PSD
Adobe Photoshop's proprietary file format, supporting complex structures such as layers, masks, and smart objects. It has evolved over many years and is only partially documented publicly.
Timeline (last 90 days)
The PSD file format has evolved over 30 years and is only partially public, making lossless round-tripping of smart objects, layer effects, and adjustment layers extremely difficult.
File format compatibility (such as the proprietary semantics in PSD, DOCX, and XLSX: layer blending modes, style inheritance, formula recalculation rules, embedded objects) is the most underestimated barrier for replicas; being able to open a file does not mean it can be rendered correctly and saved round-trip.
Adobe file formats such as PSD, AI, and INDD have evolved over decades and contain a large number of proprietary specifications and compatibility layers.
PhotoSuite is an open-source, free image editing tool whose main selling points are its Photoshop-like appearance and high compatibility with the PSD file format.
Open-source image editors such as GIMP and Krita still lose or incorrectly render certain layer effects when reading and writing PSD files.
The PSD format is proprietary to Adobe and its specification has never been fully disclosed; its structure contains data blocks including layer trees, vector masks, adjustment layers, smart objects, layer effects, text engine metadata, and color profiles.
Parsing the PSD format in the open-source community relies mainly on reverse engineering results, with representative projects being psd.js and libpsd.
All Facts (7)
The PSD file format has evolved over 30 years and is only partially public, making lossless round-tripping of smart objects, layer effects, and adjustment layers extremely difficult.
50%UnverifiedFile format compatibility (such as the proprietary semantics in PSD, DOCX, and XLSX: layer blending modes, style inheritance, formula recalculation rules, embedded objects) is the most underestimated barrier for replicas; being able to open a file does not mean it can be rendered correctly and saved round-trip.
50%UnverifiedAdobe file formats such as PSD, AI, and INDD have evolved over decades and contain a large number of proprietary specifications and compatibility layers.
50%UnverifiedPhotoSuite is an open-source, free image editing tool whose main selling points are its Photoshop-like appearance and high compatibility with the PSD file format.
50%UnverifiedOpen-source image editors such as GIMP and Krita still lose or incorrectly render certain layer effects when reading and writing PSD files.
50%UnverifiedThe PSD format is proprietary to Adobe and its specification has never been fully disclosed; its structure contains data blocks including layer trees, vector masks, adjustment layers, smart objects, layer effects, text engine metadata, and color profiles.
50%UnverifiedParsing the PSD format in the open-source community relies mainly on reverse engineering results, with representative projects being psd.js and libpsd.
50%