Based on upstream documentation. These steps have not been independently tested in the desktop app; menu labels and behavior may differ by release.
After installation: verify the basics
- Launch without a document and check Help → About or the available version display. Record the installed version.
- Open a small PNG through File → Open. Add a layer or a small edit; save to a new filename.
- Reopen the saved copy and export a PNG. Check dimensions and appearance before using an important project.
Follow the first-project tutorial → · If the app will not start →
What to include when installation fails
Package filename, system version, CPU architecture, PhotoCraft version, and the exact error. State whether the installer failed or the installed app failed to launch; they are different stages.
Step by step
Find your system type
Open Windows Settings → System → About and read System type. An x64-based processor normally needs the x64 package; an ARM-based processor needs ARM64. Use an x86 package only for a compatible 32-bit system when the release provides one.
Choose installer or portable
The official page offers an installer and portable archives. Use the installer for normal integration. For a portable archive, extract the entire folder before starting the application; running from inside the archive can omit required files.
Handle warnings carefully
If Windows blocks launch, first confirm the file came from the official release, check its checksum when available, and read the release notes. Do not disable system protection to make an unexplained warning disappear.
Open a sample from inside the app
Use File → Open for your first file. If opening a PSD from Explorer creates a second application instance, try opening it from inside the already running app and record the behavior and version for a report.
Sources and further reading
PhotoCraft is in early alpha. Keep original files and test a copy before relying on it for important work.
Suggest a correction →