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An XDA Developers review published Oct. 29 found the free, AI-built Artcraft suite’s PhotoCraft and LightCraft apps capable at several common Photoshop and Lightroom tasks. The reviewer still found limits in selection accuracy, AI features, denoising and lens correction, so the apps were not shown to be full Adobe replacements.
A hands-on review published by XDA Developers on Oct. 29 found that PhotoCraft and LightCraft, free apps in the AI-built Artcraft suite, can handle a range of everyday photo-editing tasks but still have limitations compared with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. The reviewer reported competent tools for selections, layers and RAW-photo workflows, while pointing to gaps in selection refinement, AI features, denoising and lens correction.
In testing PhotoCraft, XDA’s reviewer said object selection was usable, though its initial results were less accurate than Photoshop’s. Brushing to refine a selection also did not update the displayed selection area in real time. The app handled text layers, layer effects, clipping masks, multiple open documents and copying material between tabs without major problems during the review.
The reviewer also tried cropping, including perspective correction, and standard adjustments such as white balance, color levels and channel mixing. PhotoCraft includes common retouching tools, but the review said it does not offer an equally straightforward way to generate images or backgrounds with AI. That gap may matter to people who rely on Photoshop’s newer generative tools, though the reviewer said those features were not central to their own workflow.
LightCraft, the suite’s Lightroom-style app, can browse local folders and edit batches of photos, including RAW files, according to the review. The reviewer liked this workflow but found the automatic adjustments could push contrast too far and make shadows overly dark. LightCraft also allows users to load a local AI denoising model; the reviewer tested a model suggested by a GitHub user and said it helped, while falling short of Lightroom’s denoising quality.
FIELD NOTES / PHOTO SOFTWARE / OCTOBER 29, 2026
Free photo editors impressed me.
Adobe is safe for now.
XDA Developers found Artcraft’s PhotoCraft and LightCraft capable at familiar editing tasks. The hands-on review also surfaced meaningful gaps in precision, AI tools, denoising and lens correction.
“PhotoCraft holds up better than I thought it might.”
— XDA Developers reviewer01 / THE TOOLKIT
Two apps, two familiar workflows
Artcraft is presented as an AI-built suite inspired by creative software. XDA tested its Photoshop-style editor and Lightroom-style photo workflow app.
PhotoCraft
Handles text layers, layer effects, clipping masks, multiple documents and copying content between tabs. The reviewer also tried cropping, perspective correction, white balance, color levels and channel mixing.
LightCraft
Browses local folders and edits batches of photos, including RAW files. The reviewer liked the workflow, while finding that automatic adjustments could push contrast too far and darken shadows.
02 / REVIEW FINDINGS
Where they shine—and where they fall short
The reviewer found useful everyday capabilities, alongside specific limitations that may matter more in demanding or specialized workflows.
| Area | What the review found | Read-through |
|---|---|---|
| Selections | Object selection was usable, but initial results were less accurate than Photoshop’s. Brushing to refine did not update the displayed selection in real time. | Mixed |
| Layers & edits | Common layer operations, cropping, perspective correction and standard color adjustments worked without major issues during the review. | Promising |
| Generative AI | PhotoCraft lacks an equally straightforward way to generate images or backgrounds with AI, a gap for people who rely on newer Photoshop tools. | Limited |
| Denoising | A locally loaded model suggested by a GitHub user helped in LightCraft, but did not reach the reviewer’s Lightroom results. | Behind |
| Lens correction | LightCraft did not recognize lens data embedded in the reviewer’s photos. The cause and wider impact were not established. | Unclear |
03 / A PRACTICAL CHECK
Try it against your own workflow
Reported results support trying the apps for suitable tasks. They do not establish performance across devices, photo libraries or professional workloads.
“LightCraft is already quite solid, even with some of its annoying limitations.”
— XDA Developers reviewerUseful for routine tasks does not yet mean ready to replace a whole creative workflow.
WHAT THE HANDS-ON REVIEW SUPPORTS04 / SCOPE & OPEN QUESTIONS
What this review can—and can’t—tell you
These are the findings of one reviewer’s hands-on test, framed around the tasks they tried.
The account is not a controlled comparison across cameras, files, computers or professional workflows. It does not establish speed, reliability, privacy practices or long-term support.
The supplied material does not specify licensing terms, supported operating systems, or details about Artcraft’s video-editing app. It also gives no future release date or promised feature update.
LightCraft’s lens-data issue was observed with the reviewer’s photos; its cause and effect on other users remain unknown.
QUICK ANSWERS
At a glance
What are PhotoCraft and LightCraft?
Artcraft apps described in the review as alternatives to Photoshop and Lightroom, tested for photo-editing tasks.
Are they free?
The source describes the projects as free. It does not explain licensing terms or whether every feature has conditions.
Can PhotoCraft replace Photoshop?
The review found capable layer, crop and selection tools, but reported selection and generative AI gaps. It does not establish a universal replacement.
How does LightCraft compare?
It supports local-folder and batch editing, but the reviewer found contrast-heavy auto adjustments, weaker tested denoising and a lens-data recognition issue.
Free Tools for Everyday Editing
The review matters to photographers weighing whether free alternatives can cover routine editing without a subscription or a switch to a different established product. Its findings suggest Artcraft may already be useful for some common tasks, particularly folder-based RAW editing and familiar layer operations. That is a hands-on assessment, not evidence that the apps match Adobe across professional workflows.
The reported gaps could shape who finds the tools practical. People who depend on precise selections, automatic lens profiles, strong denoising or generative AI may still need other software. Users with simpler requirements may be more willing to try the apps, but performance and suitability will depend on their files, hardware and editing habits.
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How the Two Apps Were Tested
Artcraft is described in the XDA review as a set of AI-built alternatives inspired by Adobe Creative Cloud apps. The article assessed two parts of that suite: PhotoCraft as a Photoshop-style editor and LightCraft as a Lightroom-style photo workflow tool. The reviewer said their Photoshop use was not as extensive as that of some professionals, and framed the conclusions around the tasks they tried.
The LightCraft testing included browsing local folders, batch editing, automatic adjustments, denoising and content removal. The review’s denoising test involved a model recommended by another user on GitHub, rather than a bundled model. The source material supplied for this article covers these photo apps and begins to introduce video editing, but provides no details about that part of the suite.
“PhotoCraft holds up better than I thought it might.”
— XDA Developers reviewer
Limits of the Hands-On Test
The review is a single reviewer’s account, not a controlled comparison across a wide range of cameras, files or professional workflows. It does not establish how the apps perform on different computers or whether their features will change in future updates. The supplied material also gives no independent testing data on speed, reliability, privacy practices or long-term support.
The reviewer reported that LightCraft did not recognize lens data embedded in their photos, although other software did. The reason was not established, and it is unclear whether the issue affects other files or users. The source material does not provide details about Artcraft’s video-editing app, nor does it specify the suite’s licensing terms, supported operating systems or the scope of its AI coding.
What Users Should Check
Readers considering Artcraft can test the apps against copies of their own photos, especially if their work depends on RAW development, lens profiles, selection precision or noise reduction. For important projects, they should verify that edits and exported files work as expected before relying on the apps as part of a regular workflow.
The review does not identify a future release date or a promised feature update. Further details about supported platforms, the video tool and how the apps handle user files would help clarify who can use the suite and what trade-offs it entails. Until then, the reported results support trying PhotoCraft and LightCraft for suitable tasks, not assuming they can replace Adobe’s apps across the board.
Key Questions
What are PhotoCraft and LightCraft?
PhotoCraft and LightCraft are Artcraft apps presented in the review as alternatives to Photoshop and Lightroom, respectively. XDA tested them for photo-editing tasks.
Are the Artcraft apps free?
The source describes the Artcraft projects as free. It does not specify their licensing terms or whether every feature is available without conditions.
Can PhotoCraft replace Photoshop?
The review found PhotoCraft capable at tasks including layers, cropping and some selections, but reported less accurate selection results and missing or less accessible AI image-generation features. It does not establish that PhotoCraft can replace Photoshop for all users.
How does LightCraft compare with Lightroom?
LightCraft supports local-folder browsing and batch editing, but the reviewer found its automatic adjustments sometimes too contrast-heavy and its tested denoising below Lightroom’s quality. The review also reported a lens-profile recognition problem on the reviewer’s photos.
What remains unknown about Artcraft?
The supplied review material does not establish performance across different systems and photo libraries, long-term support, licensing details or the full capabilities of Artcraft’s video-editing app.
Source: XDA Developers
