What is PSD File Format & How to Open it?

The PSD (Photoshop Document) file format is widely used by designers, photographers, and artists. It preserves all the layers, effects, and edits made in Adobe Photoshop, making it easier to continue working on a design without losing quality. However, sometimes PSD files can become corrupted or fail to open properly. If you find yourself in this situation, the Photoshop Recovery Tool can help you recover and restore your file. Whether you're new to Photoshop or an experienced user, knowing how to handle PSD files is important. Explore further to learn what a PSD file is, how to open it, and what to do with your corrupt PSD file.

What is a PSD File?

PSD stands for Photoshop Document is an image file format created by Adobe’s popular Photoshop Application. Mainly, it is a portable Photoshop format that mainly works to store data. It is an online image editing-friendly format that is compatible with multiple image layers and various imaging options. It includes the option to store high-quality graphics data too.

The PSD files include several crucial information like image layers, adjustment layers, layer masks, annotations, file information, keywords, and other Photoshop-specific elements. It is competent enough to hold 30,000 pixels in both height and width, and you can also extend the size from 2 gigabytes. This file is used by different professionals, Graphic Designers, Publishers, Producers, etc

Types of Data Structure in a PSD file

Basically, the Photoshop file format is separated into five major parts:

• File Header is a part of a PSD file that holds the basic information about the image. It includes the Photoshop version, channels in the image, Bits per channel, Image dimensions (pixel height & width), and the Color Mode (bitmap, grayscale, RGB, CMYK, etc.)
• Color Mode Data section stores color data based on the color mode specified in the file header. It includes indexed color or duotone data and the length of the color data for these modes.
• Image Resources save non-pixel data associated with the image, like pen or pencil tool paths. These are a series of blocks that contain a resource ID that indicates the type of data stored (e.g., tool settings or custom brushes).
• Image Data specifies the actual image data and compression method of data and the image pixel. It supports different compression methods such as raw image data, Zip without prediction, RLE compression, or Zip with prediction.
• Layer and Mask Information section contains details about the layers and masks. This includes the number of layers, channels in the layers, blending ranges, adjustment layer keys, effects layers, and mask parameters.

What are the Advantages of Using PSD Files?

Here are some of the advantages and benefits of Photoshop PSD format:

• Photoshop PSD files retain all your layers, adjustment layers, masks, shapes, blending modes, and smart objects. You can edit or adjust your design later.
• PSD files work smoothly with other Adobe products like Illustrator and InDesign. This allows you to import your files across different software.
• Unlike flattened image formats, PSD lets you keep layers intact, so you can edit each element independently.
• There is always a need to maintain transparency. PSD files maintain transparency for designs that require clear backgrounds.
• You can also save 16-bits-per-channel and get High Dynamic Range (HDR) 32-bits-per-channel images as PSD files.

Consequences of Photoshop PSD File

Apart from the various advantages, the PSD file also has some drawbacks and disadvantages. They are as follows:

• PSD files can become very large, especially when they contain multiple layers, high-resolution images, and complex effects.
• It is proprietary to Adobe Photoshop. Thus it is not compatible with other apps like TIFF.
• Because of the layers and high-quality details saved in a PSD, the file can take longer to open and edit.
• PSD files are not suitable for use on the web. Because, they need to be converted into formats like JPG, PNG, or GIF to be displayed online.

How to Open PSD File?

If you don't have Adobe Photoshop, there are several free applications and tools available to Open PSD files. Here’s a breakdown by platform:

These free tools provide a range of options to open, view, and edit PSD files without needing Adobe Photoshop. Whether you're using a desktop, or mobile device, or accessing a web-based app, there’s a solution for every platform.

How to Open PSD Files with CorelDRAW Tool Free?

CorelDRAW doesn’t natively support PSD files. It typically opens vector files, but it can handle raster files like PSD with limited functionality (such as converting them to another format). Follow the steps below to open PSD files using CorelDRAW:

1. Launch CorelDRAW on your computer. Click on the File tab in the top menu.
2. Select Import (not Open, as CorelDRAW doesn’t directly open PSD files).
3. In the file browser, find and select the PSD file you want to import.
4. Once selected, click Import to bring the PSD file into your CorelDRAW workspace.
5. If necessary, adjust the settings (like the resolution) in the import dialog that appears.
6. After the PSD file is imported, you can edit it in CorelDRAW as a raster image or vectorize it if needed.
7. Once done, you can save the file in a CorelDRAW-compatible format (like .cdr).
8. Or export it to other formats (e.g., PNG, JPG, etc.) by selecting File > Export.

By performing the above steps, you will open PSD and view data in the CorelDRAW. However, in cases like this, there is a possibility that the file gets corrupted or damaged. Even when working in the Adobe Photoshop application, improper functioning can damage the PSD file. So, here we have suggested a free professional solution that permits users to repair corrupted Photoshop files.

How Do I Recover Corrupt Photoshop PSD Files?

Using the Advanced Photoshop Recovery Tool by SysInfo, you can repair or recover data from damaged Photoshop files. It supports PSD files of all sizes and lets users restore all the layers. The tool is highly compatible and supports all versions of Windows OS to recover Photoshop PSD files. Some of its top-notch features are as follows:

• Allows batch recovery of multiple Photoshop files at a time.
• Support recovery of Photoshop PSB and PDD files as well.
• Auto-detects image dimensions, number of layers, channels, etc.
• Compatible with Adobe Photoshop versions like CS5, CS4, CS3, CS2, and CS1.
• Moreover, the tool is quick, secure, and reliable to recover PSD files.

Conclusion

Through this blog, you are aware of the PSD file and their types of Data Structure. Here, we also discussed the different Pros and Cons of using PSD Files. You can easily open and access PSD files for free using various applications. However, there is always a little chances of damage. Thus, we have suggested a top-rated free utility that allows users to recover data from Photoshop files. It has a self-explanatory interface, so users do not need to struggle much.