VectorCraft v0.20.0

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 v0.20.0 - Software Mirrors
VectorCraft v0.20.0 for Windows vectorcraft-0.20.0-windows-x86.msi | 107.28 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-windows-x86-portable.zip | 131.65 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-windows-x64.msi | 110.55 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-windows-x64-portable.zip | 137.65 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-windows-arm64.msi | 103.79 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-windows-arm64-portable.zip | 130.96 MB
VectorCraft v0.20.0 for macOS vectorcraft-cli-0.20.0-macos-universal.zip | 113.4 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-macos-universal.dmg | 151.47 MB
VectorCraft v0.20.0 for Linux vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-x86_64.tar.gz | 133.75 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-x86_64.rpm | 134.86 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst | 99.6 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-x86_64.flatpak | 93.32 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-x86_64.deb | 135.78 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage.zsync | 220.83 kB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage | 126.05 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-riscv64.tar.gz | 131.38 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-riscv64.rpm | 132.59 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-riscv64.deb | 133.2 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-aarch64.tar.gz | 128.17 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-aarch64.rpm | 130.5 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-aarch64.pkg.tar.zst | 95.9 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-aarch64.flatpak | 87.16 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-aarch64.deb | 131.68 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-aarch64.AppImage.zsync | 211.87 kB vectorcraft-0.20.0-linux-aarch64.AppImage | 120.92 MB
VectorCraft v0.20.0 for BSD vectorcraft-0.20.0-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz | 133.33 MB vectorcraft-0.20.0-freebsd-aarch64.tar.gz | 126.47 MB
Others Download related to VectorCraft v0.20.0 vectorcraft-web-0.20.0.zip | 30.94 MB
VectorCraft v0.20.0 Source Code VectorCraft v0.20.0 Source code (zip) VectorCraft v0.20.0 Source code (tar.gz)
VectorCraft v0.20.0 Release Notes: What's Changed Updates: shared check-result dialog from craft-update by @aiongg in #4814 docs: tidy agent, contributor and asset docs by @aiongg in #4807 Shortcuts: in the web build a key-position shortcut uses the key of the same press by @dotCooCoo in #4867 Fix #4864: a search pick of an Asset Export command opens the panel by @dotCooCoo in #4869 Part of #4516: Windows renders start workers only for the cores the process may use by @dotCooCoo in #4874 Fix #4819: Convert to Smooth and Corner convert a selected blend's spine by @dotCooCoo in #4857 Select Same: Fill Color from a Live Paint face stays in its Live Paint group by @dotCooCoo in #4859 Fix #4837: the saved color scheme, accent and canvas color show at launch by @dotCooCoo in #4848 Docs: the type.underline line no longer repeats the end of the sentence before it by @dotCooCoo in #4847 Swatches: the delete prompt for several swatches uses each language's plural forms by @dotCooCoo in #4844 Find Font: Find leaves out hidden and locked text by @dotCooCoo in #4843 Outline Stroke, Expand: hidden and locked objects stay hidden and locked by @dotCooCoo in #4842 DXF export: an open path of one straight segment is written as a LINE by @dotCooCoo in #4839 DXF export: ellipses and unevenly scaled circles are written as ELLIPSE by @dotCooCoo in #4841 DXF export: Alter Paths for Appearance outlines only strokes a CAD line can't draw by @dotCooCoo in #4840 Blob Brush: Tool Options set the brush's Angle and Roundness by @dotCooCoo in #4838 Brushes: opacity masks on art brush pieces bend with the art by @dotCooCoo in #4828 Render: an object used as an opacity mask keeps its own opacity mask by @dotCooCoo in #4789 Render: pattern tiles draw undecoded-image marks when the view does by @dotCooCoo in #4787 Transparency: Make Opacity Mask over several layers masks their art by @dotCooCoo in #4853 Find Font: Change and Change All leave hidden and locked text alone by @dotCooCoo in #4852 Part of #3229: setting type in a font or style that isn't available warns by @dotCooCoo in #4866 Appearance: Add New Fill copies the selected fill row right above it by @dotCooCoo in #4863 Appearance: Reduce to Basic Appearance keeps the selected fill or stroke row by @dotCooCoo in #4858 Perspective Selection: Shift constrains a move to the plane's axes and diagonals by @dotCooCoo in #4804 Geometry: a perspective point that overflows maps to nothing instead of infinity by @dotCooCoo in #4846 Shortcuts: Shift+Comma and Shift+Period follow key positions only with Shift alone by @dotCooCoo in #4782 Keyboard Shortcuts: a shortcut on the Turkish Q quotation-mark key shows " and runs by @dotCooCoo in #4851 Fix #3592: a gradient mesh from a file is budgeted at about a million quads by @Taha-Mahmoodi in #4876 SVG export: a gradient mesh patch is cut no finer than its colour changes by @mockydevs in #4811 Fix #2651: Grid Repeat Options has a Preview checkbox by @Taha-Mahmoodi in #4875 Fix #995: a width-profile stroke keeps its shape when the view zooms out by @Taha-Mahmoodi in #4871 Swatch libraries: a library titled with a Windows device name is saved under another name (#3602) by @marshiyar in #4802 Fix #3604: automation file access refuses an NTFS alternate data stream name on Windows by @Taha-Mahmoodi in #4868 Snapping: a line end dragged with Direct Selection snaps square to straight paths and tangent to curves (#2530) by @Taha-Mahmoodi in #4850 Fix closing smart quote read as opening after same-glyph quote by @Silvertree2010 in #4823 Show 0.00 instead of -0.00 in Unit::readout for tiny negatives by @Silvertree2010 in #4810 Reject multiple leading '#' in the colour panel hex parser by @Silvertree2010 in #4805 fix(ai-import): type from the text document takes its character style's attributes by @mockydevs in #4801 .ai/EPS import: area type's first line goes where the file lays it out by @mockydevs in #4791 .ai/EPS import: a transparency set in a dictionary's art stays after it by @mockydevs in #4790 .ai/EPS import: an envelope's contents being edited aren't read as art by @mockydevs in #4793 Engine guard: a recovered panic restores every document's undo history and the active document (#3599) by @marshiyar in #4798 Fix #3085: DXF LAYOUT objects write only the group codes the DXF Reference defines by @mockydevs in #4796 Keep an empty text value in dataset CSV export and import by @Silvertree2010 in #4788 Type: lam-alef highlight follow-up: optional features, all marks, exact ligature test (#394) by @mockydevs in #4786 SVG import: a feConvolveMatrix order that overflows usvg's multiply is refused by @SusieeTheLinuxUser in #4785 PDF import: installed fonts named with hyphens or a composite font's CMap are found by @mockydevs in #4815 EPS import: big operators are charged for the bytes and objects they touch (#3584) by @marshiyar in #4800 Fix #4803: Enter or Escape in a floating panel's field stays in the field by @bflatastic in #4883 Fix #4835: Artwork Cleanup's Duplicate Objects finds type set twice in the same place by @bflatastic in #4886 Fix #4817: Properties' Quick Actions has Blend Options for a selected blend with any tool by @bflatastic in #4887 i18n: Dutch names a brush "penseel" everywhere by @dotCooCoo in #4880 Fix enhanced_preset Shapes for decorated High Fidelity Photo names by @Silvertree2010 in #4881 Reject repeated '#' in perspective grid colour parser by @Silvertree2010 in #4884 Respect SVG image-rendering pixelated attribute by @yssy1982 in #4888 contributors: add names for marshiyar by @marshiyar in #4795 Fix #4826: Artwork Cleanup's Join Point Text stacks one-line type into one object by @bflatastic in #4889 Export for Screens: the dialog works as the reference app's by @bflatastic in #4895 Add-ons: Arrange Tools — Arrange in Grid, Swap, Replace with Top Object, Set Size of Each, Zoom to Selection by @bflatastic in #4903 Fix #4890, #4891: Direct Selection's Alt-marquee and center point by @bflatastic in #4904 Docs: ROADMAP progress log for 2026-10-31 by @bflatastic in #4902 Fix #4882: Rasterize to CMYK makes a CMYK image by @bflatastic in #4906 Fix #4893: New Document saves a preset after More Settings by @bflatastic in #4907 Smooth: Auto-Smooth takes a shaky line to one curve, and direct-selected anchors smooth only their section by @bflatastic in #4929 Fix #4892: a file opened while VectorCraft runs opens in that window by @bflatastic in #4930 Part of #3602: a node thumbnail reports the size it is drawn at by @dotCooCoo in #4915 Appearance: paint, stroke and effect edits change the active row of the first selected object by @dotCooCoo in #4914 Perspective: a homography product that overflows is refused instead of stored or drawn by @dotCooCoo in #4912 Fix #3325: art nested in Affinity text is clipped to the characters by @dotCooCoo in #4910 Blob Brush: the tip preview is a named Angle slider with arrow keys by @dotCooCoo in #4905 fix(pathops): enable object.pathfinder.crop on single selected group by @WadahBadawi in #4896 fix(intertwine): allow object.intertwine.arrange with explicit id without selection by @WadahBadawi in #4897 PDF/EPS export: see-through and colorized pattern tile images are flattened by @dotCooCoo in #4783 Images: SVG and EPS export write colorized grayscale and 1-bit images in their fill color by @dotCooCoo in #4813 .ai import: type comes from the text document alone when every shown story reads by @dotCooCoo in #4865 Intertwine: a right-click where three or more objects overlap arranges the nearest one by @dotCooCoo in #4862 Eyedropper: Shift-click samples the color of a pattern or gradient mesh by @dotCooCoo in #4861 Symbols: Delete Symbol asks first, and Alt-click deletes an unused symbol without asking by @dotCooCoo in #4860 Contextual Task Bar: a basic shape shows its properties in place of Lock by @dotCooCoo in #4854 Isolation mode: Lock, Unlock All, Hide and Show All work on the isolated art by @dotCooCoo in #4849 Brushes: Delete Brush asks first, and Alt-click deletes unused brushes without asking by @dotCooCoo in #4829 Brushes: each Pattern Brush Options tile can be set to a pattern swatch or None by @dotCooCoo in #4821 Type: Kerning has an Optical option that spaces characters by their shapes by @dotCooCoo in #4825 Character Styles: Style Options edits the name and Basic Character Formats by @dotCooCoo in #4809 File formats: JPEG 2000 images open and place by @dotCooCoo in #4822 Actions: Batch names data set files File + Number, File + Data Set Name or Data Set Name by @dotCooCoo in #4812 i18n: package, missing-font, missing-link and CSS counts use plural catalog rows by @dotCooCoo in #4872 Mesh tool: a click on a mesh's edge from just outside adds the lines there by @dotCooCoo in #4954 Replace non-finite type values in DocSetup::keep_in_range by @Silvertree2010 in #4952 Accessibility: Tab no longer stops on window, dialog, panel-grip and ruler drag regions by @dotCooCoo in #4951 .ai import: a Zstandard frame that ends in a zero byte keeps it by @dotCooCoo in #4945 Fix #2678: Ungroup no longer multiplies the group's opacity into its members by @dotCooCoo in #4932 Fix #4931, #4933, #4944, #4953: save version menu, refused-save alert, Contributors header, freeform point swatch by @bflatastic in #4957 Fix #4940, #4946: text is shaped in its language, with a Language setting per text and Indian languages (#4943) by @bflatastic in #4959 Cursors: Caps Lock gives the drawing tools the crosshair by @dotCooCoo in #4960 Part of #3187: a gradient mesh made from an ellipse keeps its shape by @dotCooCoo in #4958 Add-ons: Group Overlapping Objects, Divide into Dashes, Save a Timestamped Copy, New Symbols from Layers by @bflatastic in #4974 Fix #4942: native Indic digits in the Digits menu by @bflatastic in #4981 Fix #4939: Global Edit finds and edits groups like the selected one by @bflatastic in #4983 Fix #4937: artboard background colours are included in exports and print by @bflatastic in #4991 Fix #4938: Dynamic symbols keep per-instance appearance linked to the symbol by @bflatastic in #4993 Fix #2105: the window asks the GPU for no more than it offers by @dotCooCoo in #4989 Objects on Path: double-clicking the tool opens its options, and Pivot and Rotate apply to the objects attached next by @dotCooCoo in #4984 Properties: an Objects on Path group shows Objects on Path Options with Pivot and Rotate by @dotCooCoo in #4985 Fix #2960: Recolor Artwork keeps its Preserve checkboxes between uses by @dotCooCoo in #4982 Eyedropper: color samples match the canvas and stay within their work limit by @dotCooCoo in #4979 Actions: Delete Selection deletes the selected action set by @dotCooCoo in #4976 Appearance: effect.apply reports the new effect's index in the object whose row it names by @dotCooCoo in #4973 Accessibility: Tab no longer stops on a dialog's backdrop by @dotCooCoo in #4970 Perspective: a stored projection with large entries is judged by a scaled copy, so it reads back by @dotCooCoo in #4969 Fix #3826: the toolbar's Gradient chip lines up with Color and None by @dotCooCoo in #4966 PDF export: a gradient that mixes a spot color with process colors keeps the spot ink by @dotCooCoo in #4965 Fix #4967: a drawing tablet's pen draws on a Wayland session by default by @bflatastic in #4998 packaging(flatpak): add OCI image build and GHCR publishing helper by @dylanmtaylor in #4987 Tests: artboard fill in EPS and print matches the red by hue on every platform by @bflatastic in #5003 Fix #4980: Pen with Cmd/Ctrl drags the path, not hidden bounding-box handles by @bflatastic in #5004 Fix #4978: Area Type Options › Text Flow by rows or by columns by @bflatastic in #5005 EPS export: gradients of spot colors keep their spot inks by @dotCooCoo in #4994 Fix #4820: the Layers panel lists a blend's spine by @mockydevs in #5000 i18n(pt-br): translate the rows the sibling catalogs cover by @RicSchonfelder in #4996 Tabs: Ctrl-dragging a tab stop moves all the stops together by @dotCooCoo in #4997 Fix #4977: Blob Brush and Eraser show their tip's outline at the pointer by @bflatastic in #5009 Place: Word 97-2003 .doc files place as area type with their formatting by @dotCooCoo in #5008 OpenType: the panel turns Stylistic and Titling Alternates on and off, and offers Proportional Lining figures by @dotCooCoo in #5006 i18n: link, font and export status messages use real plural forms instead of "(s)" by @dotCooCoo in #5002 Fix #4918: Symbols panel Select All Unused by @mockydevs in #5007 Languages: Serbian (Cyrillic, Latin) and Croatian, with their quote marks by @VladimirCeric in #4975 Fix #4925: Randomize Opacity gives each selected object a random opacity in a range by @bflatastic in #5016 Fix #4917: Sort Objects sorts the selection by one attribute and applies that order to another by @bflatastic in #5017 Tests: the backtick menu test passes on macOS by @dotCooCoo in #5014 ci(xtask): print the i18n report without recompiling the workspace by @FredApps in #5001 Transparency: a layer on top gives its topmost object as the opacity mask by @dotCooCoo in #5010 PDF export: a Perceptual gradient of one spot ink's tints keeps its ink by @dotCooCoo in #5018 Type: Standard Vertical Roman Alignment stands half-width characters upright in vertical type by @dotCooCoo in #5020 Live Paint: Live Paint Bucket Options set what a click paints and the highlight by @dotCooCoo in #5021 Grid tools: F, V, X and C change the divider skews by 10 while a grid is dragged out by @dotCooCoo in #5019 Fix #4908: Glyphs panel highlights the selected character by @bflatastic in #5047 Fix #4922: Expand Dashes into Paths by @bflatastic in #5048 Tests: .doc import fuzzing also damages the compound-file container by @dotCooCoo in #5045 Knife: a straight cut's ends snap to the anchors and paths Smart Guides snap to by @dotCooCoo in #5044 Eyedropper: Shift-click samples a blend's steps and an envelope's distorted art by @dotCooCoo in #4949 .ai import: one object the reader can't read comes in as the page's art, and the layers stay by @dotCooCoo in #5050 Fix #4920: Document Tools exports every open document by @mockydevs in #5022 Fix #4687: the Artboards panel reorders artboards by dragging a row by @bflatastic in #5060 .ai import: template layers and ruler guides open as they were set by @dotCooCoo in #5057 .ai import: Objects on Path groups open live with their path, Pivot and Rotate by @dotCooCoo in #5059 .ai import: envelopes open as live envelopes by @dotCooCoo in #5065 Character: Font Size can measure the cap height, x-height or ICF box by @dotCooCoo in #5026 Type: Character panel toggles show off for a mixed selection, and text.setFormat checks on/off values by @dotCooCoo in #5063 Type: Touch Type moves a character rotated near 90 degrees across its line by @dotCooCoo in #5061 Symbols: Edit Symbol opens the symbol in its own editing mode, and every instance follows each edit by @dotCooCoo in #5064 Export for Screens: a second file with a taken name is numbered instead of skipped by @dotCooCoo in #5028 PDF export: a Perceptual gradient that mixes spot and process inks keeps its inks by @dotCooCoo in #5056 Export All Open Documents: one file per copy (#4920 follow-up) by @mockydevs in #5055 Fix #4923: Find Nearest Swatch in the document or a swatch library by @bflatastic in #5067 ci: run the desktop printing check through the shared gate by @FredApps in #5062 New Contributors @marshiyar made their first contribution in #4802 @SusieeTheLinuxUser made their first contribution in #4785 @yssy1982 made their first contribution in #4888 @WadahBadawi made their first contribution in #4896 @VladimirCeric made their first contribution in #4975 Full Changelog: v0.19.0...v0.20.0

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.

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Software Informations:
Developer:
ArtCraft
Operating System:
Windows / macOS / Linux / BSD
Date Added:
2026-11-01T23:07:20.270Z
Categories:

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