = index.data(Qt::ToolTipRole).toString();
+    mainWindow->openDocument(QUrl(fileUrl), KisMainWindow::None );
+}
+
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotNewFileClicked()
+{
+    mainWindow->slotFileNew();
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotOpenFileClicked()
+{
+    mainWindow->slotFileOpen();
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotClearRecentFiles()
+{
+    mainWindow->clearRecentFiles();
+    mainWindow->reloadRecentFileList();
+    populateRecentDocuments();
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotGoToManual()
+{
+    QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("https://docs.krita.org"));
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotGettingStarted()
+{
+    QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("https://docs.krita.org/en/user_manual/getting_started.html"));
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotSupportKrita()
+{
+    QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("https://krita.org/en/support-us/donations/"));
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotUserCommunity()
+{
+    QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("https://forum.kde.org/viewforum.php?f=136"));
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotKritaWebsite()
+{
+    QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("https://www.krita.org"));
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotSourceCode()
+{
+    QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("https://phabricator.kde.org/source/krita/"));
+}
+
+void KisWelcomePageWidget::slotKDESiteLink()
+{
+    QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("https://userbase.kde.org/What_is_KDE"));
+}
diff --git a/libs/ui/dialogs/kis_dlg_preferences.h b/libs/ui/dialogs/kis_dlg_preferences.h
--- a/libs/ui/dialogs/kis_dlg_preferences.h
+++ b/libs/ui/dialogs/kis_dlg_preferences.h
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@
     void setDefault();
     int undoStackSize();
     bool showOutlineWhilePainting();
-    bool hideSplashScreen();
 
     int mdiMode();
     int favoritePresets();
diff --git a/libs/ui/dialogs/kis_dlg_preferences.cc b/libs/ui/dialogs/kis_dlg_preferences.cc
--- a/libs/ui/dialogs/kis_dlg_preferences.cc
+++ b/libs/ui/dialogs/kis_dlg_preferences.cc
@@ -189,8 +189,6 @@
 
     chkShowRootLayer->setChecked(cfg.showRootLayer());
 
-    m_hideSplashScreen->setChecked(cfg.hideSplashScreen());
-
     KConfigGroup group = KSharedConfig::openConfig()->group("File Dialogs");
     bool dontUseNative = true;
 #ifdef Q_OS_UNIX
@@ -220,7 +218,6 @@
     m_backupFileCheckBox->setChecked(cfg.backupFile(true));
     m_showOutlinePainting->setChecked(cfg.showOutlineWhilePainting(true));
     m_changeBrushOutline->setChecked(!cfg.forceAlwaysFullSizedOutline(true));
-    m_hideSplashScreen->setChecked(cfg.hideSplashScreen(true));
 
     m_chkNativeFileDialog->setChecked(false);
     intMaxBrushSize->setValue(1000);
@@ -292,11 +289,6 @@
     return m_showOutlinePainting->isChecked();
 }
 
-bool GeneralTab::hideSplashScreen()
-{
-    return m_hideSplashScreen->isChecked();
-}
-
 int GeneralTab::mdiMode()
 {
     return m_cmbMDIType->currentIndex();
@@ -1283,7 +1275,6 @@
         cfg.setShowRootLayer(dialog->m_general->showRootLayer());
         cfg.setShowOutlineWhilePainting(dialog->m_general->showOutlineWhilePainting());
         cfg.setForceAlwaysFullSizedOutline(!dialog->m_general->m_changeBrushOutline->isChecked());
-        cfg.setHideSplashScreen(dialog->m_general->hideSplashScreen());
         cfg.setSessionOnStartup(dialog->m_general->sessionOnStartup());
         cfg.setSaveSessionOnQuit(dialog->m_general->saveSessionOnQuit());
 
diff --git a/libs/ui/forms/KisWelcomePage.ui b/libs/ui/forms/KisWelcomePage.ui
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/ui/forms/KisWelcomePage.ui
@@ -0,0 +1,760 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<ui version="4.0">
+ <class>KisWelcomePage</class>
+ <widget class="QWidget" name="KisWelcomePage">
+  <property name="geometry">
+   <rect>
+    <x>0</x>
+    <y>0</y>
+    <width>650</width>
+    <height>538</height>
+   </rect>
+  </property>
+  <property name="sizePolicy">
+   <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Preferred">
+    <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+    <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+   </sizepolicy>
+  </property>
+  <property name="autoFillBackground">
+   <bool>false</bool>
+  </property>
+  <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_12">
+   <item>
+    <widget class="QFrame" name="dropFrameBorder">
+     <property name="frameShape">
+      <enum>QFrame::Box</enum>
+     </property>
+     <property name="frameShadow">
+      <enum>QFrame::Plain</enum>
+     </property>
+     <property name="lineWidth">
+      <number>4</number>
+     </property>
+     <property name="midLineWidth">
+      <number>0</number>
+     </property>
+     <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_2">
+      <property name="leftMargin">
+       <number>10</number>
+      </property>
+      <property name="topMargin">
+       <number>10</number>
+      </property>
+      <property name="rightMargin">
+       <number>10</number>
+      </property>
+      <property name="bottomMargin">
+       <number>10</number>
+      </property>
+      <property name="horizontalSpacing">
+       <number>15</number>
+      </property>
+      <item row="1" column="3">
+       <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_9">
+        <property name="orientation">
+         <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+        </property>
+        <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+         <size>
+          <width>5</width>
+          <height>5</height>
+         </size>
+        </property>
+       </spacer>
+      </item>
+      <item row="1" column="2">
+       <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout">
+        <property name="spacing">
+         <number>5</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="leftMargin">
+         <number>0</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="topMargin">
+         <number>0</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="rightMargin">
+         <number>30</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="bottomMargin">
+         <number>0</number>
+        </property>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QLabel" name="helpTitleLabel">
+          <property name="font">
+           <font>
+            <pointsize>18</pointsize>
+           </font>
+          </property>
+          <property name="text">
+           <string>Community</string>
+          </property>
+          <property name="margin">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_7">
+          <property name="spacing">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="manualLink">
+            <property name="sizePolicy">
+             <sizepolicy hsizetype="Minimum" vsizetype="Fixed">
+              <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+              <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+             </sizepolicy>
+            </property>
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>User Manual</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_7">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeType">
+             <enum>QSizePolicy::Expanding</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>5</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_3">
+          <property name="spacing">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="gettingStartedLink">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Getting Started</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_4">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>5</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_4">
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="supportKritaLink">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Support Krita</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_3">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_5">
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="userCommunityLink">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>User Community</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_5">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_6">
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="kritaWebsiteLink">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Krita Website</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_6">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_8">
+          <property name="spacing">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <property name="bottomMargin">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="sourceCodeLink">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Source Code</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_8">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_11">
+          <property name="bottomMargin">
+           <number>20</number>
+          </property>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="poweredByKDELink">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Powered by KDE</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_13">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_9">
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QLabel" name="dragImageHereLabel">
+            <property name="sizePolicy">
+             <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="MinimumExpanding">
+              <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+              <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+             </sizepolicy>
+            </property>
+            <property name="frameShape">
+             <enum>QFrame::Box</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="lineWidth">
+             <number>2</number>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Drag Image in window to open</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="alignment">
+             <set>Qt::AlignCenter</set>
+            </property>
+            <property name="wordWrap">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="margin">
+             <number>30</number>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_10">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <spacer name="verticalSpacer">
+          <property name="orientation">
+           <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+           <size>
+            <width>20</width>
+            <height>20</height>
+           </size>
+          </property>
+         </spacer>
+        </item>
+       </layout>
+      </item>
+      <item row="0" column="2">
+       <spacer name="verticalSpacer_3">
+        <property name="orientation">
+         <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
+        </property>
+        <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+         <size>
+          <width>5</width>
+          <height>5</height>
+         </size>
+        </property>
+       </spacer>
+      </item>
+      <item row="1" column="0">
+       <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_11">
+        <property name="orientation">
+         <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+        </property>
+        <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+         <size>
+          <width>5</width>
+          <height>5</height>
+         </size>
+        </property>
+       </spacer>
+      </item>
+      <item row="1" column="1">
+       <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_2">
+        <property name="spacing">
+         <number>5</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="topMargin">
+         <number>0</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="rightMargin">
+         <number>20</number>
+        </property>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QLabel" name="startTitleLabel">
+          <property name="font">
+           <font>
+            <pointsize>18</pointsize>
+           </font>
+          </property>
+          <property name="text">
+           <string>Start</string>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout">
+          <property name="spacing">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="newFileLink">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>New File</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QLabel" name="newFileLinkShortcut">
+            <property name="minimumSize">
+             <size>
+              <width>20</width>
+              <height>0</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>false</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string/>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_2">
+          <property name="spacing">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <property name="bottomMargin">
+           <number>30</number>
+          </property>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="openFileLink">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Open File</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QLabel" name="openFileShortcut">
+            <property name="minimumSize">
+             <size>
+              <width>20</width>
+              <height>0</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>false</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string/>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_2">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>40</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_10">
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QLabel" name="recentDocumentsLabel">
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <pointsize>18</pointsize>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Recent Documents</string>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QPushButton" name="clearRecentFilesLink">
+            <property name="sizePolicy">
+             <sizepolicy hsizetype="Fixed" vsizetype="Fixed">
+              <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+              <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+             </sizepolicy>
+            </property>
+            <property name="font">
+             <font>
+              <underline>true</underline>
+             </font>
+            </property>
+            <property name="focusPolicy">
+             <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Clear</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checkable">
+             <bool>false</bool>
+            </property>
+            <property name="flat">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_12">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>5</width>
+              <height>20</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QListView" name="recentDocumentsListView">
+          <property name="sizePolicy">
+           <sizepolicy hsizetype="MinimumExpanding" vsizetype="Preferred">
+            <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+            <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+           </sizepolicy>
+          </property>
+          <property name="minimumSize">
+           <size>
+            <width>300</width>
+            <height>250</height>
+           </size>
+          </property>
+          <property name="font">
+           <font>
+            <underline>true</underline>
+            <kerning>false</kerning>
+           </font>
+          </property>
+          <property name="focusPolicy">
+           <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="autoFillBackground">
+           <bool>false</bool>
+          </property>
+          <property name="frameShape">
+           <enum>QFrame::NoFrame</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="frameShadow">
+           <enum>QFrame::Plain</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="lineWidth">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <property name="autoScroll">
+           <bool>false</bool>
+          </property>
+          <property name="showDropIndicator" stdset="0">
+           <bool>false</bool>
+          </property>
+          <property name="selectionBehavior">
+           <enum>QAbstractItemView::SelectItems</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="movement">
+           <enum>QListView::Snap</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="resizeMode">
+           <enum>QListView::Fixed</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="spacing">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <property name="viewMode">
+           <enum>QListView::ListMode</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="uniformItemSizes">
+           <bool>true</bool>
+          </property>
+          <property name="wordWrap">
+           <bool>false</bool>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+       </layout>
+      </item>
+      <item row="2" column="1">
+       <spacer name="verticalSpacer_2">
+        <property name="orientation">
+         <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
+        </property>
+        <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+         <size>
+          <width>5</width>
+          <height>5</height>
+         </size>
+        </property>
+       </spacer>
+      </item>
+     </layout>
+    </widget>
+   </item>
+  </layout>
+ </widget>
+ <resources/>
+ <connections/>
+</ui>
diff --git a/libs/ui/forms/wdggeneralsettings.ui b/libs/ui/forms/wdggeneralsettings.ui
--- a/libs/ui/forms/wdggeneralsettings.ui
+++ b/libs/ui/forms/wdggeneralsettings.ui
@@ -684,28 +684,6 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="11" column="1">
-        <widget class="KisIntParseSpinBox" name="m_favoritePresetsSpinBox">
-         <property name="sizePolicy">
-          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Fixed" vsizetype="Fixed">
-           <horstretch>0</horstretch>
-           <verstretch>0</verstretch>
-          </sizepolicy>
-         </property>
-         <property name="minimumSize">
-          <size>
-           <width>75</width>
-           <height>0</height>
-          </size>
-         </property>
-         <property name="minimum">
-          <number>10</number>
-         </property>
-         <property name="maximum">
-          <number>30</number>
-         </property>
-        </widget>
-       </item>
        <item row="12" column="1">
         <widget class="QCheckBox" name="chkShowRootLayer">
          <property name="text">
@@ -714,13 +692,6 @@
         </widget>
        </item>
        <item row="13" column="1">
-        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="m_hideSplashScreen">
-         <property name="text">
-          <string>Hide splash screen on startup</string>
-         </property>
-        </widget>
-       </item>
-       <item row="14" column="1">
         <widget class="QCheckBox" name="m_chkNativeFileDialog">
          <property name="toolTip">
           <string>Warning: if you enable this setting and the file dialogs do weird stuff, do not report a bug.</string>
@@ -730,14 +701,14 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="16" column="0">
+       <item row="15" column="0">
         <widget class="QLabel" name="label_9">
          <property name="text">
           <string>Maximum brush size:</string>
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
-       <item row="16" column="1">
+       <item row="15" column="1">
         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_2">
          <item>
           <widget class="QSpinBox" name="intMaxBrushSize">
@@ -773,7 +744,7 @@
          </item>
         </layout>
        </item>
-       <item row="17" column="1">
+       <item row="16" column="1">
         <spacer name="verticalSpacer_4">
          <property name="orientation">
           <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
@@ -786,6 +757,28 @@
          </property>
         </spacer>
        </item>
+       <item row="10" column="1">
+        <widget class="KisIntParseSpinBox" name="m_favoritePresetsSpinBox">
+         <property name="sizePolicy">
+          <sizepolicy hsizetype="Fixed" vsizetype="Fixed">
+           <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+           <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+          </sizepolicy>
+         </property>
+         <property name="minimumSize">
+          <size>
+           <width>75</width>
+           <height>0</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+         <property name="minimum">
+          <number>10</number>
+         </property>
+         <property name="maximum">
+          <number>30</number>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
       </layout>
      </widget>
     </widget>
diff --git a/libs/ui/kis_config.h b/libs/ui/kis_config.h
--- a/libs/ui/kis_config.h
+++ b/libs/ui/kis_config.h
@@ -260,9 +260,6 @@
     bool forceAlwaysFullSizedOutline(bool defaultValue = false) const;
     void setForceAlwaysFullSizedOutline(bool value) const;
 
-    bool hideSplashScreen(bool defaultValue = false) const;
-    void setHideSplashScreen(bool hideSplashScreen) const;
-
     enum SessionOnStartup {
         SOS_BlankSession,
         SOS_PreviousSession,
diff --git a/libs/ui/kis_config.cc b/libs/ui/kis_config.cc
--- a/libs/ui/kis_config.cc
+++ b/libs/ui/kis_config.cc
@@ -987,18 +987,6 @@
     m_cfg.writeEntry("forceAlwaysFullSizedOutline", value);
 }
 
-bool KisConfig::hideSplashScreen(bool defaultValue) const
-{
-    KConfigGroup cfg( KSharedConfig::openConfig(), "SplashScreen");
-    return (defaultValue ? true : cfg.readEntry("HideSplashAfterStartup", true));
-}
-
-void KisConfig::setHideSplashScreen(bool hideSplashScreen) const
-{
-    KConfigGroup cfg( KSharedConfig::openConfig(), "SplashScreen");
-    cfg.writeEntry("HideSplashAfterStartup", hideSplashScreen);
-}
-
 KisConfig::SessionOnStartup KisConfig::sessionOnStartup(bool defaultValue) const
 {
     int value = defaultValue ? SOS_BlankSession : m_cfg.readEntry("sessionOnStartup", (int)SOS_BlankSession);
diff --git a/libs/widgetutils/config/krecentfilesaction.h b/libs/widgetutils/config/krecentfilesaction.h
--- a/libs/widgetutils/config/krecentfilesaction.h
+++ b/libs/widgetutils/config/krecentfilesaction.h
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@
     using KSelectAction::addAction;
 
     KRecentFilesActionPrivate *d_ptr;
+    QList<QUrl> d_urls;
 
     Q_PRIVATE_SLOT(d_func(), void _k_urlSelected(QAction *))
 };
diff --git a/libs/widgetutils/config/krecentfilesaction.cpp b/libs/widgetutils/config/krecentfilesaction.cpp
--- a/libs/widgetutils/config/krecentfilesaction.cpp
+++ b/libs/widgetutils/config/krecentfilesaction.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,14 @@
 QList<QUrl> KRecentFilesAction::urls() const
 {
     Q_D(const KRecentFilesAction);
-    return d->m_urls.values();
+
+    // switch order so last opened file is first
+    QList<QUrl> sortedList;
+    for (int i=(d_urls.length()-1); i >= 0; i--) {
+            sortedList.append(d_urls[i]);
+    }
+
+    return sortedList;
 }
 
 void KRecentFilesAction::clear()
@@ -253,6 +260,8 @@
     d->clearSeparator->setVisible(false);
     d->clearAction->setVisible(false);
     setEnabled(false);
+
+    d_urls.clear();
 }
 
 void KRecentFilesAction::loadEntries(const KConfigGroup &_config)
@@ -281,6 +290,7 @@
             continue;
         }
         url = QUrl::fromUserInput(value);
+        d_urls.append(QUrl(url)); // will be used to retrieve on the welcome screen
 
         // Don't restore if file doesn't exist anymore
         if (url.isLocalFile() && !QFile::exists(url.toLocalFile())) {