VectorCraft is not Adobe Illustrator. It is an independent open-source Crafting App from the ArtCraft / storytold team, formerly announced as DrawCraft. This page is a third-party guide — not getartcraft.com, not vectorcraft.app, and not an Adobe site. It is also not the crates.io/docs.rs vector-math library. This site does not host installers or a WebAssembly build.
VectorCraft: Open-Source Vector Illustration App
TL;DR: VectorCraft is ArtCraft’s free, open-source vector illustration app, written in Rust and formerly called DrawCraft. It has pen and path tools, exact booleans, gradients, live effects, type and broad SVG/PDF/.ai export. It is alpha, it is not Adobe Illustrator, and reliable .ai round-tripping is still a gap. Prefer getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft or GitHub storytold/vectorcraft. This guide does not host the app.
Short answers
- VectorCraft is not Adobe Illustrator, and it is not an Adobe product.
- It was announced as DrawCraft until around October 2026; the current name is VectorCraft.
- It is not the unrelated vectorcraft math crate on crates.io/docs.rs.
- It is free and open source under MIT or Apache-2.0, and it is alpha.
- .ai import/export is PDF-compatible; reliable layer-preserving .ai exchange is still missing.
Official VectorCraft pageGitHub storytold/vectorcraftIndependent host vectorcraft.appFull download safety guide
Page revised: · Site stamp: · Checked VectorCraft v0.21.0 on GitHub, the official standalone list (0.20.0 files) and Launcher v0.13.0.
What VectorCraft is
VectorCraft is the ArtCraft suite’s vector illustration seat: a native app for drawing logos, posters, icons, diagrams and print artwork with paths rather than pixels. The pen, Direct Selection, Pathfinder, Shape Builder, Appearance, Swatches, Layers and Smart Guides are laid out the way Illustrator users expect, so the first session is mostly about learning where the remaining differences are. It runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and FreeBSD, and there is a WebAssembly build for the browser.
The app’s own README makes three claims worth repeating. Exact curve booleans are a design goal, so the “cannot perform operation” dialog is not part of the workflow. Rendering is multithreaded SIMD off the UI thread, with a reported 20,000 shapes at about 27 ms and a 120 fps interface. And the document format is readable JSON (.vectorcraft), with SVG, PDF, PDF-compatible .ai, EPS, DXF, EMF/WMF and raster export. Affinity documents also open and place natively, with an import warning that lists what did not come across.
The honest limit is file exchange with Adobe. VectorCraft reads and writes PDF-compatible .ai and can preserve legacy version 7 .ai layers, groups and type, but it does not write Illustrator’s proprietary editing data, and the README still lists reliable .ai exchange as a gap. If a client will reopen the file in Illustrator and expect live layers, test that handoff on a copy before you promise it.
| Topic | Fact (sourced) |
|---|---|
| Positioning | A free, open-source vector illustration app from the ArtCraft / storytold team, written in pure Rust. The official page labels it “In development.” It is not Adobe Illustrator, and it is not the Rust vector-math crate published as vectorcraft on crates.io/docs.rs. |
| Former name | VectorCraft was announced as DrawCraft until around October 2026. The product, repository and ArtCraft team are the same; only the public name changed. Old DrawCraft bookmarks should look for VectorCraft now. |
| Drawing | Pen and Direct Selection with real Bézier anchors and handles, shape tools, exact curve booleans (Pathfinder), Shape Builder, Smart Guides, Appearance, Swatches, Layers, gradients and transparency. The layout, menus and shortcuts follow the Illustrator conventions working illustrators expect. |
| Effects and type | Live blends, envelope distort, gradient mesh, radial/grid/mirror repeats, glows, drop shadows, image tracing with 12 presets, and 57 approximated Photoshop-style raster filters. Type includes styles, threading, vertical type (initial support) and Hebrew/Arabic bidirectional layout. |
| Formats | Native .vectorcraft JSON documents; SVG and SVGZ; PDF; PDF-compatible .ai import/export; EPS; DXF; EMF/WMF; PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, TIFF and BMP; PSD out and merged PSD/PSB in. Affinity .af/.afdesign/.afpub documents open and place natively, with an import warning that lists what did not come in. |
| .ai exchange | The README is candid: reliable exchange of real .ai files is still a gap. VectorCraft reads and writes PDF-compatible .ai and can keep legacy version 7 .ai layers, groups and type, but proprietary Illustrator editing data is not written. Test a copy before sending a client .ai file. |
| Performance | Multithreaded SIMD rendering off the UI thread. The README reports 20,000 shapes rendering in about 27 ms at full retina resolution while the interface stays at 120 fps. Exact booleans and unlimited undo via structural sharing are design goals, not marketing footnotes. |
| Status | Alpha, under active development. The README’s 2026-10-10 self-assessment: about 88% of core menu items, tools, effects and formats exist (92.5% of menu items do something), feature depth is ~75%, and it is ~65% ready for real work for a mainstream illustrator (~62% across all tracked features). |
| Platforms | macOS universal, Windows x64 / x86 / ARM64 MSI and portable zips, Linux x86_64 / aarch64 / riscv64 (AppImage, Flatpak, deb, rpm, tar), FreeBSD x86_64 and aarch64, plus a WebAssembly web build. GitHub’s latest release was v0.21.0 on 3 November 2026; the official standalone list still showed 0.20.0 files when checked. |
| Automation | Every menu item, tool gesture, panel and dialog is exposed as a command over a JSON control channel, a CLI and an MCP server (`vectorcraft-cli mcp`). Agents can draw, edit and export the way a person does. |
| License | MIT or Apache-2.0, at your option (README License section). The app is free; there is no paid unlock. |
Primary sources: getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft, github.com/storytold/vectorcraft README, and the GitHub releases. The browser host vectorcraft.app is a separate third-party site.
VectorCraft vs Adobe Illustrator
Use this table when the question is “can I move an Illustrator workflow,” not when you only need the product name. VectorCraft is close on everyday drawing, paths, booleans, gradients and type. The hard boundary is the Adobe file ecosystem: live .ai interchange, the plug-in market and the maturity of a long production history.
| Dimension | VectorCraft | Adobe Illustrator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free. MIT or Apache-2.0. No subscription or paid unlock for the app. | Paid subscription. See Adobe Illustrator for the current plan; this guide does not quote a price that was not re-checked today. |
| Platform | macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD and a WebAssembly build. Checked latest release: 0.21.0. | Commercial Windows, macOS, iPad and web apps from Adobe, tied to a Creative Cloud plan. |
| File format | Native .vectorcraft JSON, SVG/SVGZ, PDF, PDF-compatible .ai, EPS, DXF, EMF/WMF and raster. Affinity import. Proprietary .ai editing data is not written. | .ai is the native working format, with a mature ecosystem of templates, brushes, plug-ins and print workflows. |
| Drawing | Pen, Direct Selection, exact booleans, Shape Builder, Smart Guides, appearance, gradients, live blends/repeats, image tracing and type with styles. | Deep, mature drawing and typography toolset with decades of edge-case work. |
| Plug-ins | No Illustrator plug-in ecosystem. Automation is via CLI, JSON control channel and MCP. | Large third-party plug-in and script ecosystem. |
| Maturity | Alpha. 2026-10-10 self-assessment: ~88% of core items, ~75% feature depth, ~65% ready for a mainstream illustrator. Interaction-fidelity pass and .ai exchange are still on the roadmap. | Mature commercial illustration standard with a long production history. |
For the dedicated naming, .ai and crates.io clarification, see VectorCraft vs Illustrator. For the broader suite comparison, see ArtCraft vs Adobe. For interface design, see FigCraft and FigCraft vs Figma. For page layout, see DesignCraft.
MCP, CLI and .ai handoff
VectorCraft exposes every menu item, tool gesture, panel and dialog as a command over a JSON control channel, a CLI and an MCP server. That is useful for repeatable artwork and local automation, not a cloud design service.
- Start the server with
vectorcraft-cli mcpand point your MCP client at the local process. - Use the README for current command names and permissions; the ArtCraft MCP overview explains the family pattern.
- For Adobe handoff, test a copy of the .ai on both sides. The export is PDF-compatible, but proprietary Illustrator editing data is not written.
Lottie is not a VectorCraft format. If the job is motion or Lottie export, use EffectCraft and its dedicated Lottie and .aep comparison.
Version note: GitHub published v0.21.0 on 3 November 2026 while the official standalone list still showed 0.20.0 files. Confirm both before installing.
Safe download
This site does not host installers or a WebAssembly build. Only getartcraft.com and github.com/storytold are official. Check the version and SHA-256 on the day you install.
- Official app page (preferred). Open getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft. When checked it offered the ArtCraft Launcher (v0.13.0) and standalone installers for macOS, Windows, Linux and the web, with the standalone file list still on 0.20.0 while GitHub had 0.21.0. Come back to the same URL for updates.
- GitHub source and every build. Repository: github.com/storytold/vectorcraft. Releases: github.com/storytold/vectorcraft/releases. The latest release we saw was v0.21.0 (3 November 2026): macOS universal DMG, Windows x64/x86/ARM64 MSI and portable zips, Linux AppImage/Flatpak/deb/rpm/tar for x86_64, aarch64 and riscv64, FreeBSD tarballs, a CLI zip, a web zip and SHA256SUMS.txt. Match the file to the checksum before you run it.
- Independent browser host, if you want no install. vectorcraft.app is a separate third-party host that presents a browser version and says it is not the official site. It is not the official ArtCraft installer. We do not control it, it may lag the current release, and this site does not host its editor or WebAssembly build. Treat it as an independent convenience, not the source of record.
- Launcher and this site’s checklists. The suite installer is documented on the ArtCraft Launcher guide. Published GitHub tags: storytold/craft-launcher releases. If the official VectorCraft page prints a newer Launcher version, prefer that. Mirror and “cracked” build notes: How to download Crafting Apps safely.
Skip third-party “cracked Illustrator” packs and repacks. VectorCraft is already free, so there is nothing to unlock. If an installer asks you to disable OS protections without showing an official URL and checksum, stop.
VectorCraft, FigCraft and the ArtCraft suite
People mix the names because they share “Craft” and a team. They are different jobs:
- VectorCraft — vector illustration (Illustrator-oriented): paths, booleans, gradients, live effects, type, print and SVG/PDF export.
- FigCraft — interface design and prototyping (Figma-oriented): frames, components, variants, prototypes and Dev Mode-style handoff.
- DesignCraft — page layout and publishing (InDesign-oriented): multi-page documents and IDML-minded interchange goals.
- PhotoCraft — layered pixel editor (Photoshop-oriented): layers, masks, type and PSD/PSB.
- ArtCraft — the separate AI image and video studio. It is not the vector editor, and VectorCraft’s “no account” rule does not describe ArtCraft’s generation credits.
Install the desktop apps separately or together through the ArtCraft Launcher. They do not become one Adobe-style file format. Agent control is per app: VectorCraft exposes vectorcraft-cli mcp; the other Crafting Apps have their own automation surfaces. Start from the ArtCraft overview, the Crafting Apps hub and the MCP guide if you want an agent in the loop.
Who VectorCraft is for
- Illustrators who want a native, inspectable vector app and can accept alpha gaps.
- Linux, FreeBSD or agent/MCP workflows where an Illustrator install is a poor fit.
- Teams that need SVG/PDF output, exact booleans and local files without a subscription.
- People comparing a free vector editor with Illustrator before changing a pipeline.
Wait, and keep Illustrator, if you need guaranteed live .ai handoff, a specific plug-in, mature print-production checks, or a deadline that cannot absorb interaction differences. Test a copy of a real document first.
Related Crafting Apps
- VectorCraft vs Illustrator — DrawCraft, .ai and crates.io clarification
- EffectCraft — motion graphics and VFX compositor
- FigCraft — interface design and prototyping
- DesignCraft — page layout and publishing
- PhotoCraft — layered pixel editor
- LightCraft — local RAW library and developer
- ArtCraft — AI image and video studio
- ArtCraft Launcher
- Crafting Apps hub
- Safe download guide
VectorCraft FAQ
Is VectorCraft Adobe Illustrator?
No. VectorCraft is not Adobe Illustrator and is not an Adobe product. It is an open-source Crafting App from the ArtCraft / storytold team (github.com/storytold/vectorcraft). This page is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Adobe or the ArtCraft team.
Is VectorCraft the same thing as DrawCraft?
Yes. The app was announced as DrawCraft until around October 2026 and is now VectorCraft. The repository, product page and ArtCraft team are the same. If you followed an old DrawCraft link, use getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft or github.com/storytold/vectorcraft.
Is this the vectorcraft crate on crates.io or docs.rs?
No. The crates.io/docs.rs “vectorcraft” is an unrelated Rust vector-math library. This page is about the ArtCraft vector illustration application. The names collide; the projects do not.
Can VectorCraft open and save .ai files?
Partly. VectorCraft imports and exports PDF-compatible .ai files and can keep legacy version 7 .ai layers, groups and type. Its README still lists reliable exchange of real .ai files as a gap, and proprietary Illustrator editing data is not written. Test a copy of the file and keep an Illustrator fallback for client handoff.
Is VectorCraft free and open source?
Yes. VectorCraft is free and dual-licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0. Source, releases and SHA256SUMS.txt are at github.com/storytold/vectorcraft. The easiest installer list is getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft. This site does not host the binaries or a WebAssembly build.
Is VectorCraft still alpha?
Yes. As of the README’s 2026-10-10 self-assessment it is alpha: about 88% of core menu items, tools, effects and formats exist, feature depth is ~75%, and it is ~65% ready for real work for a mainstream illustrator (~62% across all tracked features). It is not a safe assumption for a production-only studio without testing.
Where do I download VectorCraft safely?
Use getartcraft.com/apps/vectorcraft or GitHub releases for storytold/vectorcraft, and verify SHA256SUMS.txt. You can also install it through the ArtCraft Launcher shown on the official page (v0.13.0 when checked). vectorcraft.app is an independent third-party host, not the official ArtCraft installer. Skip “cracked Illustrator” mirrors; VectorCraft is free.
How is VectorCraft different from FigCraft and DesignCraft?
VectorCraft is for vector illustration: paths, booleans, gradients, type and print/export files. FigCraft is interface design and prototyping (the Figma-oriented seat). DesignCraft is page layout and publishing (the InDesign-oriented seat). They are separate Crafting Apps from the same team, not one app with three modes.
Independent disclaimer
Open Creative Apps is an independent guide. It is not Adobe, not the ArtCraft / storytold team, not getartcraft.com, and not vectorcraft.app. We do not host installers, cracked builds or a WebAssembly build of VectorCraft, and we do not provide product support. The crates.io/docs.rs vectorcraft crate is an unrelated project. Adobe, Illustrator and Creative Cloud are trademarks of Adobe. VectorCraft, DrawCraft and the ArtCraft marks belong to the ArtCraft Team. Product names appear for identification and comparison only. If a fact on this page is wrong, send the URL and the correction through the contact page.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from the pages below, checked on 3 November 2026.