Workflow Guide
PhotoCraft Image Editing Workflow
PhotoCraft follows the same layer-based editing model as professional raster editors, so the workflow will feel immediately familiar to anyone who has used Photoshop or GIMP. This guide walks through a complete, real-world editing session — from import to export — using only the tools that ship with PhotoCraft today.
Open or Import Your Image
Launch PhotoCraft and open your photo via File > Open. PhotoCraft reads common formats (PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP) and, uniquely, real Adobe Photoshop PSD files with their layer structure intact. Each opened image becomes its own document tab.
Set Up Your Layers
Every edit should live on its own layer. Duplicate the background layer (Ctrl/Cmd+J) before making destructive changes, and name layers clearly so the Layers panel stays readable. Group related layers with Ctrl/Cmd+G to keep complex compositions organized.
Apply Global Adjustments
Use adjustment layers — Brightness/Contrast, Curves, Hue/Saturation, Vibrance, and Levels — to correct exposure and color globally. Adjustment layers are non-destructive: you can tweak, reorder, or remove them at any time without touching the original pixels.
Mask and Target Edits
Add a layer mask to confine an adjustment to a specific area. Paint with black on the mask to hide the effect, white to reveal it, and gray for partial strength. Masks are the key to blending exposures, dodging and burning, and creating selective color grades.
Retouch with Brushes and Selections
Use the brush tool on a dedicated retouch layer for cleanup work, and the selection tools (marquee, lasso, magic wand) to constrain edits to a region. Soft-edged selections with feathering produce natural transitions between edited and unedited areas.
Export the Final Image
When finished, flatten or keep the layered file, then choose File > Export As. For web use, export PNG or JPEG at the target resolution. For archival, save the native .psd to preserve every layer, mask, and adjustment for future edits.
Pro Tips
- •Work non-destructively: keep adjustment layers and masks instead of editing pixels directly.
- •Use keyboard shortcuts — most mirror Photoshop conventions (V for move, B for brush, M for marquee).
- •Save a .psd master file before flattening; you will thank yourself later.