This post describes what PSD files are and how they’re various from a standard image, how to open one, and which programs are able to convert one to common image formats like PNG and JPG.
What Is a PSD File?
A PSD file is used generally in Adobe Photoshop as the default format for saving information. Files with this file extension are called Adobe Photoshop Document files and are in an exclusive format developed by Adobe.
Some PSD files contain just one single image and nothing else, the common use for a PSD file consists of much more than simply keeping an image file. They support several images, things, filters, text, and more, in addition to utilizing layers, vector paths and shapes, and openness.
For instance, presume you incorporated five images within one PSD file, each on its own different layer. Together, the photos appear they’re on a single, flat image, however in truth, they’re moveable and totally editable within their own layers, simply as if you were dealing with different images. You might reopen this PSD file as lot of times as you desire and make changes to single layers without affecting the others.
PSD is likewise an abbreviation for other innovation terms like personal protected drive, programmable system devices, port-sharing device, and package switch style, however none of them are related to the Adobe Photoshop Document file format.
How to Open a PSD File
The very best programs for opening and modifying PSD files are Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Elements, in addition to CorelDRAW and Corel’s PaintShop Pro tool.
Other Adobe programs can utilize PSD files, too, like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Adobe After Effects. These programs, however, are primarily used for video or audio modifying and not as graphics editors like Photoshop.
If you’re searching for a free program to open PSD files, we suggest GIMP. It’s a popular and free photo-editing tool that will open PSD files and other file formats. You can also use GIMP to modify PSD files however might face issues because it has challenges acknowledging complex layers and other innovative features that may have been used in Photoshop when the file was produced.
Paint.NET (with the Paint.NET PSD Plugin) is another complimentary program, like GIMP, that can open PSD files. Other totally free picture editors support opening PSD files as well, and some can likewise save to the PSD file format.
If you want to quickly open a PSD file without Photoshop, we recommend Photopea. It’s a totally free online picture editor that runs in your internet browser that not just lets you see all the layers and carry out a number of kinds of edits. You can likewise use Photopea to save files back to your computer in the PSD format.
IrfanView, PSD Viewer, and Apple’s QuickTime Picture Viewer (part of their totally free QuickTime program) will open PSD files also, but you can’t use them to modify the PSD file. You likewise will not have any kind of layer assistance because they simply act as PSD viewers.
Apple Preview, consisted of with the macOS, need to be able to open PSD files by default.
If the program that instantly opens PSD files on your Windows computer system isn’t the one you want to open them by default, altering it is quite easy. See our How to Change the Default Program for a Specific File Extension guide for help.
How to Convert a PSD File
The most common factor to convert a PSD file is to utilize it like a regular image file, like a JPG, PNG, BMP, or GIF file, perhaps. That way you can submit the image online (many sites don’t accept PSD files) or send it over e-mail so it can be opened on computers that don’t use PSD openers.
If you have Photoshop on your computer, converting a PSD file to an image file format is extremely easy: use the File > Save As menu option.
How to Save a PSD File for Older Versions of Photoshop
If you don’t have Photoshop, one quick way to convert a PSD file to PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, GIF, or WEBP is through Photopea’s File > Export as choice.
The majority of the programs from above that support editing or seeing PSD files can convert the PSD to another format utilizing a similar procedure as Photoshop and Photopea.
Another alternative for transforming PSD files is through a totally free image converter program. An online alternative we like is TinyWow. It can save the PSD file to PNG, JPG, SVG, AI, or PDF.
Transforming a PSD file to a routine image file will flatten, or merge, all the layers into one single-layered file for the conversion. After converting a PSD file this way, there is no other way to ever transform it back to PSD to use the layers again.
More Information on PSD Files
PSD files have an optimum height and width of 30,000 pixels, as well as an optimum size of 2 GB.
A similar format to PSD is PSB (Adobe Photoshop Large Document file), which supports larger images, up to 300,000 pixels, and file sizes up to around 4 exabytes (4 billion GB).
Adobe has some sophisticated reading on the PSD file format in the Adobe Photoshop File Format Specification document on their site.
Some file extensions look similar to.PSD however have nothing to do with this image format. WPS, XSD, PSF, and PPS are a couple of examples. Confirm the file extension to be sure it reads.PSD prior to concluding that you can’t open the file with the PSD programs above.
FAQHow do I transform a PSD file to a vector graphics submit?
You may want to convert a PSD file to a vector graphics file, which is more quickly scalable and better for some graphics tasks. In Illustrator, open the PSD file, then use Image Trace to convert the file to a vector file format.
How do you save a PSD file as a PDF?
Open the file in Photoshop, then choose Save as > PDF. To open a PDF file in Photoshop, choose File > Open, select your PDF file, then follow the triggers in the Import PDF dialog box.
What is a PSD template?
A PSD web design template is a way to develop a website without requiring to understand HTML or CSS. These design templates consist of all the essential PSD files to enable you to create your site and produce a design.
How do I convert a PSD file to a PNG file?
Open the file in Photoshop and select Save as > PNG. Then, pick a file size and click OK.
How do I develop a PSD file?
You produce PSD files in Photoshop when you conserve a brand-new file or make a copy of an existing PSD file. With the PSD file format, you can save your progress on a job or file while leaving layers and filters untouched.
