PSD (Adobe Photoshop Document)
PSD is Adobe Photoshop's native file format that preserves layers, masks, adjustment layers, and all editing data. It is the standard interchange format for professional graphic design and photo editing workflows. PSD files can be very large as they store complete, non-destructive editing history.
MIME Type
image/vnd.adobe.photoshop
Type
Binary
Compression
Lossless
Advantages
- + Full layer and mask preservation
- + Non-destructive editing workflow
- + Industry standard for design collaboration
- + Supports all Photoshop features
Disadvantages
- − Very large file sizes
- − Requires Photoshop or compatible editor to fully edit
- − Not suitable for web display
When to Use .PSD
Use PSD as the working format during design and photo editing. Export to PNG, JPEG, or WebP for final delivery.
Technical Details
PSD stores image data in a layered structure with RLE compression. It supports up to 300,000 x 300,000 pixels, 32-bit color, CMYK, Lab, and multichannel modes.
History
PSD was introduced with Adobe Photoshop 1.0 in 1990. The format has evolved through 30+ versions while maintaining backward compatibility.