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Adobe Rival? How Good Is the AI Clone PhotoCraft? | c't uplink

Software1 min read

ArtCraft is a set of free, AI-written copies of popular design and office apps, such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. A c't podcast host tested them and found them impressive, but not yet ready for real work.

What happened

In early October 2026, ArtCraft released clones of Photoshop, Lightroom and other Adobe creative programs. Soon after, it added copies of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and other software. The c't tech magazine's editor André Kramer tested the Photoshop and Lightroom clones and talked about them on the c't uplink podcast.

Key facts

  • ArtCraft offers 13 free programs in total.
  • The clones were released in early October 2026.
  • The copies include Photoshop, Lightroom, Word and PowerPoint.

What is vibe coding?

Vibe coding means building software by describing what you want to an AI, which then writes the code. ArtCraft's programs were made this way. This is why the project is called a vibe-coding project.

Why it matters

The project shows how fast AI can copy complex software. Kramer said the menus, panels and tool icons are all there, but it is not yet clear whether they really work. He called ArtCraft a very interesting concept study, but said it should be judged differently as a tool for real work.

What to watch

  • Whether the tools in ArtCraft start to work fully, not just look right.
  • How Adobe and Microsoft respond to these copies.
  • Whether ArtCraft becomes a serious alternative for everyday users.

Glossary

ArtCraft
A project that offers free, AI-written copies of popular design and office programs.
Photoshop
Adobe's program for editing photos and images.
Lightroom
Adobe's program for organizing and editing photos.

Same story, different eyes

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