ArtCraft has published its Crafting Apps initiative on GitHub, outlining seven free, open-source creative applications that map to several of Adobe Creative Cloud’s main products. According to the ArtCraft website, the suite covers photo editing, vector design, RAW processing, video editing, visual effects, PDF editing and page layout. It supports macOS, Windows and Linux, and some tools can run directly in a browser.
ArtCraft says the interface and keyboard shortcuts are modeled on Adobe’s design, with the stated goal of reducing friction for users switching over. The applications are built in Rust as native programs, process files locally instead of sending them to the cloud, and support command-based operation and MCP, allowing AI agents to call editing functions directly.
Seven apps across Adobe’s major product categories
The lineup includes seven tools, each positioned against a different Adobe product:
- PhotoCraft for Photoshop
- VectorCraft for Illustrator
- LightCraft for Lightroom
- FilmCraft for Premiere Pro
- EffectCraft for After Effects
- PrintCraft for Acrobat Pro
- DesignCraft for InDesign
Taken together, the suite is aimed at most of the core creative workflows covered by Adobe Creative Cloud.
PhotoCraft, VectorCraft and LightCraft focus on image work
PhotoCraft is one of the few apps already in Alpha. It is built for photo editing and includes layers, masks, text and brush tools. It can also read and write PSD and PSB files while preserving layers. The development team said PhotoCraft includes 16 adjustment layers and more than 70 real-time filters.
The other two image-focused apps are still under development. VectorCraft is aimed at Illustrator users and is planned to include a pen tool and image tracing. LightCraft is positioned as a photo management and RAW development tool, with smart masking listed in its roadmap.
FilmCraft and EffectCraft target video editing and motion graphics
FilmCraft is the project’s counterpart to Premiere Pro and is described as a video editor rewritten from the ground up. According to the website, it includes professional video scopes and monitoring views, with plans for three-point editing, a multi-track timeline, HDR/Log workflows and color-wheel grading. The team also said it implemented mainstream codecs including H.264, HEVC and ProRes on its own, without relying on large external libraries. The website adds that FilmCraft is the only one of the seven apps that does not have a browser version.
EffectCraft is positioned against After Effects and is focused on motion graphics and visual effects. It includes a project panel, timeline and composition panel. Its structure uses a layer-based timeline with keyframes for animated subtitles, multi-layer compositing and rendered visual effects.
PrintCraft and DesignCraft cover PDF editing and publishing layout
For PDF and publishing workflows, PrintCraft is mapped to Acrobat Pro and is another app already in Alpha. It combines PDF reading, editing, organizing, merging, splitting and security settings in one product. It also supports threaded annotations so multiple people can discuss the same document.
DesignCraft is ArtCraft’s answer to InDesign and is intended for magazines, books and promotional print layouts. It remains under development. Planned features include linked multi-column text, precise layout grid controls and preflight checks before print output.
Current status: two Alpha apps, five still in development
| Crafting Apps | Adobe counterpart | Main function | Development status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhotoCraft | Photoshop | Photo editing, layers, PSD read/write | Alpha |
| VectorCraft | Illustrator | Vector drawing, pen tool | In development |
| LightCraft | Lightroom | Photo management, RAW processing | In development |
| FilmCraft | Premiere Pro | Multi-track editing, color grading | In development |
| EffectCraft | After Effects | Motion graphics, visual effects | In development |
| PrintCraft | Acrobat Pro | PDF editing, merging and splitting | Alpha |
| DesignCraft | InDesign | Magazine and book layout | In development |
After the project drew attention, a number of users on X said they hoped Crafting Apps could become an Adobe alternative. Even so, dropping an Adobe subscription now may be premature. As of Oct. 6, the official status page listed only PhotoCraft and PrintCraft as early Alpha releases, while the remaining five apps were still being built.
The PhotoCraft team also acknowledged that gaps remain in generative AI, some tool coverage, typography and plugin compatibility. On that basis, it said the software cannot yet fully replace Photoshop in day-to-day professional use.
From a user perspective, the appeal is clear: the suite is free, open-source and cross-platform, and its workflows are designed to feel close to Adobe’s. Support for AI agent operation is another notable feature. But for professional work, stability and file compatibility still matter most. Until the feature set is more complete, the software appears better suited to lighter tasks such as PDF handling and basic image editing.