FAQ

Is PhotoFresco really free?

Yes — the entire editor: layers, masks, brushes, filters, layer styles, PSD open and save, exporting. It's not a trial and there's no feature wall that appears later. The free editor is funded by a single, unobtrusive ad rail. Two things cost money, both optional: AI generation (pay-per-use credits, because it runs on server GPUs) and going ad-free (a monthly subscription that removes ads and adds cloud drive). See AI generation & credits.

Do my files get uploaded anywhere?

Editing runs on your device. Session recording runs on each editor page: it sends editing events, typed text, file names and copies of opened images to PhotoFresco so we can improve the editor. AI tools send prompts and reference or layer pixels when you use them, and cloud drive sends complete editable documents when you save there (including linked-document autosync). Read Privacy for destinations and storage.

Does it work offline?

Yes — once the editor has loaded, it works without a connection: it's an installable web app (PWA) that caches itself. Local files, brushes, filters and PSD save/export all work offline; only AI generation and cloud features need the network. You can install it from your browser's "Install app" menu for a dock icon and a standalone window — which also unlocks the classic ⌘T / Ctrl+T Free Transform chord.

Do I need an account?

Not for editing. Opening, editing, saving and exporting never ask you to sign in. An account exists for exactly one reason: holding AI credits (and your ad-free plan if you buy one) — so you'll only meet the sign-in screen if you use AI.

Can it open my Photoshop files?

Yes — layered PSD in, layered PSD out, with layers, groups, masks, adjustment layers, smart objects and layer styles preserved. A few things are simplified on export (text and shape layers are rasterized, for instance) — the honest list lives in PSD import & export.

Can an AI agent edit my images?

Yes. Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI and other MCP clients can connect to a PhotoFresco window on your computer through the open-source PhotoFresco connector. Each connection needs your Allow after you check a matching connection code. The agent starts with no permissions, and you choose whether it may read, edit, export, send data to PhotoFresco services or spend credits up to a budget. Your own edits pause it, and Stop ends it. The window it opens starts with session recording off. See Use PhotoFresco with AI agents.

Why won't a file open?

PhotoFresco refuses files that are larger than its limits or damaged, and the message names the reason. The limits include 30,000 px per side, an 8192 × 8192 canvas, 2,000 PSD layers, and 256 MiB per image file or 1 GiB per PSD. It also refuses formats it can't read, such as TIFF. See Opening files & limits.

Is there autosave or crash recovery?

Yes. While you edit, PhotoFresco keeps a local crash-recovery copy in private browser storage on your own device; cloud-linked documents sync separately. After a crash or interrupted session, the next visit restores the document automatically (a notice with a Discard option confirms it), but not its undo history. Restored work is still unsaved, so use ⌘S / Ctrl+S for a PSD or File ▸ Save to My Documents for a durable local copy. See Autosave & recovery for timing, what is restored, limits, and cloud-sync behavior.

How much undo history do I get?

The last 64 history states, visible in the History panel. Purge them via Edit ▸ Purge if memory gets tight on a huge document.

What do I need to run it?

A modern desktop browser. Rendering is GPU-accelerated through WebGL2 where available, with a CPU fallback that produces identical output — Help ▸ GPU Compatibility in the editor shows what your machine is using.

Why is the Free Transform shortcut different?

Because ⌘T / Ctrl+T opens a new browser tab — the browser gets that key before we do. Use ⇧T (Shift+T) instead. Full details: Keyboard shortcuts.

How do I remove the ads?

Go ad-free in the editor with the subscription — $8/month, removes ads and adds the cloud drive. It auto-renews until you cancel; cancel anytime from your account panel and it stays active through the period you already paid for. No retention tricks — it's one button.

Your files are never held hostage: if the plan ends, cloud documents stay read-only and downloadable, and local editing is unaffected.

How do I report a bug or request a feature?

The megaphone icon in the top-right of the editor opens the feedback board — post there, vote on others' requests, and check the What's New tab for what shipped. We read it.

How do I get in touch?

Write [email protected]. The contact page has the same address. For product bugs and feature requests, the in-app feedback board is faster.