Guides & tutorials.
Practical, source-checked guides for the open-source Craft apps. Every article links the upstream files it is based on.
- 01
How to install CADCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which CADCraft 0.5.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build CADCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.5.0 release.
- 02
CADCraft: a free, open-source Autodesk AutoCAD alternative
What CADCraft 0.5.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Autodesk AutoCAD. Based only on the official CADCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install DeckCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which DeckCraft 0.5.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build DeckCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.5.0 release.
- 02
DeckCraft: a free, open-source Microsoft PowerPoint alternative
What DeckCraft 0.5.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Microsoft PowerPoint. Based only on the official DeckCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install DesignCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which DesignCraft 0.6.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build DesignCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.6.0 release.
- 02
DesignCraft: a free, open-source Adobe InDesign alternative
What DesignCraft 0.6.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Adobe InDesign. Based only on the official DesignCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install EffectCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which EffectCraft 0.8.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build EffectCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.8.0 release.
- 02
EffectCraft: a free, open-source Adobe After Effects alternative
What EffectCraft 0.8.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Adobe After Effects. Based only on the official EffectCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install FilmCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which FilmCraft 0.6.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build FilmCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.6.0 release.
- 02
FilmCraft: a free, open-source Adobe Premiere Pro alternative
What FilmCraft 0.6.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Adobe Premiere Pro. Based only on the official FilmCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install GridCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which GridCraft 0.5.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build GridCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.5.0 release.
- 02
GridCraft: a free, open-source Microsoft Excel alternative
What GridCraft 0.5.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Microsoft Excel. Based only on the official GridCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install LightCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which LightCraft 0.6.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build LightCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.6.0 release.
- 02
LightCraft: a free, open-source Adobe Lightroom alternative
What LightCraft 0.6.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Adobe Lightroom. Based only on the official LightCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install PdfCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which PdfCraft 0.6.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build PdfCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.6.0 release.
- 02
PdfCraft: a free, open-source Adobe Acrobat alternative
What PdfCraft 0.6.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Adobe Acrobat. Based only on the official PdfCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install PhotoCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Step-by-step install guide for PhotoCraft 0.7.0: which file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify the checksum, and where the official builds live.
- 02
PhotoCraft vs Photoshop: what matches and what is missing
An honest comparison of PhotoCraft 0.7.0 and Adobe Photoshop, based on PhotoCraft’s own README and its published gap list: features, file compatibility, price, platforms and current shortcomings.
- 03
How to open PSD and PSB files in PhotoCraft
What PhotoCraft 0.7.0 supports when opening and saving Photoshop PSD and PSB documents, layered TIFF, and other formats, with the limits documented by the project.
- 04
PhotoCraft keyboard shortcuts cheat sheet
Every default PhotoCraft 0.7.0 keyboard shortcut for menus and tools, taken from the app’s source code: File, Edit, Image, Layer, Select, View, Window and single-key tools.
- 05
Free open-source alternatives to Adobe apps: the Craft suite
The ArtCraft team’s open-source Craft apps, written in Rust: PhotoCraft (Photoshop), VectorCraft (Illustrator), FilmCraft (Premiere Pro), LightCraft (Lightroom), PdfCraft (Acrobat) and more, with versions and licenses.
- 06
Moving from Photoshop to PhotoCraft: a migration guide
How to switch from Photoshop to PhotoCraft 0.7.0: import your .kys shortcuts, bring over PSD files, patterns and LUTs, find menus with the command palette, and know the current limits.
- 07
Adjustment layers and non-destructive editing in PhotoCraft
How to use PhotoCraft’s 16 adjustment layers, smart objects and smart filters to edit without changing your original pixels, plus the destructive Image › Adjustments shortcuts.
- 08
Layer masks and selections in PhotoCraft
Selection tools in PhotoCraft 0.7.0 (Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand, Quick and Object Selection, Select Subject, Select and Mask) and how to turn selections into layer masks, vector masks and Quick Mask.
- 09
How to build PhotoCraft from source
Build PhotoCraft from source with Rust 1.95+: prerequisites for Linux, Windows and macOS, the exact cargo commands, optional CJK fonts, the CLI and the WebAssembly target.
- 10
PhotoCraft 0.7.0 release notes explained
A plain-language summary of the PhotoCraft 0.7.0 release (2026-10-11): the new Remove tool, OpenRaster support, Photoshop shortcut import, faster Select and Mask, mask controls and more, with links to every change.
- 01
How to install SoundCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which SoundCraft 0.5.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build SoundCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.5.0 release.
- 02
SoundCraft: a free, open-source Avid Pro Tools alternative
What SoundCraft 0.5.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Avid Pro Tools. Based only on the official SoundCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install VectorCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which VectorCraft 0.9.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build VectorCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.9.0 release.
- 02
VectorCraft: a free, open-source Adobe Illustrator alternative
What VectorCraft 0.9.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Adobe Illustrator. Based only on the official VectorCraft README and docs.
- 01
How to install WordCraft on macOS, Windows and Linux
Which WordCraft 0.5.0 file to download for your OS and CPU, how to verify it, and how to build WordCraft from source. Based on the official README and the v0.5.0 release.
- 02
WordCraft: a free, open-source Microsoft Word alternative
What WordCraft 0.5.0 is, what it already does, and where it still falls short of Microsoft Word. Based only on the official WordCraft README and docs.