Crafting Apps GuidePhoto library and raw development · In development
LightCraft: Free Open-Source Adobe Lightroom Alternative
LightCraft is a free Rust app from the ArtCraft team for photo library and raw development. Check its documented capabilities and gaps before relying on it for your work.
What is LightCraft?
Its README describes a clean-room Rust reimplementation of the Adobe Lightroom workflow. The official listing describes the apps as free, open source and built from scratch in Rust.
GitHub license metadata: Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). The README documents a choice of MIT OR Apache-2.0; GitHub's single-license field does not show that full choice. Read the repository license and asset notices.
GitHub stars: 10,488 at the 2026-10-12 snapshot. Official one-line description: An open-source photo library and raw developer that runs on your machine.
Source: official apps listing
Key features
Develop and organize
Adjust light, color, tone curves and masks without changing your source photos. Ratings, flags, keywords, collections, filters and library persistence are documented.
Batch output and merging
Export with naming templates, size controls, metadata policy and watermarks. The README describes HDR and panorama merging, plus XMP sidecar workflows.
File formats
| Format | Documented behavior |
|---|---|
| DNG, CR2, CR3, ARW, NEF, RAF, RW2, RWL, PEF, ORF, SRW | RAW decoding with variant-specific limitations. |
| JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP, AVIF, DNG, original | Export options. |
| XMP | Sidecar read/write and develop-setting import. |
| .lcpreset, XMP presets | Preset-file workflows. |
RAW support is not a promise for every camera or compression mode. The README explicitly separates implemented decoders from variants still missing.
Status and limits
The listing says In development. AI masking and denoising work remain in progress, Super Resolution is not started, and the measured camera calibration database is missing. HDR display support and some camera/lens profiles are also unfinished.
On Wayland the default is XWayland when available, to retain file dropping. Native Wayland has a different drag-and-drop tradeoff; see the README’s Linux notes.
Download and install LightCraft
Start at LightCraft on getartcraft.com or the official GitHub Releases page. You can also use ArtCraft Launcher to install the desktop apps.
The latest snapshotted release is v0.6.0, published . These are exact asset names from that release; download them on the official Releases page.
Windows 6 release files
Match x64, arm64 or x86 to your computer. The MSI is an installer; the portable ZIP is the alternative for running an unpacked build. Follow the README for permissions and portable settings.
Show 6 Windows release files
lightcraft-0.6.0-windows-arm64-portable.ziplightcraft-0.6.0-windows-arm64.msilightcraft-0.6.0-windows-x64-portable.ziplightcraft-0.6.0-windows-x64.msilightcraft-0.6.0-windows-x86-portable.ziplightcraft-0.6.0-windows-x86.msi
macOS 2 release files
The universal DMG is the desktop app for Apple silicon and Intel. The README labels it signed and notarized. A separate CLI ZIP, where listed, contains the command-line tool.
Show 2 macOS release files
lightcraft-0.6.0-macos-universal.dmglightcraft-cli-0.6.0-macos-universal.zip
Linux 13 release files
Choose the package for your architecture: AppImage, Debian/Ubuntu DEB, Fedora/RHEL/openSUSE RPM, sandboxed Flatpak or a tarball. RISC-V support and runtime requirements are package-specific. Read the README installation notes.
Show 13 Linux release files
lightcraft-0.6.0-linux-aarch64.AppImagelightcraft-0.6.0-linux-aarch64.AppImage.zsynclightcraft-0.6.0-linux-aarch64.deblightcraft-0.6.0-linux-aarch64.flatpaklightcraft-0.6.0-linux-aarch64.rpmlightcraft-0.6.0-linux-aarch64.tar.gzlightcraft-0.6.0-linux-riscv64.tar.gzlightcraft-0.6.0-linux-x86_64.AppImagelightcraft-0.6.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage.zsynclightcraft-0.6.0-linux-x86_64.deblightcraft-0.6.0-linux-x86_64.flatpaklightcraft-0.6.0-linux-x86_64.rpmlightcraft-0.6.0-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
FreeBSD 1 release files
The README provides tarball instructions and required runtime libraries. Read those before unpacking into system directories.
Show 1 FreeBSD release files
lightcraft-0.6.0-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz
Web (WebAssembly) 1 release files
A web ZIP contains a static WebAssembly build to host on a static server. The official listing also labels browser support.
Show 1 Web (WebAssembly) release files
lightcraft-web-0.6.0.zip
Verify your download against SHA256SUMS.txt from the same official release. Compare a locally calculated SHA-256 digest with the entry for the exact file you downloaded. See the checksum guide.
Build LightCraft from source
The following first-run block is copied verbatim from the official README. Run it from the repository checkout; commands without a clone step assume you already have the code. Read the README for Rust toolchain requirements, operating-system dependencies and optional fonts.
git clone https://github.com/storytold/lightcraft && cd lightcraft
cargo run --release -p lightcraft # opens your library (~/Pictures/LightCraft Library; a new one starts with demo photos)
cargo run --release -p lightcraft -- ~/Pictures/trip # import your photos (folders are scanned, duplicates skipped)
cargo run --release -p lightcraft -- --memory # a throwaway in-memory demo session (writes nothing)
cargo run --release -p lightcraft -- --control 7980 # with the automation channel
cargo xtask web --serve # the same app in the browser: http://127.0.0.1:8080/
cargo run --release -p lightcraft-cli -- render photo.jpg -o out.jpg --set light.exposure=0.5
cargo xtask ci # fmt, clippy, tests, layering, wasm checksLightCraft vs Adobe Lightroom
The comparison here covers only LightCraft's documented capabilities. Its README positions it against Adobe Lightroom; the official apps listing labels it In development. The feature summary describes documented tools, and status and limits records the gaps. File support is scoped by the format table.
This is a documentation-based review, not a hands-on test or a guarantee of replacement readiness. For your workflow, test a copy of a representative file and check the result before moving important work.
Agent, CLI and MCP features
The LightCraft README documents a command-line tool, a JSON control channel and an MCP server. These expose app operations to scripts and agents; the exact commands and protocol depend on the repository. Read the official automation documentation ↗
Frequently asked questions
Is LightCraft made by ArtCraft?
Yes. The official listing and repository README identify the ArtCraft team and community behind the Crafting Apps. Its source is published under the storytold GitHub organization.
Where can I download LightCraft?
Use its official getartcraft.com page or the storytold GitHub Releases page. This guide links to official sources and does not distribute installers.
Is LightCraft safe?
This guide has not audited the binaries. Use official releases, verify the published SHA-256 checksums and read the documented platform warnings. Early software can have bugs.
Which platforms does LightCraft support?
The official listing documents macOS, Windows, Linux, Web. Check the download section for the packages in the latest research snapshot.
Does LightCraft open RAW photos?
Yes, the README lists DNG and multiple camera RAW families. Support depends on the exact variant; other CR3 variants, compressed ORF / SRW and Nikon HE NEF remain gaps.
Is LightCraft free?
Yes. It is part of the free, open-source Crafting Apps. GitHub records Apache-2.0; the README offers MIT OR Apache-2.0.