Sable
by Sable
What Sable is
Sable is a free, MIT-licensed raster image editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its GPU-only canvas supports non-destructive editing through layers for pixels, shapes, text, vector paths, and groups, alongside adjustment and live-filter layers, masks, and effects. Editing tools include brushes, cloning, healing, liquify, mesh warp, selections, transforms, vector drawing, and text-on-path. Local AI features provide smart selection, background removal, upscaling, and object removal or inpainting through a built-in model manager. Optional Generative Fill and image generation use a locally managed ComfyUI runtime; nothing is installed until enabled in Preferences. ComfyUI API-format workflows can be imported, and existing installations can be reused with referenced checkpoints and LoRAs. Sable saves layers and history in .sable files and supports PNG import and export. AI runs locally without cloud access, while the base app remains offline unless generative features are enabled.
Who it suits
Sable suits desktop image editors who want layered, non-destructive work and local AI tools. It requires a GPU supporting DX12, Vulkan, or Metal, and users should consider that development is paused and the repository is archived.
What it does well
- Free MIT-licensed editor
- Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Non-destructive layers, masks, and effects
- Local AI selection and image tools
- Imports ComfyUI workflows
What to know first
- Requires a compatible GPU
- No mobile app
- Development is paused
- AI model weights are not bundled
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free, open-source image editor; AI model weights are user-provided | Free |
As sable-editor.eu lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Sable offers a broad raster toolkit with local AI and ComfyUI integration across three desktop platforms. Its GPU requirement and paused, archived project status are important considerations before adoption.
Facts from Sable's own pages
- AI model licensing
- Sable does not bundle AI model weights; it provides download pointers and shows each model's licence before download. · sable-editor.eu, 9 Oct 2026
- ComfyUI workflows
- Users can import ComfyUI API-format workflows, and Sable can reuse an existing ComfyUI installation with checkpoints and LoRAs referenced in place. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Editing
- Its non-destructive layer graph supports pixel, shape, text, vector-path, and group layers, plus adjustment and live-filter layers, masks, and effects. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- File formats
- Sable uses a native .sable format for layers and history and supports PNG import and export. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · sable-editor.eu, 22 Sept 2026
- Generative AI
- Opt-in Generative Fill and image generation use a locally managed ComfyUI runtime, and nothing is installed until enabled in Preferences. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Generative editing
- Yes · sable-editor.eu, 22 Sept 2026
- GPU requirement
- Running the app requires a GPU with DX12, Vulkan, or Metal because its canvas is GPU-only. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Dietmannsried, Germany · sable-editor.eu, 28 Sept 2026
- Layers and masks
- Yes · sable-editor.eu, 22 Sept 2026
- License
- Sable is released under the MIT License. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Local AI
- The local AI tier includes smart selection, background removal, upscale, and object removal or inpainting, with a built-in model manager. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The project is published by Drommedhar, and its imprint identifies Dominik Goblirsch at an address in Dietmannsried, Germany. · drommedhar.eu, 9 Oct 2026
- Mobile app
- No · sable-editor.eu, 22 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says its AI tools run locally without cloud access, and the base app remains offline unless the optional generative tier is enabled. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Project status
- The repository states that development is paused and gives no guarantee of ongoing maintenance; GitHub marks it archived and read-only. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Sable is a cross-platform raster image editor with a GPU-first canvas, non-destructive editing, and locally run AI. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project README links to Ko-fi as a way to support development. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux · sable-editor.eu, 22 Sept 2026
- Tools
- Tools include brushes, clone and healing tools, liquify, mesh warp, selections, transforms, vector drawing, and text-on-path. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where Sable stands on Freedom251
- Photo editors#14 of 96
- AI Photo Editors#56 of 96