Start Here
Begin with a complete first edit. Then learn the workspace and diagnose slow documents with a repeatable method.
Getting started with PhotoCraft
Open an image copy, add editable text, save a project and inspect the exported result.
The canvas, panels and workspace explained
Separate the document from its on-screen view, and record useful details when the canvas does not draw.
Improving PhotoCraft performance on your machine
Isolate a slow operation without relying on invented speed or memory figures.
Layers, Masks and Selections
Understand which part of the document you are changing before applying an effect or painting an edge.
Working with PSD layers and masks
Inspect the layer structure, identify a mask and verify a small saved change.
Layer styles and non-destructive edits
Keep effects separate from source pixels and check whether they remain editable after saving.
Smart objects and smart filters
Check embedded content, duplicate behaviour and filter editability with a disposable sample.
Selections and mask refinement
Build a selection, inspect difficult edges and turn the result into a mask you can revisit.
PSD Files in PhotoCraft
The project documents PSD and PSB support. Opening a file, matching its appearance and preserving editable content are separate checks; a test-corpus result does not guarantee your document.
Opening a PSD file in PhotoCraft
Start with a copy and compare fonts, groups, masks and effects against a reference image.
Saving back to PSD and PSB
Save under a new name, reopen the result and check the format your recipient needs.
PSD compatibility: what survives a round trip
Use a simple acceptance checklist for appearance, editability and document properties.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Build a reference that matches your installed version, platform and editing context. Familiarity with Photoshop is useful, but each key combination still needs confirmation.
PhotoCraft keyboard shortcuts: a practical reference
Learn five everyday commands from the keys displayed by your own app.
Tool shortcuts and modifier keys
Check active-tool focus and test modifiers one at a time instead of assuming Photoshop defaults.
Adjustments, Filters and Retouching
PhotoCraft’s official product page describes adjustment layers, live filter previews and retouching tools. Learn the scope of each change and verify how it is saved.
Adjustment layers and live filters
Compare a modest correction with the original and keep an editable working version.
Retouching: Clone Stamp, Healing and Remove tools
Choose a small repair, watch texture and edges, and keep source pixels recoverable.
Mask density, feathering and soft edges
Separate mask coverage from edge softness and inspect the result against contrasting backgrounds.
Colour and File Formats
The product page describes multiple colour modes, bit depths, ICC profiles and soft proofing. The document settings and the destination’s requirements decide which options matter.
Colour management and soft proofing
Distinguish assigning a profile from converting colours, and verify the exported file.
Which file format to save in
Choose between an editable working file, a shareable image and a specialised exchange format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know Photoshop?
No. The getting-started guide begins with an image copy and explains the difference between a project and an export.
Is PhotoCraft ready to replace Photoshop?
The project calls PhotoCraft early alpha. Test the requirements of your own work before switching; the comparison guide provides a decision checklist.
Are these tutorials official or hands-on reviews?
They are independent guides based on public project documentation. We have not tested every tool or release, and we do not present a complete verified shortcut inventory.
What if a command differs in my version?
Check your installed release’s documentation and menus. Search the official issue tracker (opens a new tab) for app problems; include the version, operating system and a reproducible example when reporting a bug.
Official sources: PhotoCraft product page (opens a new tab) · PhotoCraft README (opens a new tab) · File-format assessment (opens a new tab).