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Bottom line: Scumble treats AI inpainting like normal photo editing: select an area, describe what belongs there, and get the result back as its own editable layer. It’s free, open source and bring-your-own-model. It’s also very new. If you retouch images and want layers without a subscription, try it. If you need a polished, Mac-ready tool today, stay with Photoshop.
What Is Scumble?
Scumble is a free, open-source desktop editor built around AI inpainting. You open a picture, select part of it, write a prompt, and the generated result lands as a separate layer, colour-matched to its surroundings. You can then blend it, erase parts of it, regenerate it, or stack filter and text layers on top.
It was created by a developer known as Eiw (Dennis), who also made the Inpaint Canvas node for ComfyUI. Scumble keeps that fast select-prompt-generate loop but puts it in a standalone window. The project is licensed under GPL-3.0 and, according to its own documentation, is still at version 0.1.x.
It launched in early October 2026 and appeared on Product Hunt shortly after. It doesn’t ship its own image model. Instead it runs on your own ComfyUI setup or on API keys for models like Google’s Nano Banana, OpenAI’s GPT Image and Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.
Key Features
Based on the project’s documentation, these are the six features that matter most:
Flagship
Select, Prompt, Generate
Select with a brush, rectangle, lasso, magic wand, object hover or a text description. Write a prompt and the result comes back as its own colour-matched layer.
Bring Your Own Models
Use Nano Banana, GPT Image, FLUX.2, FLUX 3 Image, Seedream, Qwen Image Edit or Ideogram, directly or through providers like fal.ai, Replicate and OpenRouter.
Real Layers and PSD Export
Export PNG, JPEG and WebP, or layered PSD and ORA files that keep masks and selections. Edits stay editable instead of flattening.
Built-In Assistant
A chat panel runs on your own key (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint) and drives the editor step by step. Paid or destructive steps wait for your approval.
New 2026
MCP Server for Agents
A built-in MCP server exposes 90+ editor commands so Claude Code, Claude Desktop or any MCP client can drive Scumble. It also has headless and command-line modes for scripts.
EU AI Label Panel
An AI label panel can write the EU AI label into exported files, which is useful if you publish AI-edited images in Europe.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Free and open source (GPL-3.0), no account needed
- Every edit is its own editable layer
- Works with many models through your own keys
- Layered PSD and ORA export
- MCP server and scripting for agent workflows
- Costs stay under your control
❌ Cons
- Very early: version 0.1.x, so expect rough edges
- No macOS version yet
- Linux builds are early CI builds the author hasn’t run
- Windows installer isn’t code-signed, so SmartScreen warns once
- You pay a model provider per generation
- I haven’t tested it hands-on yet
Pricing and Real Costs
The software itself is free under GPL-3.0, with no subscription or account of its own. What you actually spend depends on how you generate. If you want a wider view of what’s free in AI right now, see our guide to the best free AI tools of 2026.
| Option | Price | What You Pay For | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scumble appFree | $0 | The editor, layers, PSD export and MCP server. Open source under GPL-3.0. | Everyone |
| Hosted models | Per generation | Your own API key with Google, OpenAI, Black Forest Labs, fal.ai, Replicate or OpenRouter. Billed by the provider. | Quick start, no GPU |
| Your own ComfyUI | Your hardware | Local or remote ComfyUI. Costs are your GPU and electricity. | Privacy and heavy use |
| Assistant chat | Per token | The built-in assistant uses your own LLM key. It asks before paid steps. | Agent-driven editing |
Scumble vs Photoshop vs Inpaint Canvas
Two comparisons matter: the Adobe tool most people already know, and the ComfyUI node Scumble grew out of. For another AI design tool with a canvas, see our Krea AI review:
| Feature | Scumble | Photoshop Generative Fill | Inpaint Canvas (ComfyUI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free app + your model costs | Credits; Creative Cloud Pro has unlimited standard generations | Runs inside ComfyUI |
| Own editable layer per edit | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ~ Within a ComfyUI workflow |
| Choose your own AI model | ✓ Many, via your keys | ~ Firefly, plus partner models on select plans | ✓ Via ComfyUI |
| Needs ComfyUI | ✗ Optional | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Agent / MCP control | ✓ 90+ commands | ~ Not documented | ~ Not documented |
| Platforms | ~ Windows, Linux (no macOS) | ✓ Windows and macOS | ~ Wherever ComfyUI runs |
Photoshop is the mature choice: it’s polished, widely supported and tied into a full Adobe workflow, though advanced features depend on your plan and credits. Scumble is for people who want the same layered, select-and-replace workflow without a subscription and with a choice of models. Inpaint Canvas is the same author’s earlier project and suits people already living in ComfyUI. Pricing and plans change often, so verify on each product’s own page.
Performance Ratings
These scores are provisional and based on documentation and coverage, not hands-on testing.
Who Should Use Scumble?
✅ Great fit
Retouchers, product photographers and AI image tinkerers on Windows who want layered AI edits without a subscription. Developers and agent users also fit, because the MCP server lets Claude Code or Claude Desktop drive the editor. If you already work with coding agents, our Cursor AI review covers a similar agent-driven workflow.
⚠️ Think carefully
Mac users can’t run it yet. Anyone who needs rock-solid reliability for client work should wait for a more mature version than 0.1.x. And if you don’t want to manage API keys or a ComfyUI install, a subscription tool will feel simpler. Also remember that with hosted models, your image data goes to the provider you choose, so check their data terms.
Final Verdict: Scumble Review 2026
/ 5 (provisional)
Scumble gets the important design decision right: AI edits come back as normal, editable layers instead of a flattened image you have to regenerate. Add free software, a wide choice of models and an MCP server, and it’s one of the more interesting open-source image tools to launch this year.
The catch is maturity. It’s version 0.1.x, it has no macOS build yet, and the Linux and Windows installers still have rough edges. My score will move once I’ve used it hands-on.
Recommendation: If you’re on Windows and edit images regularly, install Scumble and try it on a low-stakes project with your own API key. If you need Mac support or production-grade polish today, stay with Photoshop and revisit Scumble in a few releases.
Frequently Asked Questions