PSD

Technology & Computing abbreviation · File Format

PSD
Stands forPhotoshop Document
CategoriesTechnology & Computing

PSD stands for Photoshop Document, a file format abbreviation.

Native file format of Adobe Photoshop, preserving layers, masks, adjustment layers, text, effects and other editing data so a project can be reopened and changed. Designers exchange PSDs for editable artwork and templates.

Example: The designer sent the layered PSD so we can update the text on the banner ourselves.

Usage notes

PSD files are limited to 30,000 by 30,000 pixels and 2 GB; larger projects use the PSB "Large Document Format". Photoshop 1.0, created by brothers Thomas and John Knoll, shipped in 1990. Other programs, including GIMP, Affinity Photo and the browser-based Photopea, can open PSDs with varying fidelity. Flattening to JPEG or PNG is needed for web use.

More file format abbreviations

  • PDF/A – Portable Document Format for Archiving
  • PKG – Package installer file
  • PNG – Portable Network Graphics
  • PPT – Microsoft PowerPoint presentation (legacy binary format)
  • PPTX – Office Open XML presentation
  • PS – PostScript
  • PST – Personal Storage Table
  • RAR – Roshal Archive
  • RAW – Camera raw image
  • RTF – Rich Text Format
  • SRT – SubRip Text
  • STEP – Standard for the Exchange of Product model data

See all 125 file format abbreviations →