PhotoCraft Software: Open-Source Photo Editor

PhotoCraft software most often refers to a free, open-source image editor written in Rust for working with photos, layers, masks, and layered PSD/PSB files. It is not a text-to-image generator; if you want to create a photorealistic picture from a written prompt, use GeneratorNest’s browser-based PhotoCraft AI image generator instead.

What Is PhotoCraft Software?

The main PhotoCraft project is part of ArtCraft’s open-source application family. It is designed for users who want Photoshop-style editing without a subscription and works locally on the user’s files.

As of October 17, 2026, its documented features include:

• Layers and masks
• Adjustment layers and layer styles
• Text, vectors, and brushes
• GPU-accelerated compositing
• Layered PSD and PSB support
• Local selection tools
• RGB, CMYK, Lab, and grayscale color support
• Command-line, JSON, and MCP control options

The application is written in Rust rather than being an Electron shell wrapped around a web interface. Public feature listings also describe support for 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit documents, along with ICC color management.

PhotoCraft is free under the MIT OR Apache-2.0 licenses. It is still an early project, so check the current release notes and open issues before using it for production client work. Publicly available 2026 third-party summaries describe it as alpha software and note that it does not currently provide generative fill or text-to-image generation.

PhotoCraft or a Similar Name?

Several unrelated products use the PhotoCraft name.

What You Want	Product to Consider
Edit PSD files, photos, masks, and layers	Open-source Rust PhotoCraft
Use an editor without installing software	The PhotoCraft WebAssembly build
Create an image from a text prompt	A browser-based AI image generator
Swap faces, upscale images, or restore old photos	A separate service called AI PhotoCraft
Edit portraits on an iPhone or iPad	A separate mobile app also named PhotoCraft

Do not assume that a search result containing “PhotoCraft AI” refers to the open-source editor. They are separate products with different features and business models.

Where to Download PhotoCraft

Use the official GitHub repository or the ArtCraft product page to find releases. Avoid third-party download portals, especially if they ask for an account, payment, or installation of an unrelated “PhotoCraft” application.

For desktop use:

1. Open the repository’s Releases section.
2. Choose the build for macOS, Windows, or Linux.
3. Read the release notes for known limitations.
4. Download the release file and any published checksum.
5. Verify the checksum before installing it.
6. Keep a backup of important PSD files while testing a new release.

For Debian or Ubuntu, the Snap Store lists these commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd
sudo snap install snapd
sudo snap install photocraft

The Snap Store page showed the latest stable channel updated on October 14, 2026. Its listing says the Snap repackages the upstream Linux release and is licensed under Apache-2.0 OR MIT.

Using PhotoCraft Online

An independent community site, photocraft.im/online, serves the upstream PhotoCraft WebAssembly build without requiring an installation or account. The site states that it was serving the unmodified v0.8.2 web build, released October 12, 2026.

According to the community host:

• Images are edited locally and are not uploaded.
• Preferences are stored in the browser’s local storage.
• The web interface is currently English-only.
• There is no autosave or crash recovery.
• Large PSD files may be slow or run out of memory because the web build uses 32-bit, single-threaded WebAssembly.
• Phones and tablets are not well supported.

Save frequently with File > Save or File > Export. Both options download a file to your computer, so unsaved work is not restored after a crash.

PhotoCraft normally uses WebGPU and can switch to WebGL2. If the canvas is blank, try the community site’s WebGL2 mode or its slower CPU renderer. Some shortcuts, including Ctrl+W, Ctrl+N, Ctrl+T, and F5 or Ctrl+R, remain controlled by the browser; full-screen mode with F11 lets most shortcuts reach the editor.

How to Start Editing

1. Open a working copy. Keep the original PSD separate until you confirm that PhotoCraft preserves the file correctly.
2. Import the image. Open the copy and review its layers, text, masks, and overall appearance.
3. Identify each layer. Toggle visibility to match layer names with what appears on the canvas.
4. Make non-destructive adjustments. Use masks and adjustment layers instead of repeatedly applying permanent changes.
5. Use selections carefully. Preview the selected area before changing it, especially around hair, edges, and transparent objects.
6. Save and export early. Use File > Save for the working document and File > Export for the version you need to share.

For large layered documents or regular production work, the desktop build is the better choice because it is not limited by browser memory and all application shortcuts remain available.

Does PhotoCraft Generate Images from Text?

No. The open-source PhotoCraft editor is built for manipulating existing images and documents, not generating new pictures from prompts.

For a no-download text-to-photo workflow, open GeneratorNest’s PhotoCraft AI image generator and describe the result you want. A useful prompt should specify:

• Main subject
• Location or background
• Lighting and time of day
• Camera viewpoint or lens
• Color and mood
• Level of realism
• Composition or crop

For example: “A realistic portrait of a home cook in a small urban kitchen, soft morning window light, 50mm lens, natural skin texture, documentary photography.”

That creates a different workflow from PhotoCraft’s manual PSD editing. You can generate an image in the browser and then import it into PhotoCraft for masks, adjustments, text, or compositing.

Alternatives to Consider

Choose GIMP or Krita if you need a more established free editor for image manipulation, illustration, or PSD-related work. Stay with Adobe Photoshop when a client requires its full production feature set, plug-ins, or proven file compatibility.

For text-to-photorealistic images, use a browser-based generation tool rather than expecting the open-source PhotoCraft editor to provide generative AI. PhotoCraft is better suited to editing an image after it already exists.

FAQ

Is PhotoCraft software free?

Yes. The open-source application is licensed under MIT OR Apache-2.0 and does not require a paid account. Unrelated services using the PhotoCraft name may use credits or subscriptions, but those charges do not apply to the open-source editor itself.

Where is the official PhotoCraft download?

Use the storytold/photocraft GitHub repository or the ArtCraft product page. These are the best upstream references for desktop installers, release notes, and checksums.

Is there an official PhotoCraft website for online editing?

The upstream project provides a web build, but photocraft.im identifies itself as an independent community site, not an ArtCraft-operated website. It says its files match the official WebAssembly release.

Can I use PhotoCraft without downloading?

Yes. The community-hosted WebAssembly version needs no installation or account and processes images in the browser. Save your work manually because the browser version does not provide autosave or crash recovery.

Is PhotoCraft an AI image generator?

The open-source PhotoCraft editor is not a text-to-image generator. To create an AI-generated photo from a prompt, use a dedicated browser tool such as GeneratorNest’s online generator, then use PhotoCraft if you need to edit the resulting image.