DesignCraft is not Adobe InDesign. Independent open-source Crafting App from the ArtCraft / storytold team. This page is a third-party guide — not the official site. designcraft.live is third-party / community hosting, not ArtCraft official.
DesignCraft: Open-Source Page Layout (InDesign Seat)
TL;DR: DesignCraft is ArtCraft's page-layout Crafting App — spreads, threaded text, styles, print PDF, and agent/MCP hooks in pure Rust. Prefer IDML for interchange; do not count on perfect .indd compatibility. Downloads only from getartcraft.com/apps/designcraft, GitHub storytold/designcraft, or ArtCraft Launcher.
Official DesignCraft pageGitHub storytold/designcraftInstall via ArtCraft Launcher
Last updated: · Outbound download links only to getartcraft.com and github.com/storytold.
File interchange honesty
- IDML — official README lists IDML import and export for moving layouts between tools. Prefer this path when you can.
- .indd — INDD import exists via storytold/indd-utils, but it is not a promise of perfect InDesign parity. Self-test; keep InDesign for client .indd delivery until you verify.
- designcraft.live — third-party / community browser host. Not ArtCraft official downloads.
What DesignCraft is
DesignCraft is one of the ArtCraft Crafting Apps: an open-source desktop publishing and page layout studio rebuilt in pure Rust. Official materials highlight familiar layout tools (spreads, parent pages, threaded stories, styles, swatches, text wrap), a Knuth–Plass paragraph composer, print-ready PDF (including PDF/A paths), open formats, and agent-native JSON / MCP control — with native macOS / Windows / Linux builds plus a WebAssembly option. Roadmap language is pre-alpha; verify before production books.
| Topic | Fact (sourced) |
|---|---|
| Official page | getartcraft.com/apps/designcraft |
| Source code | github.com/storytold/designcraft |
| Checked build | 0.6.0 on the official page (early / pre-alpha) |
| Interchange | IDML import/export; .indd import best-effort — not guaranteed |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, Web (WASM) |
DesignCraft vs InDesign (short)
| Dimension | DesignCraft | Adobe InDesign |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | ArtCraft / storytold (open source) | Adobe Inc. |
| Cost | Free app | Subscription (Adobe InDesign) |
| .indd / interchange | Prefer IDML; .indd not guaranteed | Native .indd; deep Adobe ecosystem |
| Maturity | Early / pre-alpha | Mature commercial DTP |
Safe download (official only)
- Easiest: getartcraft.com/apps/designcraft
- Every build: GitHub DesignCraft releases
- Suite installer: ArtCraft Launcher v0.5.1 (guide)
Skip unofficial mirrors and treat designcraft.live as community hosting, not the vendor channel. Broader checklist: How to download Crafting Apps safely.
Related
- ArtCraft overview
- ArtCraft Launcher
- PdfCraft — PDF workbench sibling
- ArtCraft vs Adobe
- FigCraft — UI design sibling
DesignCraft FAQ
Is DesignCraft Adobe InDesign?
No. DesignCraft is ArtCraft’s open-source page layout and publishing Crafting App. Pre-alpha / early. Not Adobe InDesign. This site is not affiliated with Adobe or the ArtCraft team.
Can DesignCraft open .indd perfectly?
Do not expect perfect native .indd round-trips. Official materials emphasize IDML import/export for interchange; .indd import (via indd-utils) is best-effort and not guaranteed. Verify on your own files.
Is designcraft.live the official site?
No. designcraft.live is a third-party / community browser host. Prefer getartcraft.com/apps/designcraft and GitHub storytold/designcraft for official downloads.
Where do I download DesignCraft safely?
getartcraft.com/apps/designcraft, GitHub storytold/designcraft releases, or ArtCraft Launcher. Skip random mirrors.
What does DesignCraft cover?
Official materials describe spreads and parent pages, threaded stories, styles, swatches, text wrap, Knuth–Plass composition, print-ready PDF, IDML interchange, and agent/MCP control — local-first, no subscription for the app itself.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from the pages below, checked on 28 October 2026.