Open PSD File

PSD Frequently Asked Questions

What is PSD File?

PSD is a file extension used by Adobe Photoshop to store its graphics files. Adobe Photoshop is a de-facto standard in a raster image editing software. First version of Photoshop was developed in 1988 by Thomas and John Knoll. It was subsequently sold to Adobe Systems which owned it since then.

How can I view PSD file?

You can open PSD file either by using Adobe Photoshop or other graphics editing software which supports PSD format. Since PSD format is very popular in raster image editing many different software packages are able to open it. This includes software from Adobe like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Premiere Pro. Free desktop software like GIMP, Paint.NET, XnView, IrfanView are able to open PSD files.

Are PSD files binary?

Yes, PSD file format is binary. Layers, channels, paths and other types of information are stored in binary structures which could be interpreted by Photoshop or compatible software.

Are there any free applications which can open PSD files?

Yes, you can open PSD files using Paint.NET and GIMP which are free. Certain limitations exists when opening PSD files in software other than Adobe Photoshop.