PSD Image Format: Adobe Photoshop Professional Editing Guide

PSD (Photoshop Document) is Adobe Photoshop's native file format, designed to preserve all editing capabilities including layers, masks, channels, adjustment layers, layer effects, and smart objects. Supporting up to 30,000 pixels in width or height, PSD handles complex compositions with unlimited layers, each containing raster or vector content, transparency, and blend modes. The format stores 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit color depth per channel, enabling professional color grading and HDR workflows. PSD files maintain complete editing history through adjustment layers and smart objects, allowing non-destructive editing where changes can be modified or removed at any time. The format supports all Photoshop features including layer styles, type layers, shape layers, paths, channels, and color profiles. PSD serves as the master file in professional workflows, preserving maximum flexibility while final deliverables are exported to JPEG, PNG, or other distribution formats. File sizes can become very large, often reaching hundreds of megabytes for complex projects, though Photoshop's PSB (Large Document Format) extends support beyond PSD's 2GB limit. Other applications including GIMP, Affinity Photo, and Sketch offer varying degrees of PSD compatibility, though some advanced features may not translate perfectly across software.

Adobe released Photoshop 1.0 in February 1990 for Macintosh, with PSD format serving as the native file format from the beginning. The format was designed to support Photoshop's revolutionary layer system introduced in version 3.0 in 1994, fundamentally changing digital image editing by enabling non-destructive workflows. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, PSD evolved alongside Photoshop, adding support for new features like adjustment layers, layer effects, smart objects, and 16-bit color. The format became the industry standard for professional image editing, graphic design, and digital artwork. Adobe documented PSD specifications, enabling third-party applications to implement PSD support, though compatibility has always been challenging due to format complexity and frequent additions. GIMP added PSD import/export in the early 2000s, while other image editors like Corel PaintShop Pro and Affinity Photo implemented varying levels of PSD compatibility. The introduction of Adobe Creative Cloud in 2012 integrated PSD more deeply with Adobe's ecosystem, though the format remains fundamentally unchanged in structure. Modern Photoshop versions continue using PSD while adding cloud document formats for better integration with mobile and web apps. PSD remains the undisputed standard for layered image editing, with virtually all professional designers, photographers, and digital artists using the format for work-in-progress files.

PSD format is essential for any project requiring multiple editing sessions, layer preservation, or non-destructive editing workflows. Use PSD as your working file format for graphic design projects, photo retouching, digital artwork, and any composition involving multiple images or elements. The format preserves all layers, masks, and adjustments, allowing you to return to projects and make changes without quality loss. Save PSD files with all layers intact as your master files, then flatten and export to JPEG, PNG, or TIFF for final delivery or web use. For collaboration, consider whether recipients have Photoshop or compatible software; otherwise, provide flattened exports alongside layered PSD files. Use 16-bit PSD mode for professional photography workflows requiring maximum color grading flexibility, though file sizes will be significantly larger. Organize complex PSD files using layer groups, meaningful layer names, and color coding for easier navigation. For extremely large projects, use PSB format which removes PSD's 2GB file size limitation. Avoid using PSD for web delivery or email, as most people cannot open these files and sizes are impractical for transfer. Regularly save incremental versions of important PSD files to preserve editing history and enable reverting to earlier states. Compress completed PSD archives using ZIP to save storage space, as PSD files contain significant redundant data that compresses well.