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PhotoCraft
Apache-2.0PhotoCraft is a free, open-source Rust photo editor and Photoshop alternative with native PSD layer support, adjustment layers, GPU filters, and MCP CLI.
Open-source alternative to — compare it against:
Overview
PhotoCraft renders layered Photoshop documents through a pure-Rust engine backed by a wgpu compositor and 256-by-256 copy-on-write pixel tiles. Built by the ArtCraft team without Electron wrappers, it runs natively on Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD while compiling to WebAssembly for browsers. Its interface mirrors standard raster editing conventions so anyone familiar with commercial editors can work offline.
Why PhotoCraft instead of Adobe Photoshop
For everyday editors, the hardest part of leaving Adobe Photoshop is losing muscle memory when switching to tools with unfamiliar layouts. PhotoCraft focuses on workflow continuity: its 68 tools, layer hierarchy, blend modes, and shortcuts such as Cmd+J to duplicate a layer or Cmd+Y for soft proofing sit where Photoshop users expect them. Compared with web editors like Photopea and Pixlr, PhotoCraft runs locally without ad banners, memory limits, or export paywalls.
File compatibility reinforces that workflow fit. PhotoCraft's clean-room PSD and PSB parser preserves visual output across 307 of 309 test files in the psd-tools corpus, carrying unrecognized metadata blocks through on save. Users coming from Affinity Photo can also open .afphoto, .afdesign, and .afpub files with artboards, vectors, text, and masks intact. Still, PhotoCraft is in early alpha rather than a full studio replacement: it lacks Adobe's Generative Fill, leaves 15 tools unimplemented, and does not load plug-ins.
What it does well
- Non-destructive adjustment layers: Stacks 16 live adjustments—including Curves, Levels, Vibrance, Selective Color, and
.cubeLUTs—to tweak color without altering pixels. - Familiar retouching and selections: Includes 68 tools such as Spot Healing, Clone Stamp, Dodge and Burn, Quick Selection, and Select Subject, running edge detection offline.
- Live layer styles and editable type: Applies Drop Shadow, Glow, Bevel and Emboss, Satin, and overlays to pixel, shape, and text layers that survive PSD saves.
- Cross-editor format support: Reads and writes layered PSD, PSB, TIFF, and OpenRaster () files, while importing GIMP (), Krita (), Paint.NET (), Affinity Photo, and HEIC files.
