VectorCraft
storytold · Design
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What is VectorCraft?
Draw with anchors and curves, organize an illustration across artboards, then revise fills, strokes and effects without rebuilding the artwork. VectorCraft also exposes its document model and editing commands to an MCP client for supervised, repeatable design tasks.
VectorCraft is an open-source Rust illustration app from ArtCraft for paths, shapes, artboards, typography and editable effects. It supports SVG/PDF interchange and raster export on desktop and in the browser. It remains in active development, with gaps in advanced features, interaction fidelity and real-world file validation.
Core capabilities
- Path drawing, shape operations and multiple artboards
- Editable blends, repeats, gradients and appearance effects
- SVG and PDF interchange with CLI and MCP automation
Build an illustration from editable geometry
Pen and direct-selection tools expose the anchors and handles behind a shape. Shape operations combine or subtract outlines; artboards, guides and layers organize the composition. Appearance controls add fills, strokes and effects, while blends, repeats and envelope distortions offer ways to develop variations. This makes VectorCraft worth evaluating for icons, posters and other path-based artwork, without treating the available tool names as proof of complete Illustrator parity.
- Vector illustration
- Paths
- Artboards
Exchange artwork and automate selected steps
A documented JSON-based native format sits alongside SVG and PDF interchange and raster exports. Support for .ai files concerns their PDF-compatible representation, not every private Illustrator document feature. The MCP server can work with the desktop app or a headless engine, exposing drawing, inspection and export operations. Headless mode omits UI-only tools; the agent still needs a compatible client and an explicit task, rather than an assumption that the application designs autonomously.
- SVG and PDF
- MCP
- Editable documents
Check the edges before switching a workflow
VectorCraft is still in development. The maintainers list 3D and materials, many raster effects, advanced typography and interaction fidelity among the remaining gaps. Their compatibility estimates are self-assessments, and broader testing with real files and across platforms is still needed. Native .ai private data is outside the stated scope; missing fonts and import differences can affect output. Try representative files, review export warnings and keep the original artwork available.
- In development
- File compatibility
- Platform testing
Where it fits
Use cases
- 01
Develop icons and illustrations
Construct artwork with the Pen tool, direct selection and shape operations, then refine colors and strokes while retaining editable paths.
- 02
Prepare artwork for different outputs
Organize related designs on artboards and export SVG, PDF or raster versions. Review fonts, effects and imported content in the destination application.
- 03
Experiment with agent-assisted drawing
Connect an MCP client to create or recolor objects, inspect the document and export variants. Use a live app session when the task needs interface interaction.