Crafting Apps GuideImage editing · Early alpha
PhotoCraft: Free Open-Source Adobe Photoshop Alternative
PhotoCraft is a free Rust app from the ArtCraft team for image editing. Check its documented capabilities and gaps before relying on it for your work.
What is PhotoCraft?
Its README describes a clean-room Rust reimplementation of the Adobe Photoshop 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: 49,563 at the 2026-10-12 snapshot. Official one-line description: The open-source image editor you already know how to use.
Source: official apps listing
Key features
Layers and adjustments
Keep edits separate with adjustment layers, pixel and vector masks, layer groups, and smart objects. The README also describes live layer styles and brush controls driven by pressure and tilt.
Color and everyday tools
Work with RGB, Grayscale, CMYK and Lab documents at different bit depths. Color profiles, soft proofing, cropping, selections and recorded actions are documented.
File formats
| Format | Documented behavior |
|---|---|
| PSD, PSB | Open and save layered documents; unmodeled data can be carried forward, but document saves are not byte-identical. |
| TIFF, OpenRaster | Layered read/write support is documented. |
| Paint.NET PDN3 | Read with editable layers. |
| SVG | Opens as shape layers; placing creates a vector Smart Object. |
| PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TGA, ICO, QOI, PNM, OpenEXR, Radiance HDR, FITS | Flat image formats; supported depths vary. |
| HEIC | Read-only; included in official builds. |
| AVIF | Write-only with the optional build feature; decoding is unavailable. |
| .af, .afdesign, .afphoto, .afpub | Read-only native import with warnings for unsupported content. |
| .pcraft | Native document format. |
JPEG XL is unavailable. Read the README’s codec notes before depending on a specific export.
Status and limits
PhotoCraft is early alpha. Its README says it is not ready to replace Photoshop in daily professional work. Gaps include AI/generative work, missing tools, typography depth, professional workflows and plug-in compatibility. Command wiring does not prove that every operation behaves as intended.
On Wayland, dropping files on the window does not yet work; use File → Open or paste from your file manager. The macOS command-line binary checks notarization online on its first run; the DMG can carry a stapled ticket.
Download and install PhotoCraft
Start at PhotoCraft 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 v0.7.0, 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
photocraft-0.7.0-windows-arm64-portable.zipphotocraft-0.7.0-windows-arm64.msiphotocraft-0.7.0-windows-x64-portable.zipphotocraft-0.7.0-windows-x64.msiphotocraft-0.7.0-windows-x86-portable.zipphotocraft-0.7.0-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
photocraft-0.7.0-macos-universal.dmgphotocraft-cli-0.7.0-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
photocraft-0.7.0-linux-aarch64.AppImagephotocraft-0.7.0-linux-aarch64.AppImage.zsyncphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-aarch64.debphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-aarch64.flatpakphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-aarch64.rpmphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-aarch64.tar.gzphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-riscv64.tar.gzphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-x86_64.AppImagephotocraft-0.7.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage.zsyncphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-x86_64.debphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-x86_64.flatpakphotocraft-0.7.0-linux-x86_64.rpmphotocraft-0.7.0-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
photocraft-0.7.0-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
photocraft-web-0.7.0.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 PhotoCraft 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/photocraft
cd photocraft
cargo run --release -p photocraft -- image.psd # the desktop app
cargo test --workspace # the test suitePhotoCraft vs Adobe Photoshop
The comparison here covers only PhotoCraft's documented capabilities. Its README positions it against Adobe Photoshop; the official apps listing labels it Early alpha. 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 PhotoCraft 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 PhotoCraft 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 PhotoCraft?
Use its official getartcraft.com page or the storytold GitHub Releases page. This guide links to official sources and does not distribute installers.
Is PhotoCraft 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 PhotoCraft support?
The official listing documents macOS, Windows, Linux, Web. Check the download section for the packages in the latest research snapshot.
Does PhotoCraft open PSD files?
Yes. The README documents PSD and PSB support, including layers and large documents. It warns that a document saved again is not necessarily byte-identical to the original.
Is PhotoCraft 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.