VectorCraft v0.13.1

VectorCraft is an open-source vector illustration application designed as a clean-room reimplementation of the Adobe Illustrator workflow. Built entirely in Rust, it provides a native desktop application for Windows, macOS and Linux, along with a WebAssembly version that runs in the browser.

The project goes beyond basic vector drawing. It aims to reproduce a professional Illustrator-style workflow with Bézier editing, Pathfinder operations, multiple artboards, typography, gradients, live effects, PDF and SVG workflows, and extensive automation capabilities.

Features

VectorCraft provides a substantial collection of professional vector-illustration tools:

• Pen and Direct Selection tools

• Bézier anchors and handles

• Pathfinder and exact Boolean operations

• Multiple artboards

• Layers and groups

• Smart Guides

• Rulers, grids and alignment tools

• Live corners

• Gradient and mesh tools

• Gradient fills and strokes

• Pattern and appearance controls

• Blend tool

• Radial Repeat

• Envelope Distort

• Puppet Warp

• Liquify

• Width tool

• Perspective Grid

• Freeform gradient editing

• Recolor Artwork and Color Themes

• Editable text and type-on-path

• Variable and transformed vector content

• Symbols

• Clipping and masking

• SVG import and export

• PDF import and export

• EPS export

• DXF import

• PNG, JPEG and WebP raster export

• Export for Screens

• Native .vectorcraft document format

• Print engine

• PDF layers and overprint support

The application also includes a command API that exposes its tools and interface to external automation. A JSON control channel and MCP server allow AI agents and scripts to manipulate documents, operate tools and export artwork.

This is one of VectorCraft's most distinctive features. It is not simply an image editor with an AI assistant added on top. The editing engine itself is designed to be programmatically controllable.

Download VectorCraft v0.13.1 - Software Mirrors
VectorCraft v0.13.1 for Windows vectorcraft-0.13.1-windows-x86.msi | 95.49 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-windows-x86-portable.zip | 116.8 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-windows-x64.msi | 98.25 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-windows-x64-portable.zip | 121.61 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-windows-arm64.msi | 92.69 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-windows-arm64-portable.zip | 115.96 MB
VectorCraft v0.13.1 for macOS vectorcraft-cli-0.13.1-macos-universal.zip | 103.38 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-macos-universal.dmg | 132.65 MB
VectorCraft v0.13.1 for Linux vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-x86_64.tar.gz | 118.84 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-x86_64.rpm | 119.82 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-x86_64.flatpak | 82.3 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-x86_64.deb | 120.62 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage.zsync | 196.98 kB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage | 112.42 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-riscv64.tar.gz | 116.97 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-riscv64.rpm | 118.03 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-riscv64.deb | 118.53 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-aarch64.tar.gz | 113.91 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-aarch64.rpm | 115.9 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-aarch64.flatpak | 77.32 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-aarch64.deb | 116.87 MB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-aarch64.AppImage.zsync | 189.14 kB vectorcraft-0.13.1-linux-aarch64.AppImage | 107.94 MB
VectorCraft v0.13.1 for BSD vectorcraft-0.13.1-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz | 118.66 MB
Others Download related to VectorCraft v0.13.1 vectorcraft-web-0.13.1.zip | 22.37 MB
VectorCraft v0.13.1 Source Code VectorCraft v0.13.1 Source code (zip) VectorCraft v0.13.1 Source code (tar.gz)
VectorCraft v0.13.1 Release Notes: What's Changed Fix #866: macOS save sheets have a Format menu again by @dotCooCoo in #2379 i18n: add Dutch, Danish, Hindi and Indonesian interfaces by @pechnikov2026-star in #2393 Cursors: 36 more tool states get cursors of their own, listed in cursors.toml by @bobtherobot in #2334 Part of #394: Highlight Alternate Glyphs paints pink behind OpenType substitutions by @Messhias in #1365 Layers: a .ai another app wrote opens with its top-level layers closed, as its groups by @marcoarnulfo in #1510 Render: check an image's RGBA size before decoding it by @dotCooCoo in #2442 Render: an export no longer warns about images another thread could not decode by @dotCooCoo in #2604 Images: sampling and recoloring check an image's RGBA size without overflowing by @dotCooCoo in #2468 Crop Image: trim checks the image's RGBA size before decoding it by @dotCooCoo in #2407 PDF export: Add Around is clamped when a file opens, and art too large for f64 gets no effect image by @dotCooCoo in #2440 Fix graph axis labels saturating beyond the i64 range by @Silvertree2010 in #2610 Reject '+' and other non-hex characters in Color::from_hex by @Silvertree2010 in #2470 Escape XML ID first characters that cannot start an XML name by @Silvertree2010 in #2447 Lint: action_batch.rs compiles without an unused import on wasm32 by @dotCooCoo in #2463 Tests: CLI tests do not fail on folders an earlier run left behind by @dotCooCoo in #2605 Tests: a language one ui-egui test sets no longer translates the tests running beside it by @dotCooCoo in #2570 Wayland: pointer returns over panels and menus after a tool cursor (#2450) by @vangel76 in #2502 PNG export: an sRGB chunk marks the colours as sRGB (#2221) by @vangel76 in #2519 Character: the Kerning field at a caret kerns the pair, not the whole text (#2217) by @vangel76 in #2518 Type: selected overflowing type shows its red out port with any tool (#2323) by @vangel76 in #2517 Color: Generic CMYK black round-trips through hex (#2493) by @vangel76 in #2503 Overprint Preview: a colour overprinting itself stays that colour (#2415) by @vangel76 in #2514 Layers: Merge Selected with a layer and its sublayer highlighted merges into the last top-level layer (#2383) by @vangel76 in #2498 Panels: floating panel groups paint an opaque background (#2421) by @vangel76 in #2499 Gradient chips: follow the angle and the gradient type (#2494) by @vangel76 in #2495 Export: raster document.export takes a page rectangle (#2412) by @vangel76 in #2511 Fix #2540: Object → Expand expands Intertwine groups by @odgrim in #2622 Part of #2384: imported PDF text keeps its place after wide gaps between words by @dotCooCoo in #2620 Libraries: a plain click sets where a Shift-click range starts by @dotCooCoo in #2618 Graphic Styles: Shift-click selects a range of styles by @dotCooCoo in #2612 Links: Shift-click selects a range of links by @dotCooCoo in #2613 View: in Presentation Mode no key but ←, → and Escape acts, and no context menu opens by @dotCooCoo in #2583 Rotate View: a Space+Shift drag rotates the view from any tool by @dotCooCoo in #2601 Appearance: the inline effect editor's text fields keep what is typed by @dotCooCoo in #2599 Document Raster Effects Settings: a file's resolution outside 1 to 2400 ppi opens in range by @dotCooCoo in #2579 Quote graph data CSV labels so they round-trip through graph.setData by @Silvertree2010 in #2568 Artboards: commands given an index that names no artboard fail instead of editing another one by @dotCooCoo in #2566 docs: quick Image Trace presets trace at once; the Image Trace button opens the controls (#2585) by @bflatastic in #2640 Effects: skip type tests when built without craft-fonts (#2476) by @vangel76 in #2477 Effects: a Transform effect on a group paints each copy with its own gradient (#2451) by @vangel76 in #2486 Effects: Zig Zag Smooth points draw a continuous wave (#2343) by @vangel76 in #2475 Type: text.create and text.createInPath return the new type's bounds (#2413) by @vangel76 in #2478 Type: a tab takes its width when area type breaks and justifies its lines (#2457) by @vangel76 in #2487 Dimension tool: Shift preview, snap indicator, clicks snap onto lines and anchors (#2432, #2516) by @vangel76 in #2482 Render: Inner Glow on a pattern fill draws along the edges, not at the top left (#2426) by @vangel76 in #2510 Fix native font labels when only legacy names are localized by @EuanTop in #2237 Live Corners: a corner rounds until its cut reaches its neighbours (#2332) by @vangel76 in #2484 Fix Illustrator EPS import to preserve editable vector artwork by @theromis in #2571 MCP: scope doc_inspect by ids, kind and page (#2167) by @vangel76 in #2543 PDF export: report RGB colours and images in a CMYK document (#2162) by @vangel76 in #2522 MCP: cancel long exports, answer while one runs, report progress (#2165, #2171) by @vangel76 in #2546 Persistence: saved PDF presets and loaded ICC profiles survive a restart (#2168, #2174) by @vangel76 in #2547 Accessibility: buttons, toggles, checkboxes and sliders have names for screen readers by @dotCooCoo in #2611 Swatches: Alt-click on a swatch recolors the selected gradient stop by @dotCooCoo in #2623 Print: Print, Print Preview and Print Setup take a print preset by name by @dotCooCoo in #2607 Variables: Import Data Sets… reads tab-separated files and files without a name column by @dotCooCoo in #2608 Type: a click in a Devanagari syllable goes to its nearer end, and shaping is tested by @dotCooCoo in #2602 TIFF: planar grayscale files with extra channels, and planar CMYK files, open and place by @dotCooCoo in #2598 Docs: type-parity and the roadmap list the Hyphenation options as done by @dotCooCoo in #2580 i18n: Simplified Chinese translates status-bar and error messages by @dotCooCoo in #2578 SVG export: justified and Mojikumi lines keep their letter spacing in live text by @dotCooCoo in #2574 Type: a change of paint, baseline shift or rotation on one character keeps the font's kerning by @dotCooCoo in #2554 .ai import: a Drop Shadow with Darkness comes in with its Darkness by @dotCooCoo in #2513 Character: Small Caps, Superscript and Subscript buttons and menu items set the text by @dotCooCoo in #2508 Actions: Batch keeps files named after data sets inside the destination folder by @dotCooCoo in #2504 Type: redefining a text style back to a default updates the text that uses it by @dotCooCoo in #2501 Render: every raster export warns about an undecodable image inside a pattern by @dotCooCoo in #2621 Effects: effect.apply and effect.setParams refuse a color the effect can't draw by @dotCooCoo in #2617 Templates: Save as Template always writes a file with a template extension by @dotCooCoo in #2597 i18n: file filters, preset names and mark styles are translated in every complete language by @dotCooCoo in #2590 Artboards: Duplicate Artboards, Copy and Cut take every selected artboard by @dotCooCoo in #2567 Images: sampling and recoloring decode images past 512 MB, up to 2 GB by @dotCooCoo in #2507 Transform panel: the menu's Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical keep the reference point by @marcoarnulfo in #2400 Transform: a percentage typed alone in W or H scales the size it shows by @marcoarnulfo in #2404 i18n and docs: rows and ROADMAP entry for the community PRs landed on 2026-10-17 by @bflatastic in #2649 View: Show Transparency Grid is saved with the document by @webdevtodayjason in #2488 Layers: the panel menu's Save Selection submenu saves, lists and updates saved selections by @dotCooCoo in #2483 Character: Reset Panel resets every attribute the panel shows except the font and size by @dotCooCoo in #2479 Guides: a Cmd/Ctrl+Shift double-click releases the guide under the pointer by @dotCooCoo in #2467 Type: emptying the text while editing keeps its character style by @marcoarnulfo in #2464 File formats: PostScript (.ps) and .epsf files open and place by @dotCooCoo in #2461 Missing Fonts: a folder the search refuses says why in the dialog, not "Not found" by @marcoarnulfo in #2458 Gradient mesh: an opaque patch is backed by its outline, so patches that narrow to slivers leave no holes by @EricKuck in #2456 Recolor Artwork: dragging a wheel handle of CMYK art keeps the linked handles in place by @marcoarnulfo in #2454 PDF export: a CMYK image's own soft mask is written as its /SMask, not a luminosity mask by @marcoarnulfo in #2448 EPS: images encoded with CCITTFaxDecode draw by @dotCooCoo in #2445 AI import: a compound path whose subpaths' group is marked like a look keeps its holes by @marcoarnulfo in #2444 Effects: Smart Blur's Radius widens the edge search in Edge Only and Overlay Edge by @dotCooCoo in #2443 Paragraph: Reset Panel also resets the Hyphenation options by @dotCooCoo in #2438 EPS import: an Illustrator 3 file without layers opens its paths on one layer (fixes storytold/photocraft#6036) by @marcoarnulfo in #2436 Fields: Shift+Enter applies a panel field's value and keeps the field active by @dotCooCoo in #2431 Paths: Shift keeps a reshaped segment's handles perpendicular and equal in length by @dotCooCoo in #2425 .ai import: type keeps its own opacity and blend mode by @dotCooCoo in #2420 #2405: an envelope's mesh in an .ai isn't read as art by @jmverges in #2410 Color effects recolour the points of a freeform gradient by @marcoarnulfo in #2397 Image Trace: six fixes from @andeecollard (#2589, #2584, #2387, #2586, #2587, #2588) by @bflatastic in #2658 i18n: blend spine errors are translated in every complete language by @dotCooCoo in #2624 Blend: Window › Blend opens a Blend panel with the blend's spacing, orientation and commands by @dotCooCoo in #2573 Brushes: Shift-click and Ctrl/Cmd-click select several brushes, and Delete Brush deletes them by @dotCooCoo in #2562 Place: RTF files place as area type with their formatting by @dotCooCoo in #2524 Type: the Touch Type tool moves, scales and rotates single characters by @dotCooCoo in #2469 PDF: colours are written in the profiles assigned to the document by @japbcoelho in #2536 Save and Export ask before replacing a file that an added extension names by @dotCooCoo in #2619 Expand: pattern fills expand into their tiles clipped by the shape by @dotCooCoo in #2616 Type: Optical Margin Alignment hangs punctuation and letter edges outside the frame by @dotCooCoo in #2563 Control bar: the Artboard tool shows the active artboard's preset, name, X, Y, W and H by @dotCooCoo in #2559 Contextual Task Bar: the Artboard tool offers Resize, Duplicate, Rearrange All and Export by @dotCooCoo in #2556 Artboards: Alt-click on New Artboard opens Artboard Options for the new artboard by @dotCooCoo in #2496 Window: the SVG Interactivity panel attaches JavaScript events and files for SVG export by @dotCooCoo in #2437 Live Paint: Gap Options find and close gaps in Live Paint groups by @dotCooCoo in #2424 Graphs: Object › Graph › Column draws columns with graph designs by @dotCooCoo in #2406 Move dialog opens remembers the last drag or move values by @danngreen in #2542 Print: open printing preferences for the selected printer on Windows … by @dennismutuku2005 in #2577 i18n and docs: rows and ROADMAP entry for the fifth 2026-10-17 batch by @bflatastic in #2666 i18n(fi): review the machine-drafted Finnish rows by @Janiz-zzz in #2472 G2: Effect › Artistic › Cutout, Neon Glow and Poster Edges by @VL420 in #2453 Rotate View: resize and rotate cursors turn with the view by @dotCooCoo in #2594 Appearance: the inline effect editor shows choice parameters as dropdowns with the dialog's labels by @dotCooCoo in #2582 G7: View › Rulers › Change to Global / Artboard Rulers by @VL420 in #2416 Symbols: Symbol Options › Enable Guides for 9-Slice Scaling (#2342) by @vangel76 in #2512 Gradient mesh: Create Gradient Mesh on an embedded image (#1676) by @vangel76 in #2538 .ai import: type from the layers opens without the PDF part's outlines warnings by @dotCooCoo in #2667 Fix #2276: the Eyedropper and RGB input give color-managed CMYK values in a process document by @dotCooCoo in #2664 Object Mosaic: columns and rows that are not whole numbers are refused by @dotCooCoo in #2659 Escape quotes and backslashes in exported CSS font-family by @Silvertree2010 in #2657 New Document and Document Setup: values out of range in a saved preset or a file are read in range by @dotCooCoo in #2656 Part of #2422: a selected clip group shows its clipping path's outline, not its hidden art by @dotCooCoo in #2650 Rasterize, Flatten Transparency: commands that replace art with a rendering warn about an undecodable image by @dotCooCoo in #2648 Images: the too-large note counts the image's pixels as RGBA by @dotCooCoo in #2647 Type: a huge selection of type on a path draws no per-object brackets by @dotCooCoo in #2645 Rotate View: a two-finger rotation on a Mac trackpad turns the view about the pointer by @dotCooCoo in #2644 Variables: a data set rewrites bound type on hidden layers by @dotCooCoo in #2641 Blends, meshes and envelopes: an index or count that is not a whole number is refused by @dotCooCoo in #2638 Artboards: Rearrange and Select All on Active Artboard measure a symbol instance by its art by @dotCooCoo in #2614 Artboards: art centered on an artboard's right or bottom edge is on that artboard by @dotCooCoo in #2637 Print: a Print Tiling origin on an artboard's right or bottom edge is measured from that artboard by @dotCooCoo in #2665 Part of #2460: a huge selection of type, images, symbols or meshes shows its bounds by @dotCooCoo in #2635 Save: save panels for files other than documents offer the file type they write by @dotCooCoo in #2633 Layers panel: drop a layer under the last row to move it to the bottom (#2260) by @MarekSpodBiedry in #2632 Variables: Lock Variables stops variables from being defined, deleted or renamed by @dotCooCoo in #2631 Part of #2345: a marquee does not select a clip group by its hidden art by @dotCooCoo in #2630 Guides: Lock Guides keeps guides deselected after Undo, Exit Isolation Mode and Paste by @dotCooCoo in #2629 Export: PDF, EPS, SVG, EMF, WMF and image exports warn about type that doesn't fit its frame by @dotCooCoo in #2628 Artboards: Shift-click in the Artboards panel selects a range of artboards by @dotCooCoo in #2626 Background save: dropped Puppet Warp pins, ended Edit Text and font scans leave the document saved by @dotCooCoo in #2625 Part of #2441: Group Selection picks and moves one path of a compound path; i18n and docs for the sixth batch by @bflatastic in #2686 i18n: the History panel translates the undo step names the sources write as literals by @dotCooCoo in #2609 Fix #2541: installed plug-ins stay installed after a restart by @bflatastic in #2695 Part of #2572: clicking an area type's out port threads its text into a path or a new frame by @bflatastic in #2713 Fix #2603: a panel per swatch library, with Persistent by @bflatastic in #2714 Create Strokes: skeleton graph with junction merging by @andeecollard in #2705 Image Trace: Raster::new returns an error for a buffer of the wrong length by @andeecollard in #2701 Image Trace: large images trace with a warning; anchor limit 8,000,000 by @andeecollard in #2700 Image Trace: Auto Color keeps rare but distinct colours by @andeecollard in #2702 Character: variable fonts get a slider for each axis by @dotCooCoo in #2710 Paths: Reshape Segment, Convert Anchor Point and the Pencil refuse values of 1e9 pt or more by @dotCooCoo in #2709 Contextual Task Bar: direct-selected anchors offer Connect, Corner and Smooth by @dotCooCoo in #2697 Import PDF 0 w strokes as hairlines instead of dropping them by @Silvertree2010 in #2696 Effects: Effect › Rasterize draws an object as pixels while its paths stay editable by @dotCooCoo in #2409 i18n and docs: Image Trace warnings in every complete language; ROADMAP for the evening's landings by @bflatastic in #2724 G4: Paragraph panel menu › Roman Hanging Punctuation by @VL420 in #2775 Fix #1876: Artboard Options has X and Y with a reference point by @guillehr2 in #2739 Fonts: a variable font's default face is named and weighed by its default instance (#2521) by @vangel76 in #2733 Fonts: fallback glyphs keep bold/italic, Bold Italic of a missing family keeps the bold, CJK prefers an installed sans (#2491) by @vangel76 in #2732 i18n(nl): complete the Dutch catalog by @nvict-service in #2730 Write legacy .ai layer names in Windows Latin-1 and warn when a character is replaced (#2693) by @MarekSpodBiedry in #2722 Map the WMF window onto the placeable box (#2673) by @MarekSpodBiedry in #2721 Magic Wand: only select objects inside the isolated group (#2655) by @MarekSpodBiedry in #2720 Blend: edit spine points and handles with the Anchor Point tool (#2544) by @makesomethingshit in #2643 Shadows and glows: each is of the art with the ones before it in the stack, and an Outer Glow blurs a solid silhouette by @EricKuck in #2395 3D effects: one to ten coloured lights (#2706) by @bflatastic in #2787 G1: Contextual Task Bar: Join, Edit Path, Release and type conversion by selection by @VL420 in #2471 Type: superscript, subscript and small caps proportions out of range in a file are read in range by @dotCooCoo in #2728 Type: sizes, scales, leading, indents and spacing out of range in a file are read in range by @dotCooCoo in #2757 Type: Optical Margin Alignment is a setting of the whole thread by @dotCooCoo in #2773 Shaper: a marquee does not select a Shaper Group by the original shape of an erased face by @dotCooCoo in #2772 TIFF: CCITT Group 3 compressed files open and place by @dotCooCoo in #2770 Place: Word .docx files place as area type with their formatting by @dotCooCoo in #2766 PDF presets: a rename that can't be written keeps the preset under its old name by @dotCooCoo in #2767 History: the panel menu has Step Backward, Step Forward and Set History Limit… by @dotCooCoo in #2764 Artboards: Ctrl/Cmd+A in the Artboards panel selects every artboard with the Artboard tool by @dotCooCoo in #2761 .ai import: the warning that the layers differ from the page gives the art's share or names the type by @dotCooCoo in #2760 Actions: Batch's Override Save and Export name files with the format's extension by @dotCooCoo in #2747 Part of #2558: a drag draws zoomed-in raster effects at a lower resolution until it ends by @dotCooCoo in #2745 Effects: vectorcraft-effects passes clippy on Rust 1.95, the minimum toolchain by @dotCooCoo in #2740 Export: names typed into file names follow Windows' naming rules by @dotCooCoo in #2738 Export for Screens: exports warn when an image couldn't be decoded or a font is missing by @dotCooCoo in #2737 Export: Save for Office, CSS and Copy warn when an image couldn't be decoded or a font is missing by @dotCooCoo in #2762 Variables: Import Data Sets… defines the variables a file's header names by @dotCooCoo in #2736 Tests: five tests that wait on another thread pass on a loaded machine by @dotCooCoo in #2729 Linux Display Server: XWayland when a pen is attached, where a drawing tablet's pen draws by @dotCooCoo in #2717 Fix #2054: bounding-box resize handles snap to the grid, pixels, points and ruler guides by @dotCooCoo in #2715 i18n: Edit › Undo and Redo name the step as the History panel does by @dotCooCoo in #2774 Brushes, patterns and artboards: new and renamed items have their names trimmed by @dotCooCoo in #2746 Tabs: Clear All Tabs, Delete Tab and Repeat Tab can be chosen from the panel menu by @dotCooCoo in #2742 Character and Paragraph Styles: a new style's name is trimmed as a rename trims it by @dotCooCoo in #2726 Save for Web: saving and Preview in Browser warn when an image couldn't be decoded by @dotCooCoo in #2684 Docs: ROADMAP entry and parity-row cleanup for the 2026-10-18 community batch by @bflatastic in #2791 Open originals and linked files only on this computer or the document's share by @skylartaylor in #2777 New Contributors @pechnikov2026-star made their first contribution in #2393 @vangel76 made their first contribution in #2502 @odgrim made their first contribution in #2622 @EuanTop made their first contribution in #2237 @theromis made their first contribution in #2571 @dennismutuku2005 made their first contribution in #2577 @nvict-service made their first contribution in #2730 @makesomethingshit made their first contribution in #2643 Full Changelog: v0.12.0...v0.13.1

Performance and Compatibility

VectorCraft is implemented in Rust and uses a multithreaded rendering architecture. The project reports that 20,000 shapes can be rendered in approximately 27 milliseconds at full Retina resolution while maintaining a responsive interface.

Its geometry engine is designed around exact curve operations, while structural sharing provides effectively unlimited undo without requiring every operation to duplicate the entire document.

The project also places considerable emphasis on automated testing. Property-based tests are used for document round trips, while rendering and geometry have dedicated test infrastructure.

File compatibility is another strength. SVG is a first-class format, while PDF import/export and PDF-compatible AI files provide useful interoperability with established design workflows. DXF import and EPS export further extend its usefulness for technical and print-oriented work.

However, compatibility should not be confused with complete Illustrator parity. VectorCraft is still under active development, and the project roadmap indicates that some areas remain under construction.

System Requirements

VectorCraft supports:

• Windows

• macOS

• Linux

• FreeBSD

• WebAssembly/browser

Prebuilt Linux packages are available in several formats, including:

• AppImage

• DEB

• RPM

• Tarball

Both x86_64 and ARM64 Linux builds are provided.

macOS has a universal build supporting Intel and Apple Silicon, while Windows is distributed as a native desktop application.

Developers can also build the application directly from source using Rust.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Open-source

• MIT or Apache-2.0 licensing

• Native Rust application

• Windows, macOS and Linux support

• Browser/WebAssembly version

• Strong Bézier and vector-editing tools

• Exact Pathfinder Boolean operations

• Multiple artboards

• Advanced gradients and appearance controls

• Envelope Distort, Puppet Warp and Liquify

• SVG and PDF support

• EPS export

• DXF import

• Native document format

• Excellent automation potential

• JSON control interface

• MCP support for AI agents

• Multithreaded rendering

• Extensive automated testing

Cons

• Still under active development

• Not yet a complete Illustrator replacement

• Some workflows will still lack the maturity of established commercial software

• Font availability and typography coverage are still developing

• Professional production workflows should be tested before full migration

• The large feature set can make the application more complex for beginners

How to Install

The easiest method is to download the appropriate prebuilt package from the project's GitHub releases.

Linux users can choose between AppImage, DEB, RPM and tarball packages. macOS users can install the universal application, while Windows users can use the provided Windows package.

Developers can build the desktop application from source:

git clone https://github.com/storytold/vectorcraft
cd vectorcraft
cargo run --release -p vectorcraft

A VectorCraft document can also be opened directly:

cargo run --release -p vectorcraft -- examples/dusk-poster.vectorcraft

For headless processing and automation, the project provides a CLI:

cargo run --release -p vectorcraft-cli -- run \
  --in examples/ribbons.vectorcraft \
  --export out.pdf

The MCP server can be launched with:

cargo run --release -p vectorcraft-cli -- mcp

This makes VectorCraft particularly interesting for automated graphics generation and AI-assisted design workflows.

Final Verdict

VectorCraft is an unusually ambitious open-source Illustrator alternative. It is not merely a basic SVG editor with a familiar interface. The project is attempting to recreate a substantial portion of the professional Illustrator workflow while building its own modern Rust-based rendering and document architecture.

Its strongest areas are vector geometry, Pathfinder operations, Bézier editing, advanced effects, SVG/PDF interoperability and automation. The MCP and JSON control interfaces are especially interesting because they allow the same editing engine to be operated by scripts and AI agents.

Performance is another major strength. The native Rust architecture and multithreaded rendering approach give VectorCraft a solid technical foundation for handling complex vector documents.

The biggest limitation is maturity. Established applications such as Illustrator have decades of compatibility work, plugins, fonts, production workflows and ecosystem support behind them. VectorCraft is still developing and should not yet be treated as a drop-in replacement for every professional Illustrator workflow.

For designers, developers and open-source users looking for a modern vector graphics application, however, VectorCraft is one of the most interesting projects in this category. Its combination of native performance, open licensing and agent-native automation makes it particularly worth watching.

Free

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Software Informations:
Developer:
ArtCraft
Operating System:
Windows / macOS / Linux / BSD
Date Added:
2026-10-18T23:07:20.468Z
Categories:

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