Craft Apps
LightCraft: The Open-Source Lightroom Alternative in the ArtCraft Suite
Updated 2026-10-11
LightCraft is the photography workflow app in the ArtCraft suite - the open-source counterpart to Adobe Lightroom. It combines a photo catalog with non-destructive RAW development in a Rust-native package.
What it replaces
The Lightroom workflow: import a shoot into a catalog, cull and rate, then develop RAW files non-destructively - exposure, tone curves, HSL, lens corrections - and export.
What it does today
- Catalog-based photo management with ratings and filtering.
- Non-destructive RAW development: exposure, tone, color.
- Common RAW formats supported; local-first file handling.
- Batch operations for applying looks across a shoot.
Where it is rough
- Camera-specific RAW support varies - check your body's files first.
- Lens correction profiles are incomplete.
- No cloud sync ecosystem (arguably a feature for local-first users).
- Masking tools are simpler than modern Lightroom's.
Who it suits now
Photographers wanting a free, local catalog-and-develop pipeline for standard workflows. Verify your camera's RAW format support before committing a shoot.