FormatDrop
Image Format

PSD

Photoshop Document

PSD is Adobe Photoshop's native file format — the working file that holds all the layers, adjustments, masks, and edits that make up a Photoshop project. Unlike JPG or PNG (which are flat images), PSD files contain the full edit history and layer structure. They're large, complex, and can only be fully opened in Photoshop and a few other high-end applications.

What is PSD?

PSD (Photoshop Document) was created by Adobe and has been the native format for Photoshop since version 1.0 in 1990. The format stores: multiple layers (image layers, adjustment layers, fill layers, smart objects), layer groups and blend modes, masks (pixel masks, vector masks, clipping masks), text layers with editable text, channels (including spot colour channels), paths, guides, and full image history. PSDs can be enormous — a high-resolution multi-layer composition can easily be 500 MB to several GB. Maximum PSD size is 30,000×30,000 pixels. For files exceeding this limit (like panoramas) or larger than 2 GB, Adobe introduced PSB (Photoshop Big) as an extended format. Software that can open PSD: Adobe Photoshop (full support), Adobe Photoshop Elements (limited layer support), GIMP (good support, some advanced features may not transfer), Affinity Photo (good support, handles most PSD features), Pixelmator Pro (basic support), and preview programs like macOS Preview and Windows Photos (flatten the image on preview, no layer access). Adobe Illustrator and InDesign can place PSD files and recognize layer visibility.

PSD pros and cons

Advantages

  • Preserves all layers, masks, and editing history
  • Supports adjustment layers (non-destructive editing)
  • Smart Objects for non-destructive transformations
  • Editable text layers
  • 16-bit and 32-bit per channel colour depth
  • Industry standard for collaborative Photoshop work

Limitations

  • Very large file sizes (hundreds of MB to multiple GB)
  • Slow to save and open compared to flattened formats
  • Proprietary format — limited to Photoshop and compatible apps
  • Not suitable for sharing or web delivery
  • Opening in non-Photoshop apps loses some layer types

When should you convert PSD files?

Convert PSD to PNG or JPG when delivering a finished image to a client, for web use, printing, or email. Convert to TIFF when the client needs high-quality print-ready output with some layer preservation (TIFF supports layers). Convert to PDF for sending a multi-page Photoshop composition as a review document. Never deliver PSD as your primary file to clients unless they specifically need to edit in Photoshop — always provide a flattened format (JPG, PNG, PDF) as the deliverable, keeping PSD as your working master.

Convert PSD files

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All FormatDrop conversions run entirely in your browser — no file upload, no server processing. Your files stay on your device.

PSD FAQ

Can I open a PSD without Photoshop?
Yes, with limitations. GIMP (free, open-source) opens PSD with most layer types supported. Affinity Photo (paid, one-time purchase) has excellent PSD compatibility. Pixelmator Pro (Mac only) opens PSD. macOS Preview flattens PSD for viewing only — you can see the composited image but can't access layers. Windows Photos similarly shows a flat preview. For full layer editing, you need Photoshop, GIMP, or Affinity Photo.
How do I convert PSD to JPG?
In Photoshop: File → Export → Export As → select JPG. Or: File → Save a Copy → select JPG format. This flattens all layers into a single image and applies JPG compression. In GIMP (free): open the PSD, go to File → Export As, choose JPG. You can also use FormatDrop if you have a flattened version, or need to batch-convert multiple PSD files.
Why is my PSD file so large?
PSD size is determined by image resolution, bit depth, and number of layers. Each layer adds the full image data (width × height × bit depth). A 3000×4000 pixel image at 16-bit with 20 layers uses: 3000 × 4000 × 2 bytes × 4 channels × 20 layers ≈ 1.9 GB. Photoshop also adds channel data, masks, and metadata. To reduce PSD size: merge layers you're done editing, use Smart Objects instead of duplicated layers, and consider saving a 'flattened' version for archival alongside the working PSD.

More formats

HEICWebPAVIFEPUBWebMOpusMP3WAVM4AFLACAACMP4AVIMKVMOVJPGPNGGIFSVGTIFFICOBMPEPSARWOGGWMVPPTXPagesPDFDOCXRAWHEVCH.264AIFFM4VWMA3GPDNGRTFOGVTSFLVAIXLSXCSVZIPAPNGMIDIJPEG XLMPG/MPEGVOBM2TSAC3ALACDTSJP2HEIFAPECBZ3G2SRTDOCPPTXLSODTODSM3URAR7ZM4BAMRTXTMOBITARGZJSONXMLYAMLKEYMTSCR2NEFMXFTGACAFASSVTTDSFRMF4VWVASFRMVBORFRW2EAC-3TTAISODMGXZDjVuFB2AUM4RAZW3MKAEXRVCFICSAAXPRCMP2SPXXSPFM3U8