What is a .psd file?
Photoshop Document · Design · Adobe · 1990
PSD is Adobe Photoshop's native working file. It keeps every layer, mask, adjustment and effect editable, which is essential while you design but makes it a heavy format that other apps only partly understand.
What is a .psd file used for?
A PSD preserves the full editing state of a Photoshop project: layers, layer masks, smart objects, text you can still retype, and adjustment layers you can still tweak.
That richness comes at a cost. PSDs are large, and non-Adobe apps often flatten or approximate the layers when they open one.
When a design is finished, you export a flat PNG, JPG or PDF from the PSD for sharing or printing.
How to open a .psd file
The .psd format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .psd file.
Windows
- Photoshop
- GIMP
- Photopea (web)
- Affinity Photo
macOS
- Photoshop
- GIMP
- Affinity Photo
- Preview (flattened)
Linux
- GIMP
- Krita
Web
- Photopea
How to convert a .psd file
You can convert a .psd file to PNG, JPG, TIFF, PDF using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.psd file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .psd file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for PSD. For a full breakdown, see the PSD file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 38 42 50 53 | 0 | '8BPS' |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .psd file?
PSD is Adobe Photoshop's native working file. It keeps every layer, mask, adjustment and effect editable, which is essential while you design but makes it a heavy format that other apps only partly understand.
Can I open a PSD without Photoshop?
Yes. GIMP, Krita, Affinity Photo and the free web app Photopea all open PSD files, though very complex layer effects may not render perfectly.