Craft Apps Guide
Organize a Photo Library
Browse folders and albums, rate and flag images, then filter a shoot before editing.
LightCraft: A Free
Lightroom Alternative?
FREE · OPEN SOURCE · IN DEVELOPMENT (ALPHA) · WINDOWS / MACOS / LINUX
A free, open-source photo library and RAW editor. Compare it with Lightroom, edit a first photo, and keep an existing catalog separate.
LightCraft editor interface · Official project screenshot
LightCraft vs Adobe Lightroom
| What matters | LightCraft | Adobe Lightroom |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free; no account or subscription for the Crafting App | Paid subscription, depending on plan |
| Source code | Open source, built in Rust | Proprietary |
| Photo library | Albums, ratings, flags, search and grid view documented | Established cloud and Classic catalog workflows |
| RAW development | Non-destructive light, color, crop, masking and presets | Mature RAW editing and camera profiles |
| Camera files | Many DNG, Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm and other RAW variants; coverage varies by camera | Broad camera support through Adobe Camera Raw |
| Lightroom catalogs | Do not assume direct .lrcat import; import originals into a separate LightCraft library | Native Lightroom Classic catalog |
| Development stage | Alpha / in development | Established commercial product |
| Best fit | Local photo sorting and RAW editing without a subscription | Existing Lightroom catalogs and Adobe team workflows |
LightCraft is a free, local-first option for organizing photos and making non-destructive RAW edits. It is not a drop-in replacement for a Lightroom Classic catalog; keep your original library and use a separate LightCraft import.
What Can LightCraft Do?
Adjust Light and Color
Use exposure, tone, color grading and presets while keeping the original photo unchanged.
Edit Selected Areas
Apply brush or gradient masks to make local adjustments without changing the whole frame.
Images: official LightCraft project screenshots.
Edit Your First RAW Photo in LightCraft
GOAL Import one RAW photo, make non-destructive edits, and export a JPEG while keeping the original untouched.
Import a photo
Open a new or separate LightCraft library and add a folder containing your RAW image.
CHECK YOUR RESULT
The photo appears in the library grid; the source file remains in its original location.
Open Develop
Select the photo and open the editing view. Check the image and its histogram.
CHECK YOUR RESULT
The photo is ready for adjustment without overwriting the RAW original.
Adjust the tone
Change exposure, highlights and shadows to recover detail and set the overall brightness.
CHECK YOUR RESULT
The preview changes and the original file remains untouched.
Refine color and crop
Adjust white balance and crop only as needed for the subject.
CHECK YOUR RESULT
The intended composition and color are visible in the preview.
Export a JPEG
Export a JPEG copy and open it in an image viewer.
CHECK YOUR RESULT
The JPEG has the intended look; the RAW original is still available.
RAW Files, Libraries & Lightroom Handoff
A Lightroom Classic catalog, the original photo files and exported images are different things. Build a separate LightCraft library from copies or original folders; do not replace your Lightroom catalog.
File and Library Quick Check
| Item | Use it for | Check before relying on it |
|---|---|---|
| Camera RAW / DNG | Keep the source image for non-destructive editing | Check your camera model and RAW variant in the official compatibility list |
| LightCraft library | Store LightCraft's organization and edit history | Reopen the library and confirm ratings, edits and folders |
| Lightroom .lrcat | Keep your existing Lightroom Classic catalog | Do not assume direct catalog import or identical edits |
| XMP sidecars | Exchange some metadata and develop settings | Inspect appearance and metadata after import |
| JPEG / TIFF / PNG | Share finished images | Check crop, color, dimensions and metadata policy |
Before moving a Lightroom photo workflow
- Keep the Lightroom catalog and original image files unchanged.
- Import a small set of copies or source folders into a separate LightCraft library.
- Check your camera RAW format and representative edited images.
- Export and inspect a few final files before moving more photos.
LightCraft does not make an existing Lightroom Classic library automatically interchangeable. Keep the .lrcat catalog and originals safe while building a separate LightCraft workflow.