# DesignCraft roadmap DesignCraft aims at full Adobe InDesign parity — and to be better: faster, open (documented JSON format + IDML), scriptable by agents (MCP), and available on the web. ## Status (2026-10-01) **Working today** - Document model: facing/non-facing spreads, parent pages with page-number markers, sections, layers, frames (text / graphic / unassigned), threaded stories, paragraph/character/object styles with based-on, swatches (process/spot/tints/gradients), corner options, text wrap, drop shadow, opacity/blend. - Text engine: Knuth–Plass paragraph composer and single-line composer, dictionary hyphenation (public-domain Moby list + our own trained Liang patterns), justification with word/letter/glyph-scaling ranges, keep options (keep with next, keep lines together, widows/orphans), balance ragged lines, optical margin alignment, hyphenation zone/limit, columns, threading across frames and spreads, tabs, bullets/numbering, rules, shading, baseline grid, first-baseline options, vertical justification, wrap exclusions, overset detection, caret/hit testing. - Rendering: vello_cpu (SIMD, multithreaded) — pages, items, images with mip levels, gradients, composed text. - UI (egui): application bar + menus, Control panel (object and text modes), Tools panel with flyouts, document tabs, rulers, pasteboard, guides (margins, columns, bleed, baseline grid), frame edges, selection handles, text ports and threads, Properties / Pages / Layers dock, Swatches, Styles, Character, Paragraph, Stroke, Text Wrap panels, New Document and Preferences dialogs, Quick Apply (⌘Return), 4 brightness themes. - Pen tool, Direct Selection anchor/handle editing, rotate from corners, Rotate/Scale/Shear tools, Eyedropper, snapping & smart guides, Align/Distribute, Find/Change (text + GREP), Story Editor, Paragraph Style Options, Effects panel, hidden characters, native macOS menu bar, measured InDesign 2026 look (Medium Dark): Properties sections per selection state, 21 pt spinner fields with arithmetic, Contextual Task Bar, inverse (black) text selection, Pages panel with drag-and-drop reorder / parent apply, Layers panel with per-object rows. - Tools: Selection (click, marquee, move, Alt-duplicate, resize handles), Direct Selection, Type (draw frame, click caret, select, type), Rectangle/Ellipse/Polygon (+ frame variants), Line, Hand, Zoom. - PDF export (krilla): real selectable text with embedded font subsets, DeviceCMYK/RGB + spot Separations, bleed boxes, crop/bleed marks + page info, pages or spreads, PDF/A-2b (PDF/X-4 output intent pending) — `file.exportPdf`, File › Export PDF…, `designcraft-cli run --export out.pdf`. - IDML interchange (`designcraft-idml`): export and import of swatches, styles, fonts, preferences, parent spreads, spreads/pages, frames, groups, images (embedded or linked), formatted threaded stories — opens in InDesign 2026 and round-trips InDesign-exported files (`file.exportIdml`, `file.openIdml`, File → Export IDML…, CLI `--in x.idml` / `--export x.idml`). - Tables (M8): tables anchored in stories (header/footer/body rows, merged cells, per-edge strokes, fills + alternating fills, insets, vertical justification, at-least/exact row heights); composed into the text column (columns scale to fit, rows break across columns/frames with repeating headers/footers, overset); rendered, exported to PDF (real text) and IDML (export + import); Table menu, Table panel, Create Table dialog, caret/typing/Tab navigation and cell selection in cells; `table.*` commands. - Hyperlinks (text or frames → URL / e-mail / page) and bookmarks, exported as PDF link annotations and outline. - EPUB 3 (reflowable) export: stories in reading order, CSS from paragraph/character styles, images, navigation (`file.exportEpub`, CLI `--export x.epub`). - Data Merge (CSV or JSON rows, `<>` placeholders), spell checking (public-domain Moby list + document dictionary, suggestions), Step and Repeat (count or grid), snippets, object styles, Numbering & Section Options. - Footnotes: Type › Insert Footnote (caret moves into the note), Document Footnote Options (numbering style incl. symbols, start/restart per page/spread/section, prefix/suffix, reference position/character style, paragraph style, separator, spacing, first baseline, rule above); notes composed at the bottom of the referencing column with the body text making room; edited in place on the canvas; rendered, exported to PDF (real text) and IDML (InDesign's structure, verified opening in InDesign 2026) and imported from IDML; `footnote.*` commands. - Cross-references and text anchors: Insert Cross-Reference (paragraph by style, or text anchor), 11 formats with InDesign's building blocks (full/partial paragraph, paragraph text/number, page number, anchor name, chapter, file name) plus user formats; resolved live at composition — never out of date, no Update step; unresolved destinations show `??`; PDF link annotations to the destination page; IDML export/import as InDesign cross-reference sources, hyperlinks, text destinations and formats (verified in InDesign 2026); `xref.*` / `anchor.*` commands. - Index: page references (topic from the selection or up to 4 levels, sort keys; current page, to end of story, next n paragraphs, suppressed, See / See also), Generate / Update Index (section headings, nested or run-in, page ranges merged, Index Title / Section Head / Level 1–4 styles); IDML export/import as InDesign topics, page references and topic cross-references (verified in InDesign 2026); `index.*` commands. - Text clipboard keeps formatting (character/paragraph formats, footnotes, cross-references, index markers, tables) and falls back to plain text when the system clipboard changed; Paste without Formatting (⇧⌘V); Change Case (UPPERCASE, lowercase, Title Case, Sentence case — formatting kept); Type › Insert Special Character / White Space / Break Character submenus. - Anchored objects: items flow in the text inline (on the baseline, with Y offset; lines grow to fit) or above the line (left/center/right, space before/after); paste copied items into text to anchor them; Anchored Object Options and Release (back onto the page where shown); rendered, exported to PDF and to/from IDML (InDesign anchored object settings; verified in InDesign 2026); copy/paste and threading carry them; `anchored.*` commands. - Ruler guides: drag out of the rulers (page guides, or spread guides on the pasteboard), drag to move, drop on a ruler to delete; Layout › Create Guides (rows/columns with gutters, fit to margins or page); Delete All Guides on Spread; `guide.*` commands. - Links panel: every placed graphic with status (OK / Modified / Missing / Embedded, checked against the file on disk), page and effective PPI (low resolution flagged); Relink…, Go To, Update, Embed; `links.*` commands. - Missing fonts: highlighted pink on screen (never in output), listed by Preflight; Type › Find/Replace Font (fonts in the document, missing first; replace in text, cells, footnotes and styles); `font.list` / `font.replace`. - Damage-region repaint: after an edit the canvas re-renders only the frames whose composed text (or the items that) changed and patches its texture — pixel-identical to a full render; typing in a frame repaints in under a millisecond instead of a full-viewport render (22 ms measured on the sample). - Crash recovery: unsaved documents are written to the recovery folder every 30 s and reopened (unsaved, remembering their files) after a crash; File › Revert and Save a Copy…; `file.recovery.*`, `file.revert`, `file.saveACopy`. - Edit › Paste Into (copied objects become a frame's content, clipped by it; rendered, PDF and IDML both ways — verified in InDesign 2026); Polygon Settings (sides, star inset; double-click the Polygon tool). - Color panel (fill/stroke proxy, CMYK/RGB/Lab sliders with channel ramps, tint slider for swatches, spectrum ramp, Add to Swatches) and Color Picker (double-click the proxy); mixed colours are unnamed (not listed in Swatches until added); `object.color`, `swatch.addToSwatches`, `swatch.addUnnamed`. - Place text files: Word (.docx: styles by name with their attributes, bold/italic/underline/size/font, footnotes, tables, tabs, breaks), RTF and plain text, into the insertion point, the selected frame or a new frame; autoflow adds pages and threaded frames until the text fits; Remove Styles option (`designcraft-textimport`). - Gradient Feather (⇧G tool, `object.gradientFeather`): objects fade along a linear or radial opacity gradient, on screen and as a soft mask in PDF. - Script Label (`object.label`, `object.findByLabel`), alt text (`object.altText`), Isolate Blending / Knockout Group (`object.transparencyGroup`; on screen, PDF isolates), Table ▸ Sort (`table.sortRows`, numeric-aware, header/footer fixed). - File ▸ Export Text (`file.exportText`): a story as Text Only or RTF (fonts, styles, alignment, indents, tables as tab-separated rows); Export EPUB now asks for a path in the UI. - Tagged PDF (`file.exportPdf {tagged}`, on by default from the UI): structure tree with stories as paragraphs in reading order, figures carrying their alt text, parent-page items and printer's marks as artifacts. - Global Light (`object.globalLight`, `globalLight` on drop/inner shadows; Use Global Light in the Effects panel) and Generate Static Caption (`object.caption`: template over name, path, alt text, label, effective ppi, dimensions, format; any side, offset, style). - Control panel scale X/Y, rotation and shear fields (`transform.info`, absolute `transform.set {scaleX, scaleY, rotation, shear}` about the reference point) and Preferences › Transformations are Totals for nested objects and placed graphics. - Variable fonts: each named instance is a style (Font menu, shaping with feature variations, metrics, outlines) and embeds at its axis settings in PDF; free axis sliders still to come. - Object ▸ Select (first/next above, next/last below, container, content, previous/next in group), full Object ▸ Convert Shape (`object.convertShape`), Table ▸ Split Cell Horizontally/Vertically. - Attributes panel (`object.attributes`: Overprint Fill/Stroke/Gap, Nonprinting), with Overprint Gap in Overprint Preview and IDML. - Page Numbering View (Preferences: section or absolute): page labels everywhere follow it; Go to Page takes section names, numbers or `+n`. - Preferences › Advanced Type (document `advancedType`: superscript/subscript size and position; IDML TextPreference); subscripts now drop 33.3% like InDesign. - Preferences › Composition › Highlight: keep violations, H&J violations (three shades), custom tracking/kerning, substituted fonts. - File ▸ Export HTML (`file.exportHtml`): one self-contained page in reading order, styles as CSS, images inline, alt text from Object Export Options (also in EPUB). - Swatches panel colour groups (`swatch.newColorGroup`, `moveToGroup`, `ungroupColorGroup`, `renameColorGroup`; folders and a row context menu; IDML ColorGroup). - Object ▸ Generate QR Code (`object.qrCode`: web link, text, SMS, email, business card; vector modules as a compound path, into a frame or re-encoded in place). - Conditional text (`condition.new/options/delete/apply/list`, Conditional Text panel): hidden conditions drop their text from layout and exports, indicators underline on screen, IDML Condition/AppliedConditions. - Endnotes (`endnote.insert/edit/delete/list/options`, Type ▸ Insert Endnote): references number through the document, the endnote frame on a new last page lists them under a heading; IDML keeps the listed text only. - Editorial notes (`note.new/edit/delete/convertToText/list`, Notes panel): anchored in text, flagged on screen, never printed or exported. - File ▸ Print Booklet (`file.printBooklet`): saddle-stitch or 2-up consecutive printer spreads as PDF, padded with blanks, with a gap between pages. - Edit ▸ Transparency Blend Space (`edit.transparencyBlendSpace`; RGB for web/mobile documents; IDML TransparencyPreference) — exported PDFs give pages with transparency a DeviceCMYK or DeviceRGB page group, so viewers and RIPs blend in that space; on-screen compositing is still RGB. - High Contrast interface theme (fifth Interface Color Theme: black chrome, white text, yellow selection). - Place Excel workbooks (.xlsx): the first worksheet's used range becomes a table (shared/inline strings, numbers, booleans). - Object Library (`library.new/open/add/place/remove/list/json/close`, Library panel): `.dclib` files of snippets that keep stories, styles, swatches and images. - Ink Manager (`ink.list`, `ink.options`; Swatches panel menu): All Spots to Process, per-ink conversion and ink aliases in PDF output; IDML ConvertToProcess/AliasInkName. - Appearance of Black complete: Printing/Exporting rich black for RGB output (PNG), Overprint [Black] Swatch at 100% (document, IDML OverprintBlack). - Hyperlinks and Bookmarks panels (Window ▸ Interactive): new from the selection, edit (`hyperlink.edit`), go to source (`hyperlink.goToSource`), rename bookmarks (`bookmark.rename`), go to page, delete. - Nested line styles (`nestedLineStyles` paragraph attribute, Paragraph Style Options › Drop Caps and Nested Styles, IDML AllNestedLineStyles): the first lines restyle until the line breaks settle. - User dictionary hyphenation exceptions (`hyphenation.addException/removeException/list`, Edit ▸ Spelling ▸ User Dictionary): `ex~am~ple` breaks only at `~`, a plain word never hyphenates. - Frame Fitting Options (`object.fittingOptions`, Object ▸ Fitting ▸ Frame Fitting Options…): Auto-Fit refits on resize, fitting, Align From reference point, crop amounts; IDML FrameFittingOption. - Paragraph borders (per-side weights, colour, tint, offsets) and shading offsets, drawn per column part of split paragraphs (also when overset); Paragraph panel controls; IDML ParagraphBorder*/ParagraphShading*Offset. - Font menu: search, favourites (stars, Show Favorites Only; `favoriteFonts` preference) and each family previewed in its own face. - Application preferences (engine `Prefs`) now persist across launches (desktop: prefs.json beside ui.json). - View ▸ Fit Selection in Window (⌥⌘=) and Find/Change ▸ Object (`find.objects`, `find.changeObjects`: by fill, stroke, weight, opacity, kind, layer, label). - Custom workspaces (`window.newWorkspace/deleteWorkspace/resetWorkspace`; workspace switcher shows the current one): bars and panel arrangement saved by name. - Word/RTF Import Options (File ▸ Place with Import Options…, `place.styles`, `file.place {styleMap, styleConflicts}`): map imported styles onto the document's, use existing / redefine / auto-rename on conflicts, or remove formatting. - Custom anchored objects (`anchored.insert/options {position: custom}`): placed relative to the anchor, frame, column, page margins or page edge with reference points and offsets, no space in the text, keep within column; IDML Anchored position. - Variable font axes: Character panel sliders; any axis values (`fontStyle: "Bold {wght:650}"`) make that instance for layout, screen and PDF. - Image Import Options › Crop to for placed PDFs (`file.place {pdfCrop: crop|trim|bleed|art|media}`, Place PDF dialog): the frame shows that page box. - Stroke styles: striped (thick-thin… and custom bands), wavy and straight-hash strokes now draw on screen and in PDF; named custom stripe/dash/dot styles (`strokeStyle.new/delete/list`, Stroke panel Type list; IDML Striped/Dashed/DottedStrokeStyle). - Object ▸ Primary Text Frame (`object.primaryTextFrame`): any text frame's story can become (or stop being) the primary story Smart Text Reflow follows. - Place a page of an IDML or DesignCraft document (`file.place {layoutPage}`): its objects, stories, styles and swatches as one group (INDD files are not readable). - Articles panel (`article.new/add/remove/options/delete/list`): reading order and content of EPUB and HTML exports. - Object ▸ Clipping Path (`object.clippingPath {type: alpha|edges, threshold, tolerance}`): traces the placed image and makes the outline the frame. - Gridify: arrow keys while dragging a frame or shape tool add columns/rows (`frame.grid`), one undo step. - Gap tool (U, `gap.move`): drag the space between objects (or an object and the page edge) and both sides resize. - XML basics (`xml.newTag/deleteTag/tag/mapStyle/structure`, `file.exportXml`, `file.importXml`; Tags panel with structure; View ▸ Show Tagged Frames): tagged frames export in reading order, mapped paragraph styles become elements, imported elements flow into frames with matching tags. Inline text tagging and DTDs aren't there yet. - Adjust Layout / Layout Adjustment (`adjustLayout` on Document Setup and Margins and Columns): objects follow each page's margin box to its new size and position. - Content Collector and Placer tools (B; `conveyor.collect/place/list/clear`): copies of objects (with stories, styles, images) ride a conveyor between pages and documents; Alt-click keeps them on it. - Linked stories (Edit ▸ Place and Link, `story.placeAndLink/links/updateLink/unlink`): child stories copy a parent, show out of date in the Links panel and update. - Edit ▸ Menus (`window.hideMenuItem`): hide menu items; menus with hidden items end in Show All Menu Items. - View ▸ Separations Preview (`view.separations`): one process plate as ink density, or areas over an ink limit in red (a GCR preview of the rendered view; spot plates and the flattener preview aren't there). - Books (`book.new/open/add/remove/list/styleSource/paginate/syncStyles/exportPdf`, Book panel): `.dcbook` files, continuous page numbering, style sync from a style source, one merged PDF. - Track Changes (`changes.track/list/acceptAll/rejectAll`, Type ▸ Track Changes): typing is marked added (highlighted on screen), deletions are kept but hidden from layout and exports until accepted or rejected. Per-change accept/reject and authors aren't there yet. - Move table rows and columns (`table.moveRow`, `table.moveColumn`, Table panel buttons; dragging on the canvas isn't there yet). - Object States (`states.create/show/rename/release/list`, Object States panel): multi-state objects show one state on screen and in PDF. - Buttons (`button.set/clear/list`, Buttons and Forms panel): go to page / next / previous / first / last / URL as PDF link annotations. Form fields need AcroForm support the PDF writer lacks. - Power Zoom (Hand tool, Alt-press): zoom out to the spread, aim the red view rectangle, release to zoom back in there. InDesign triggers it by press-and-hold instead. - Graphic cells (`table.placeGraphic`, `table.textCell`, Table › Convert Cell Type, Table panel): images in table cells, fitted or filled, clipped to the cell on screen and in PDF. - Live Distribute (Space while dragging a selection handle; `transform.resize {distribute}`): objects keep their size and spread with the bounds. - Liquid Layout (`liquid.pageRule/object`, `guide.liquid`, `layout.createAlternate`, Liquid Layout panel): scale / re-center / guide-based / object-based page rules applied on page resize and Document Setup; dashed liquid guides; alternate layouts as resized page copies in a named section. Alternate layouts aren't linked to their source. - Split Window / New Window (`window.split`, `window.newWindow`, Window ▸ Arrange): two side-by-side views of the document with their own zoom, scroll and render cache. New Window opens that second view rather than a separate OS window. - Transparency flattener (`file.exportPdf {flatten: high|medium|low|ppi}`, Edit ▸ Transparency Flattener Presets): spreads with transparency are rasterised per page in the exported PDF. It doesn't yet keep text and vectors outside transparent areas. - Video and sound (place .mp4/.mov/.webm/.mp3/.wav…, `media.options/get`, Media panel): media frames show a poster or placeholder on screen, in print and in PDF, and export as HTML5 `