PhotoCraft + Claude Code: easier setup

1. Open Claude Code in a folder with a copy of your photo.
Claude Code must already be installed and signed in.

2. Paste this setup request:

Set up PhotoCraft for this photo folder on my computer. Use only the official GitHub releases at https://github.com/storytold/photocraft/releases. Choose the matching portable build for my operating system and architecture that includes photocraft-cli; on macOS use the separate CLI ZIP. Download and extract it into a tools folder without admin installation. Verify its checksum against the release SHA256SUMS.txt. Connect photocraft-cli to Claude Code as a project-scoped stdio MCP server named photocraft. Pass --automation-read-root and --automation-write-root with the absolute path of this photo folder. Preserve existing MCP entries and my original photos. Check the connection. Tell me to restart Claude Code and use /mcp to confirm PhotoCraft is connected before editing.

3. Approve the setup, restart Claude Code, and check /mcp.
Approve the project-scoped MCP server if prompted. Then ask:

Use PhotoCraft to brighten this photo. Add Weekend Mode as an editable text layer. Save an editable PSD and a PNG.

Windows v0.5.0 setup tested; official download/checksum and independent MCP connection verified.
PhotoCraft software is free. Claude Code uses your plan allowance or API usage.

MANUAL ALTERNATIVE

PhotoCraft + Claude Code
Official PhotoCraft v0.5.0: https://github.com/storytold/photocraft/releases/tag/v0.5.0
Independent early project. PhotoCraft is free; Claude Code usage is billed through your plan or API account.

WINDOWS
1. Unzip the official Windows x64 portable ZIP. Find photocraft-cli.exe.
2. Put a copy of a photo in a project folder. Open PowerShell there.
3. Replace the executable path below, register MCP, and open Claude Code:

$cli = 'C:\PhotoCraft\photocraft-cli.exe'
$project = (Get-Location).Path

claude mcp add --transport stdio `
  photocraft -- "$cli" mcp `
  --automation-read-root "$project" `
  --automation-write-root "$project"

claude

MACOS / ZSH OR BASH
Download the separate macOS CLI ZIP for your architecture (not just the app DMG).
Open Terminal in your photo project folder. Replace the CLI path:

cli="/full/path/to/photocraft-cli"
project="$PWD"
claude mcp add --transport stdio photocraft -- "$cli" mcp   --automation-read-root "$project"   --automation-write-root "$project"
claude

IN CLAUDE CODE
Type /mcp and confirm photocraft is connected. Allow the editing tools for this task.
Ask:
Use PhotoCraft to brighten this photo. Add Weekend Mode as an editable text layer. Save an editable PSD and a PNG.

CHECK
Confirm PSD and PNG outputs exist. Reopen the PSD and check its Type layer.
Keep the original. These roots allow access only to your chosen project folder.
This example operates the editing engine headlessly; it does not claim a visible GUI session.

OUR REAL RUN
1800 x 1425 PSD + PNG created. PSD has Weekend Mode (Type), Shadow Lift (Adjustment), and Background (Pixel).
Reopened through PhotoCraft CLI. Original photo SHA-256 unchanged.