Artcraft

Open source alternative to Runway and RunDiffusion

33.8K stars
Apache-2.0
Active this week
Last commit 3 days ago

Last verified Oct 20, 2026

Create AI images and videos with precise compositing, 3D scene staging, and model choice, without subscription fees or vendor lock-in.

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Artcraft feature grid with image-to-3D world, scene compositing and 3D mesh panels

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Artcraft is for#

Independent filmmakers doing AI-assisted pre-production

ArtCraft's character posing, Image to Location, and 3D compositing tools cover shot-blocking and visual development with AI generation for final renders. Multiple video model families (Kling, Veo, Seedance, Sora) give range across style and quality without switching tools.

Skip if:

Teams doing fully automated video production pipelines or needing an API for programmatic generation. ArtCraft is a manual studio tool, not a code-driven workflow.

Concept artists building visual development frames

The mixed-asset canvas, background removal, and 2D compositing tools let concept artists assemble reference scenes from photos and 3D objects, then generate a unified rendering. This fits visual development workflows where spatial accuracy matters more than generation speed.

Skip if:

Artists who only need text-to-image generation without compositing needs. A simpler generation tool will be faster for pure text-to-image workflows.

Creators moving off subscription generation services

ArtCraft directly replaces the creative workflow that Runway and RunDiffusion serve, without the subscription billing. The 62-model catalog covers the same generation types, and the compositing tools exceed what either subscription service offers natively.

Skip if:

Teams that depend on Runway's specific fine-tuning or training capabilities, which ArtCraft does not currently document as supported.

Designers prototyping branded scenes across visual identities

Character identity transfer and Image to Location let designers place consistent visual elements across multiple scene configurations. Build scenes with mixed assets and generate renderings for rapid visual iteration on branded content.

Skip if:

Teams needing integration with design tools like Figma or Adobe. ArtCraft does not currently document integration with those workflows.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Text-based AI generation tools hand artists a prompt box and a generate button. The result varies with every run, and controlling precise compositional details, such as character placement, camera angles, and depth relationships, requires dozens of iterations. For filmmakers and concept artists who need specific, repeatable shots, that iterative overhead makes AI generation frustrating at production scale.

Subscription platforms built around this model charge per render or per minute. Tools like Runway and RunDiffusion run on proprietary infrastructure, so every generation attempt costs something regardless of whether the output is usable. Artists with complex shot requirements accumulate costs without accumulating control.

how Artcraft solves it

How it solves it#

2D and 3D Image Compositing

Layer images, backdrops, foreground elements, and 3D props in scenes with real depth. ArtCraft's 3D compositing environment lets you position elements spatially so the generation model works from a staged composition rather than a prompt description alone.

Character Posing and Identity Transfer

Pose characters and set camera blocking before generating the final shot. Mannequin-based identity transfer guides character placement and pose, giving the model a specific spatial reference instead of relying on text for positional detail.

Image to 3D Mesh Conversion

Convert any image into a 3D object for precise positioning, rotation, and framing within a scene. Block complex compositions with intentional geometry instead of describing spatial relationships in prompts.

62-Model Catalog Spanning Image, Video, Audio, and 3D

ArtCraft's catalog covers 16 image models (FLUX, Seedream, GPT Image families), 25 video models (Kling, Veo, Seedance, Sora families), 5 audio models, 11 3D mesh models (Hunyuan 3D, Tripo3D, Meshy), and 5 world generation models. Additional providers include Grok, Midjourney, Sora, and World Labs.

Image to Location and Mixed Asset Scenes

Place virtual actors into physical environments and establish single-location consistency across multiple shots. The mixed-asset canvas combines image cutouts, 3D meshes, and world backgrounds so you can build a complete scene before any model runs.

Desktop App and Browser Studio

Run ArtCraft as a downloaded desktop app on macOS or Windows, or use the browser-based studio at app.getartcraft.com with no install. Both surfaces access the same model catalog and compositing tools.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Free Studio, No Usage-Based FeesArtCraft is free to download and use. The Apache-2.0 and MIT dual license means no subscription, no usage-based fees for the studio itself, and no vendor lock-in. Model API costs depend on which provider you use, but the studio adds no markup.
Apache-2.0 and MIT Dual LicenseThe source code is available on GitHub at storytold/artcraft under both Apache-2.0 and MIT, at your option. Either license permits modification, redistribution, and commercial use without restriction. The full studio source is forkable, not just a client library.
Compositing Depth Rare at Zero Studio CostMost AI generation tools are prompt-in, image-out. ArtCraft ships character posing, 3D mesh conversion, 2D and 3D compositing, background removal, and a full asset canvas before any generation model is called. That depth is rare at no subscription cost.
14,000+ Stars and Active DevelopmentThe storytold/artcraft repository had 14,562 stars and 2,299 forks at the time of this entry, with the last commit pushed on 2026-10-10. 152 open issues reflects active use and ongoing triaging rather than abandonment.

Trade-offs

-Desktop and Browser App, Not an APIArtCraft is a creative studio application, not a programmatic API. It fits manual creative workflows rather than automated pipelines. If you need to generate images or video in code, a direct model API from providers like Kling or Veo is the right tool.
-Generation Model Costs Are SeparateArtCraft is free, but the generation models are not all free. ArtCraft's own catalog requires account credits; third-party providers like Midjourney and Sora use their own billing. The studio eliminates the subscription cost on the application itself, not the generation cost.
-152 Open Issues on a Broad Feature SurfaceWith 152 open GitHub issues across compositing, generation, and multiple providers, some workflows may hit rough edges. The active commit pace suggests ongoing maintenance, but users should expect occasional instability on newer models or features.

versus alternatives

Artcraft vs alternatives#

ArtCraft vs Runway

Both ArtCraft and Runway target AI-assisted video and image creation for creative professionals. The deciding factor is the workflow model: Runway is a subscription service on proprietary infrastructure; ArtCraft is an open source studio with no subscription on the software itself.

Feature	ArtCraft	Runway
License	Apache-2.0 / MIT	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes (desktop + browser studio)	No
Compositing tools	2D/3D compositing, character posing, 3D mesh	Limited compositing
Video model families	Kling, Veo, Seedance, Sora, MiniMax, Vidu, Flux	Runway Gen-3, Gen-4
Subscription required	No (studio is free; model costs vary)	Yes
Browser access	Yes (app.getartcraft.com)	Yes

ArtCraft is the stronger choice when you need precise compositional control before generating: staging 3D scenes, posing characters, converting images to meshes, and working across multiple video model families without per-minute billing. The 62-model catalog means you are not locked to a single provider's generation quality.

Runway has an edge in fine-tuning and motion brush capabilities that ArtCraft does not currently document. If you need Runway's training features or prefer a fully managed cloud workflow, Runway remains relevant.

ArtCraft vs RunDiffusion

RunDiffusion is a cloud-based service for running Stable Diffusion and related image generation models on managed GPU infrastructure. ArtCraft covers overlapping ground for image generation, but the approaches differ significantly.

Feature	ArtCraft	RunDiffusion
License	Apache-2.0 / MIT	Proprietary (SaaS)
Local execution	Yes (desktop app)	No (cloud-only)
Video generation	Yes (25 video models)	Limited
3D generation	Yes (11 mesh models)	No
Subscription required	No (studio is free)	Yes
Browser access	Yes	Yes

ArtCraft covers more generation types than RunDiffusion: video, audio, 3D meshes, and world generation, in addition to images. RunDiffusion's strength is managed GPU infrastructure for compute-heavy Stable Diffusion workflows without local hardware. If you need a managed cloud for that specific use case, RunDiffusion stays relevant. If you want a local or browser studio with a wider model catalog and no cloud dependency, ArtCraft is the better fit.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Install the desktop app for macOS or Windows from getartcraft.com, or build from source using the setup documented in the repository.
```bash
git clone https://github.com/storytold/artcraft.git
```

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: JavaScriptRustTypeScript
Frameworks: React

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is ArtCraft free to use?

The ArtCraft studio is free to download and use. It is dual-licensed Apache-2.0 and MIT, so there is no subscription fee for the software itself. Generating content uses model credits or third-party API accounts, depending on which models you use.

What platforms does ArtCraft run on?

Desktop apps are available for macOS and Windows. Building from source on Linux is supported via the repository's development setup documentation. A browser-based studio runs at app.getartcraft.com with no install required on any platform.

How does ArtCraft compare to Runway?

ArtCraft and Runway both offer AI video and image generation, but ArtCraft adds compositing-first tools (3D staging, character posing, mesh conversion) that Runway lacks. Runway operates as a subscription service on proprietary infrastructure; ArtCraft is open source with no subscription on the studio itself. Runway may suit you better if you need its specific fine-tuning or training features.

What AI models does ArtCraft support?

ArtCraft ships a 62-model catalog spanning images (FLUX, Seedream, GPT Image families), video (Kling, Veo, Seedance, Sora, MiniMax, Vidu, Flux families), audio (Suno, Seed Audio), 3D meshes (Hunyuan 3D, Tripo3D, Meshy, Rodin), and world generation (Marble, TripoSplat). Third-party providers include Grok, Midjourney, Sora, and World Labs.

Is ArtCraft open source?

Yes. The full studio source is on GitHub at storytold/artcraft under a dual Apache-2.0 and MIT license. You can fork it, modify it, and build from source. Third-party model integrations are subject to each provider's own terms, not the ArtCraft license.

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Find open source alternatives to paid software

ArtCraft vs Runway

Feature	ArtCraft	Runway
License	Apache-2.0 / MIT	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes (desktop + browser studio)	No
Compositing tools	2D/3D compositing, character posing, 3D mesh	Limited compositing
Video model families	Kling, Veo, Seedance, Sora, MiniMax, Vidu, Flux	Runway Gen-3, Gen-4
Subscription required	No (studio is free; model costs vary)	Yes
Browser access	Yes (app.getartcraft.com)	Yes

ArtCraft vs RunDiffusion

Feature	ArtCraft	RunDiffusion
License	Apache-2.0 / MIT	Proprietary (SaaS)
Local execution	Yes (desktop app)	No (cloud-only)
Video generation	Yes (25 video models)	Limited
3D generation	Yes (11 mesh models)	No
Subscription required	No (studio is free)	Yes
Browser access	Yes	Yes

Who Artcraft is for#

Independent filmmakers doing AI-assisted pre-production

Skip if:

Concept artists building visual development frames

Skip if:

Creators moving off subscription generation services

Skip if:

Designers prototyping branded scenes across visual identities

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

2D and 3D Image Compositing

Character Posing and Identity Transfer

Image to 3D Mesh Conversion

62-Model Catalog Spanning Image, Video, Audio, and 3D

Image to Location and Mixed Asset Scenes

Desktop App and Browser Studio

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Artcraft vs alternatives#

ArtCraft vs Runway

ArtCraft vs RunDiffusion

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Similar open-source tools#

Open source tools in these categories#

Design & Creative

AI & Machine Learning

Developer Tools

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who Artcraft is for#

Independent filmmakers doing AI-assisted pre-production

Skip if:

Concept artists building visual development frames

Skip if:

Creators moving off subscription generation services

Skip if:

Designers prototyping branded scenes across visual identities

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

2D and 3D Image Compositing

Character Posing and Identity Transfer

Image to 3D Mesh Conversion

62-Model Catalog Spanning Image, Video, Audio, and 3D

Image to Location and Mixed Asset Scenes

Desktop App and Browser Studio

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Artcraft vs alternatives#

ArtCraft vs Runway

ArtCraft vs RunDiffusion

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Similar open-source tools#

Open source tools in these categories#

Design & Creative

AI & Machine Learning

Developer Tools

Find open source alternatives to paid software