diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/bmp/kis_bmp_export.cpp b/krita/plugins/formats/bmp/kis_bmp_export.cpp
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/bmp/kis_bmp_export.cpp
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/bmp/kis_bmp_export.cpp
@@ -57,8 +57,7 @@
     if (from != "application/x-krita")
         return KisImportExportFilter::NotImplemented;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     qApp->processEvents(); // For vector layers to be updated
     input->image()->waitForDone();
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/bmp/kis_bmp_import.cpp b/krita/plugins/formats/bmp/kis_bmp_import.cpp
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/bmp/kis_bmp_import.cpp
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/bmp/kis_bmp_import.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     doc->prepareForImport();
 
     if (!filename.isEmpty()) {
-        QUrl url(filename);
+        QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
         if (url.isEmpty() || !url.isLocalFile()) {
             return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/exr/exr_export.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/exr/exr_export.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/exr/exr_export.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/exr/exr_export.cc
@@ -100,8 +100,7 @@
     QString filename = m_chain->outputFile();
     if (filename.isEmpty()) return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     exrConverter kpc(input, !m_chain->manager()->getBatchMode());
 
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/exr/exr_import.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/exr/exr_import.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/exr/exr_import.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/exr/exr_import.cc
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 
     if (!filename.isEmpty()) {
 
-        QUrl url(filename);
+        QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
         if (url.isEmpty())
             return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/heightmap/kis_heightmap_import.cpp b/krita/plugins/formats/heightmap/kis_heightmap_import.cpp
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/heightmap/kis_heightmap_import.cpp
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/heightmap/kis_heightmap_import.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
         return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
     }
 
-    QUrl url(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
 
     dbgFile << "Import: " << url;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/jp2/jp2_export.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/jp2/jp2_export.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/jp2/jp2_export.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/jp2/jp2_export.cc
@@ -108,8 +108,7 @@
 
     KisConfig().setExportConfiguration("JP2", cfg);
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     image->refreshGraph();
     image->lock();
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/jp2/jp2_import.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/jp2/jp2_import.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/jp2/jp2_import.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/jp2/jp2_import.cc
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 
     if (!filename.isEmpty()) {
 
-        QUrl url(filename);
+        QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
         if (url.isEmpty())
             return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/jpeg/kis_jpeg_export.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/jpeg/kis_jpeg_export.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/jpeg/kis_jpeg_export.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/jpeg/kis_jpeg_export.cc
@@ -189,8 +189,7 @@
 
     if (filename.isEmpty()) return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     image->refreshGraph();
     image->lock();
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/jpeg/kis_jpeg_import.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/jpeg/kis_jpeg_import.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/jpeg/kis_jpeg_import.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/jpeg/kis_jpeg_import.cc
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 
     if (!filename.isEmpty()) {
 
-        QUrl url(filename);
+        QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
         if (url.isEmpty())
             return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/oiio/kis_oiio_export.cpp b/krita/plugins/formats/oiio/kis_oiio_export.cpp
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/oiio/kis_oiio_export.cpp
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/oiio/kis_oiio_export.cpp
@@ -57,8 +57,7 @@
     if (from != "application/x-krita")
         return KisImportExportFilter::NotImplemented;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     qApp->processEvents(); // For vector layers to be updated
     input->image()->waitForDone();
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/ora/ora_export.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/ora/ora_export.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/ora/ora_export.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/ora/ora_export.cc
@@ -89,8 +89,7 @@
 
     if (filename.isEmpty()) return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     KisImageWSP image = input->image();
     Q_CHECK_PTR(image);
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/ora/ora_import.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/ora/ora_import.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/ora/ora_import.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/ora/ora_import.cc
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 
     if (!filename.isEmpty()) {
 
-        QUrl url(filename);
+        QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
         if (url.isEmpty())
             return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/png/kis_png_export.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/png/kis_png_export.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/png/kis_png_export.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/png/kis_png_export.cc
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
 
     if (filename.isEmpty()) return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
 
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
     if (from != "application/x-krita")
         return KisImportExportFilter::NotImplemented;
 
@@ -216,9 +217,6 @@
 
     delete kdb;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
-
     KisPNGConverter kpc(input);
 
     vKisAnnotationSP_it beginIt = image->beginAnnotations();
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/png/kis_png_import.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/png/kis_png_import.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/png/kis_png_import.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/png/kis_png_import.cc
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 
     if (!filename.isEmpty()) {
 
-        QUrl url(filename);
+        QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
         if (url.isEmpty())
             return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/ppm/kis_ppm_import.cpp b/krita/plugins/formats/ppm/kis_ppm_import.cpp
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/ppm/kis_ppm_import.cpp
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/ppm/kis_ppm_import.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
         return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
     }
 
-    QUrl url(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     if (url.isEmpty())
         return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/psd/psd_export.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/psd/psd_export.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/psd/psd_export.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/psd/psd_export.cc
@@ -111,8 +111,7 @@
 
     if (filename.isEmpty()) return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     PSDSaver kpc(input);
     KisImageBuilder_Result res;
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/qml/qml_export.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/qml/qml_export.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/qml/qml_export.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/qml/qml_export.cc
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@
         return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
     }
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     KisImageWSP image = input->image();
 
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/tga/kis_tga_export.cpp b/krita/plugins/formats/tga/kis_tga_export.cpp
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/tga/kis_tga_export.cpp
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/tga/kis_tga_export.cpp
@@ -60,9 +60,6 @@
     if (from != "application/x-krita")
         return KisImportExportFilter::NotImplemented;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
-
     qApp->processEvents(); // For vector layers to be updated
     input->image()->waitForDone();
 
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/tiff/kis_tiff_export.cc b/krita/plugins/formats/tiff/kis_tiff_export.cc
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/tiff/kis_tiff_export.cc
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/tiff/kis_tiff_export.cc
@@ -100,8 +100,7 @@
 
     if (filename.isEmpty()) return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
 
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     KisImageSP image;
 
diff --git a/krita/plugins/formats/xcf/kis_xcf_import.cpp b/krita/plugins/formats/xcf/kis_xcf_import.cpp
--- a/krita/plugins/formats/xcf/kis_xcf_import.cpp
+++ b/krita/plugins/formats/xcf/kis_xcf_import.cpp
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
         return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
     }
 
-    QUrl url(filename);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(filename);
 
     if (url.isEmpty())
         return KisImportExportFilter::FileNotFound;
diff --git a/krita/ui/KisDocument.cpp b/krita/ui/KisDocument.cpp
--- a/krita/ui/KisDocument.cpp
+++ b/krita/ui/KisDocument.cpp
@@ -719,6 +719,7 @@
         KisImportExportFilter::ConversionStatus status = d->filterManager->exportDocument(localFilePath(), outputMimeType);
         ret = status == KisImportExportFilter::OK;
         suppressErrorDialog = (status == KisImportExportFilter::UserCancelled || status == KisImportExportFilter::BadConversionGraph);
+        dbgFile << "Export status was" << status;
     } else {
         // Native format => normal save
         Q_ASSERT(!localFilePath().isEmpty());
@@ -1270,7 +1271,7 @@
     d->specialOutputFlag = 0;
     QByteArray _native_format = nativeFormatMimeType();
 
-    QUrl u(localFilePath());
+    QUrl u = QUrl::fromLocalFile(localFilePath());
     QString typeName = mimeType();
 
     if (typeName.isEmpty()) {
diff --git a/krita/ui/KisFilterChain.cpp b/krita/ui/KisFilterChain.cpp
--- a/krita/ui/KisFilterChain.cpp
+++ b/krita/ui/KisFilterChain.cpp
@@ -503,8 +503,7 @@
 
 KisDocument* KisFilterChain::createDocument(const QString& file)
 {
-    QUrl url;
-    url.setPath(file);
+    QUrl url = QUrl::fromLocalFile(file);
     QMimeDatabase db;
     QMimeType t = db.mimeTypeForFile(url.path(), QMimeDatabase::MatchExtension);
     if (t.isDefault()) {
diff --git a/krita/ui/KisImportExportManager.h b/krita/ui/KisImportExportManager.h
--- a/krita/ui/KisImportExportManager.h
+++ b/krita/ui/KisImportExportManager.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QMap>
 #include <QByteArray>
+#include <QUrl>
 
 #include "KisFilterChain.h"
 #include "KisFilterGraph.h"
@@ -69,33 +70,34 @@
 
     /**
      * Create a filter manager for a filter which wants to embed something.
-     * The url it passes is the file to convert, obviously. You cannot use
+     * The path it passes is the file to convert. You cannot use
      * the @ref importDocument() method -- use @ref exportDocument() to convert
      * the file to the destination mimetype you prefer.
      *
-     * @param url The file you want to export
+     * @param path The location you want to export
      * @param mimetypeHint The mimetype of the file you want to export. You have
      *        to specify this information only if the automatic detection will
      *        fail because e.g. you saved an embedded stream to a *.tmp file.
      *        Most likely you do not have to care about that.
      * @param parentChain The parent filter chain of this filter manager. Used
      *        to allow embedding for filters. Most likely you do not have to care.
      */
-    explicit KisImportExportManager(const QString& url, const QByteArray& mimetypeHint = QByteArray(),
+    explicit KisImportExportManager(const QString& location, const QByteArray& mimetypeHint = QByteArray(),
                              KisFilterChain * const parentChain = 0);
 
     virtual ~KisImportExportManager();
 
     /**
-     * Imports the passed URL and returns the resultant filename
+     * Imports the specified document and returns the resultant filename
      * (most likely some file in /tmp).
+     * @p path can be either a URL or a filename.
      * @p documentMimeType gives importDocument a hint about what type
      * the document may be. It can be left empty.
-     * The @p status variable signals the success/error of the conversion
+     * @p status signals the success/error of the conversion.
      * If the QString which is returned isEmpty() and the status is OK,
      * then we imported the file directly into the document.
      */
-    QString importDocument(const QString& url,
+    QString importDocument(const QString& location,
                            const QString& documentMimeType,
                            KisImportExportFilter::ConversionStatus& status);
 
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@
      * and when the method returns @p mimeType contains this mimetype.
      * Oh, well, export is a C++ keyword ;)
      */
-    KisImportExportFilter::ConversionStatus exportDocument(const QString& url, QByteArray& mimeType);
+    KisImportExportFilter::ConversionStatus exportDocument(const QString& location, QByteArray& mimeType);
 
     ///@name Static API
     //@{
@@ -160,11 +162,11 @@
     // pretty safe.
     friend QString KisFilterChain::filterManagerImportFile() const;
     QString importFile() const {
-        return m_importUrl;
+        return m_importUrl.toLocalFile();
     }
     friend QString KisFilterChain::filterManagerExportFile() const;
     QString exportFile() const {
-        return m_exportUrl;
+        return m_exportUrl.toLocalFile();
     }
     friend KisDocument *KisFilterChain::filterManagerKisDocument() const;
     KisDocument *document() const {
@@ -183,11 +185,15 @@
     KisImportExportManager(const KisImportExportManager& rhs);
     KisImportExportManager &operator=(const KisImportExportManager& rhs);
 
+    // Convert file path string or URL string into QUrl
+    QUrl locationToUrl(QString location) const;
+
     void importErrorHelper(const QString& mimeType, const bool suppressDialog = false);
 
     KisDocument *m_document;
     KisFilterChain *const m_parentChain;
-    QString m_importUrl, m_exportUrl;
+    QUrl m_importUrl;
+    QUrl m_exportUrl;
     QByteArray m_importUrlMimetypeHint;  ///< suggested mimetype
     CalligraFilter::Graph m_graph;
     Direction m_direction;
diff --git a/krita/ui/KisImportExportManager.cpp b/krita/ui/KisImportExportManager.cpp
--- a/krita/ui/KisImportExportManager.cpp
+++ b/krita/ui/KisImportExportManager.cpp
@@ -58,11 +58,11 @@
 }
 
 
-KisImportExportManager::KisImportExportManager(const QString& url, const QByteArray& mimetypeHint,
+KisImportExportManager::KisImportExportManager(const QString& location, const QByteArray& mimetypeHint,
                                                KisFilterChain* const parentChain)
     : m_document(0)
     , m_parentChain(parentChain)
-    , m_importUrl(url)
+    , m_importUrl(locationToUrl(location))
     , m_importUrlMimetypeHint(mimetypeHint)
     , m_graph("")
     , d(new Private)
@@ -82,13 +82,14 @@
     delete d;
 }
 
-QString KisImportExportManager::importDocument(const QString& url,
+QString KisImportExportManager::importDocument(const QString& location,
                                                const QString& documentMimeType,
                                                KisImportExportFilter::ConversionStatus& status)
 {
+    QUrl u = locationToUrl(location);
+
     // Find the mime type for the file to be imported.
     QString  typeName(documentMimeType);
-    QUrl u(url);
     QMimeType t;
     if (documentMimeType.isEmpty()) {
         QMimeDatabase db;
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@
                 if (f == nativeFormat) {
                     status = KisImportExportFilter::OK;
                     QApplication::restoreOverrideCursor();
-                    return url;
+                    return u.toString();
                 }
 
                 m_graph.setSourceMimeType(f);
@@ -170,9 +171,8 @@
 
     // Okay, let's invoke the filters one after the other
     m_direction = Import; // vital information!
-    m_importUrl = url;  // We want to load that file
-    m_exportUrl.clear();  // This is null for sure, as embedded stuff isn't
-    // allowed to use that method
+    m_importUrl = u;
+    m_exportUrl.clear();
     status = chain->invokeChain();
 
     m_importUrl.clear();  // Reset the import URL
@@ -182,14 +182,14 @@
     return QString();
 }
 
-KisImportExportFilter::ConversionStatus KisImportExportManager::exportDocument(const QString& url, QByteArray& mimeType)
+KisImportExportFilter::ConversionStatus KisImportExportManager::exportDocument(const QString& location, QByteArray& mimeType)
 {
     bool userCancelled = false;
 
     // The import url should already be set correctly (null if we have a KisDocument
     // file manager and to the correct URL if we have an embedded manager)
     m_direction = Export; // vital information!
-    m_exportUrl = url;
+    m_exportUrl = locationToUrl(location);
 
     KisFilterChain::Ptr chain;
     if (m_document) {
@@ -208,21 +208,19 @@
         dbgFile << "Using the mimetype hint:" << m_importUrlMimetypeHint;
         m_graph.setSourceMimeType(m_importUrlMimetypeHint);
     } else {
-        QUrl u;
-        u.setPath(m_importUrl);
         QMimeDatabase db;
-        QMimeType t = db.mimeTypeForFile(u.path(), QMimeDatabase::MatchExtension);
+        QMimeType t = db.mimeTypeForUrl(m_importUrl);
         if (!t.isValid() || t.isDefault()) {
-            errFile << "No mimetype found for" << m_importUrl;
+            errFile << "No mimetype found for" << m_importUrl.toDisplayString();
             return KisImportExportFilter::BadMimeType;
         }
         m_graph.setSourceMimeType(t.name().toLatin1());
 
         if (!m_graph.isValid()) {
             warnFile << "Can't open" << t.name() << ", trying filter chooser";
 
             QApplication::setOverrideCursor(Qt::ArrowCursor);
-            KisFilterChooser chooser(0, KisImportExportManager::mimeFilter(), QString(), u);
+            KisFilterChooser chooser(0, KisImportExportManager::mimeFilter(), QString(), m_importUrl);
             if (chooser.exec())
                 m_graph.setSourceMimeType(chooser.filterSelected().toLatin1());
             else
@@ -564,6 +562,12 @@
     return d->progressUpdater.data();
 }
 
+QUrl KisImportExportManager::locationToUrl(QString location) const
+{
+    QUrl u = QUrl::fromLocalFile(location);
+    return (u.isEmpty()) ? QUrl(location) : u;
+}
+
 #include <KisImportExportManager.moc>
 #include <QMimeDatabase>
 #include <QMimeType>