PSD Viewer

A PSD file is Photoshop's working format: layers, groups, text and a flattened copy of the finished picture, all in one file. Without Photoshop most computers cannot open it. This viewer reads the file in your browser, shows the flattened image and lets you save it as PNG or JPG, lists every layer with its group, visibility, opacity and blend mode, and can export each layer as its own transparent PNG. Large PSB documents are supported too, and the file never leaves your device.

How to use this tool

1. Choose a .psd or .psb file.
2. Pick PNG (keeps transparency) or JPG for the flattened image.
3. Tick “export each layer” if you need the layers as separate PNGs.
4. Look at the preview and the layer table.
5. Download the image, or everything as a ZIP.

Formula

PSD = header (size, channels, depth, colour mode) + colour table + resources + layers and masks + flattened image data

Images are stored channel by channel, uncompressed, run-length encoded (PackBits) or ZIP-compressed. PSB large documents and 8, 16 and 32-bit RGB, CMYK, greyscale, indexed, duotone and Lab files are read. CMYK is stored inverted (255 = no ink) and converted as R = C × K ÷ 255, without the colour profile, so print colours can differ slightly from Photoshop.

Example

A 3000 × 2000 RGB poster saved with “Maximize compatibility” shows its exact flattened image, 3000 × 2000 px, and a table such as “Background · Pixel · Yes · 100% · Normal”, “Title · Text · Yes · 100% · Normal”, “Logo group / Logo · Smart object · Yes · 80% · Multiply”. With layer export on you also get one PNG per layer at its own size, for example 1200 × 300 px for the title.

Files saved without “Maximize compatibility”

Photoshop can skip the flattened copy to save space. Such files store only a white or grey placeholder, so the viewer rebuilds the picture from the visible layers instead: layer opacity, visibility and the common blend modes are honoured, but layer effects, masks, clipping masks and adjustment layers are not, so the result is an approximation. If the layers cannot be read either, the small thumbnail embedded in the file is shown.