CONCEPT16:9
Cinematic backgrounds
Generate a background, place your subject above it, then match the light with a Curves adjustment layer.
See the prompt +
Foggy pine forest at dawn, empty center, soft light from the left, no people, no text
PhotoCraft: Free Photoshop-Style Editor,
Plus AI Layers
PhotoCraft is a free, open-source Photoshop-style editor; it can't generate images, so create backgrounds, objects and textures here and finish them in PhotoCraft.
BACKGROUND PLATE · CONCEPT ◉ Curves↗◉ Your subject♧◉ AI background▧
A new background. A hundred possibilities.
Concept preview. Generate a background to use in your composition.
View this generation in history →FROM A PROMPT TO YOUR NEXT PROJECT
What can you make with PhotoCraft and AI?
Generate the pixels PhotoCraft can't create — backgrounds, props and textures — then mask, grade and add type over them in PhotoCraft.
CONCEPT1:1
Product photography
Remove the background, place the transparent PNG, then add a Drop Shadow and a separate title layer.
See the prompt +
White ceramic coffee cup on a plain white background, studio light, centered
CONCEPT1:1
Textures and materials
Place beneath your type and try Multiply or Soft Light. Keep the texture on its own editable layer.
See the prompt +
Seamless warm beige paper texture with subtle fibers
CONCEPT3:2
Sky and lighting
Mask the sky into your composition and use Hue/Saturation to bring the foreground into the same palette.
See the prompt +
Dramatic orange sunset sky with scattered clouds, no ground
Concept artwork. Choose an example to start your own image.
GENERATE. LAYER. MAKE IT YOURS.
How to add AI images to a PhotoCraft file
Generate a layer-ready image here, download the PNG, place it as a new layer in PhotoCraft, then mask and adjust it.
- 01
Generate your layer
Match the aspect ratio to your canvas. Describe the light, texture and empty space you need.
- 02
Make room for it
Download your image. For an object, remove the background first to get a transparent PNG.
- 03
Drop it into your PSD
Open the PNG, copy it and paste into the PSD as a new layer. Keep your subject above the background.
- 04
Mask. Grade. Save.
Use Select and Mask for edges and Curves to match light. Save the layered PSD as a copy.
What is PhotoCraft?
PhotoCraft is a free, open-source image editor from the ArtCraft team that rebuilds Photoshop's layers, masks and PSD support in pure Rust.
It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, with a self-hostable browser build. Dual MIT / Apache-2.0 licensing allows personal and commercial use. It is early alpha; keep copies of important files.
VectorCraftFilmCraftLightCraft✧ ArtCraft▱ PhotoCraftPdfCraftEffectCraftDesignCraft
The mobile apps “PhotoCraft – AI Photo Editor” and “PhotoCraft AI: Edit & Art” have different developers.
Generate assets for PhotoCraft →Does PhotoCraft have generative AI?
Not yet — PhotoCraft has no generative fill or text-to-image. Create those pixels with an AI image generator and finish them in PhotoCraft. Generation here runs in the cloud, so you do not need a powerful GPU.
In PhotoCraft todayAdd with AI Generator
Selections & masksNew backgrounds ↗
Healing & retouchingGenerated objects ↗
Adjustment layersCanvas fill assets ↗
Layer stylesBackground removal ↗
Select Subject and Remove in PhotoCraft are local editing tools, not generative AI.
YOUR LAYERS, ON YOUR DEVICE
Download from GitHub ↗How do I download PhotoCraft?
Get v0.9.0 from GitHub or the ArtCraft Launcher. Last checked .
Windows 10+ · x64, ARM64 or x86 · MSI installer or portable zip
Check the code signature and SHA256SUMS.txt. macOS 11+ builds are universal and notarized. The official web build is a zip to host yourself, not an online editor hosted here.
How does PhotoCraft compare to Photoshop?
PhotoCraft matches Photoshop's menus and PSD files for free, but it is early alpha and lacks generative AI and plug-ins.
Try PhotoCraft for free native PSD editing, and use this workbench to add AI layers. For critical client work, Photoshop offers the more mature workflow. Add AI layers ↑
Compare PhotoCraft, Photoshop, GIMP and Photopea +
| Feature | PhotoCraft | Photoshop | GIMP | Photopea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free, open source | Subscription | Free, open source | Free with ads |
| Layered PSD | PSD / PSB | Native | Partial | PSD |
| Runs as | Native + self-hosted web | Desktop / web / mobile | Desktop | Browser |
| Generative AI | Not built in | Built in | Plug-ins | Replace tool |
| Agent control | CLI + MCP | Scripting | Script-Fu / Python | Scripting |
| Maturity | Early alpha | Industry standard | Mature | Mature |
FOR PEOPLE WHO BUILD WITH AGENTS
Can AI agents control PhotoCraft?
Yes — photocraft-cli runs any of 500+ editor commands headlessly and starts an MCP server that an agent can drive.
01 / GENERATE THE PIXELS
ai-generator generate-image --prompt "Foggy pine forest at dawn, no people" --jsonUse the returned task ID to retrieve your generated PNG with the CLI.
02 / HAND OFF TO THE EDITOR
photocraft-cli mcpConnect your agent to MCP, import the PNG, add masks and Curves, then export. Use run for headless commands or batch for a folder; the desktop bridge operates a running app.
Retrieve the generated PNG, then import it into the editor to add layers and masks.
Set up the AI Generator CLI →A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
The details, before you create.
Is PhotoCraft free?
Yes. The editor is free and open source under MIT OR Apache-2.0. AI generation here uses credits. Credit packs start at $9.90 for 250 credits — a one-time purchase with no subscription, and purchased credits never expire.
Can PhotoCraft open and save PSD files?
Yes, layered PSD and PSB files. Its published test reports matching renders for 307 of 309 re-saved test files. It is early alpha: keep your original and save important edits as a copy.
Can I use PhotoCraft online without installing it?
The official WebAssembly build can run in a browser with WebGPU or WebGL2 and keeps images on your device. It is distributed as a self-hostable zip, rather than an official hosted editor. This page generates assets; it does not host the PhotoCraft editor.
Is PhotoCraft safe to download?
Use the official GitHub releases or ArtCraft Launcher. Windows builds are code-signed, macOS builds are signed and notarized, and release checksums are in SHA256SUMS.txt. Similar-name mobile apps are separate products.
What is the latest version of PhotoCraft?
As last checked on 2026-10-17: v0.9.0, released 2026-10-14, with Photoshop Actions (.atn), printing and DPX support. Check the official releases for subsequent updates.
PhotoCraft won’t start. How do I fix it?
Use Windows 10+ or macOS 11+, update the app and graphics drivers, and try launching with --safe-gpu for the CPU canvas. On Linux Wayland, use File › Open instead of dragging files onto the window.
How do I turn a PhotoCraft edit into a video?
Export the finished composition as PNG, choose Image to Video here, upload the PNG and describe the motion. Keep movement small for more stable faces and lettering.
How much does AI generation cost here?
Credit packs start at $9.90 for 250 credits — a one-time purchase with no subscription, and purchased credits never expire.
Ready for the next layer? Open the workbench ↑ · Compare credit packs →
AI Generator is independent and not affiliated with PhotoCraft or the ArtCraft team.