PhotoCraft GuideUnofficial
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Open, save and export a PhotoCraft document

PhotoCraft opens layered Photoshop files and writes them again. The file you keep for editing and the file you hand to someone else are not always the same format.

Checked against PhotoCraft 0.7.0

Latest version
v0.7.0
Released
Oct 11, 2026
GitHub
Checked against GitHub on Oct 12, 2026
21 files
DownloadGitHub

Open a file

Use File › Open, the recent-file list, or drop a file on the window. PSD and PSB are the Photoshop formats. JPEG, PNG and the camera-raw formats the project lists (DNG, CR2, NEF, ARW, RAF) open too. CR3 is not in that list.

  1. Install an official build. Download PhotoCraft from the GitHub releases or the PhotoCraft page on getartcraft.com. This guide does not host installers.
  2. Open the document. Choose File › Open and pick a PSD, JPEG or PNG. Dropping the file on the window opens it the same way.
  3. Keep a native copy. Use Save As and choose .pcraft when you will reopen the document in PhotoCraft. That format is the project's lossless one, with incremental save and crash recovery.
  4. Export a flat picture. Use Export As to pick the format, quality, transparency and scale. The dialog shows a preview and a file-size estimate. Quick Export writes a PNG in one step.

Which file to keep

PSD and PSB

PSD is the interchange format. PhotoCraft opens, edits and saves PSD and PSB. The project says re-saving keeps the render for 307 of 309 files in the psd-tools test set. Its gap list also says only about half of Photoshop-authored test files render exactly like Photoshop so far.

.pcraft

.pcraft is PhotoCraft's own format. Keep it while you are still editing in PhotoCraft. Save a PSD when someone else has to open the layers in another program. Once a flat image gains layers, Save uses PSD so those layers have a file that can hold them.

PNG, JPEG and OpenRaster

Export As and Quick Export flatten what you see. Use them for a finished picture, not for the layered document. OpenRaster (.ora) can carry pixel layers, groups, names and blend modes. The project documents what a save drops: adjustment layers, layer styles, vector masks and live type are not kept as editable objects.

PhotoCraft with The Great Wave open, a caption card, type layers, and Vibrance and Curves adjustment layers
A document open in PhotoCraft: type, a drop shadow, and Vibrance and Curves adjustment layers. The Great Wave off Kanagawa, Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1831.

Screenshot from the PhotoCraft repository (docs/images). Artwork in the screenshot is public domain.

Frequently asked questions

Can PhotoCraft open PSD files?

Yes. File › Open, the recent-file list and dropping a file on the window all open PSD and PSB. Fidelity is still improving.

Should I save as PSD or .pcraft?

Save .pcraft while you are editing in PhotoCraft. Save a PSD when someone else has to open the layers. Export PNG or JPEG when you only need the finished picture.

Where do I download PhotoCraft?

From the GitHub releases or getartcraft.com. This site only links to those files and does not host installers.

Keep reading

Layers, groups and blend modesStack, groups, opacity, blend modes and clipping.Adjustment layersSixteen live adjustment layers, masked to where you need them.InstallWindows