Photoshop definitely got it correct with the PSD file format. Information technology saves the complete state of a still-existence-edited prototype, and then you can shut down and resume work later.

The trouble is that PSD isn't an open format, as information technology can only be opened past certain apps that know the file format. Your all-time bet? Pay for an Adobe Photoshop CC subscription programme.

But if yous don't want or can't afford that, so how can yous open up PSD files? In that case, you could try one of the free options nosotros've found for you. Behave in mind, though, near of the following apps tin't actually edit PSDs—they tin can only view PSDs equally flattened images. If flattened paradigm viewing is all y'all need anyway, and then these options are well worth trying.

1. GIMP

PSD file open in GIMP

GIMP should be your first end when trying to open and edit a PSD file for free. Not only is it the best costless alternative to Photoshop, simply information technology's available across Windows, Mac, and Linux, then you tin can acquire it once and employ it on all of your systems.

And if it wasn't clear, yeah, PSD support is built correct into the app. No need to fiddle with 3rd-party plugins or anything.

  1. Go to File > Open.
  2. Find and select the PSD file.
  3. Click Open.

The nice thing virtually GIMP is that it can really procedure the individual layers of a PSD file. The downside is that some layers are unreadable to GIMP, or demand to exist rasterized so that GIMP can work with them. Saving over the PSD could ruin the file if yous intend to open up it back up in Photoshop later.

GIMP is open-source software, which comes with several benefits (like being able to peek at the source lawmaking whenever y'all want). The best fashion to open a PSD file is by getting an Adobe Photoshop CC subscription plan, merely GIMP is practiced if you want a free alternative.

Download: GIMP (Free)

ii. Paint.NET

PSD file open in Paint.net

Paint.NET knows exactly what information technology wants to exist: 1 of the best Microsoft Paint alternatives around, without beingness as swollen or intimidating to learn equally GIMP or Adobe Photoshop. It'south right smack in the heart.

But if you want to make information technology more powerful, you tin can—by installing various third-party plugins. And if you're going to do that, there'due south one plugin that you absolutely should apply: the PSD plugin.

  1. Download the PSD plugin.
  2. Extract the Zip file's contents.
  3. Copy the PhotoShop.dll file.
  4. Navigate to the Paint.NET installation folder (the default location is C:/Plan Files/paint.cyberspace).
  5. Paste the PhotoShop.dll file into the FileTypes subfolder.
  6. Launch Paint.NET.

With the plugin installed, you should be able to open PSD files without a hitch. Notation that even though Paint.NET can usually handle PSD layers merely fine, you'll meet occasional bug because Pigment.NET doesn't support all of Photoshop's features.

Download: Pigment.Cyberspace (Free)

iii. Photopea Online Editor

PSD file open in Photopea online editor

If you've never heard of Photopea before, yous're in for a treat. This lesser-known web app is basically like an online alternative to Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. It's patently not as good—spider web apps rarely get close to their desktop counterparts—but it's yet useful.

The layout is like, then you'll feel right at abode. Want to open a PSD file? It's easy.

  1. Go to File > Open up.
  2. Find and select the PSD file.
  3. Click Open.

And the cool thing is that Photopea can read private layers, which is a level of characteristic you might not wait from a gratis web app. It's great, though, assuasive y'all to edit your PSDs without charge no affair where y'all are. Just hop on with whatever computer.

4. XnView

PSD file open in XNView

XnView is a freeware image organizer that lets you browse and gild your image collections in diverse ways, as well as process them using basic image-editing tools similar color palettes, filters, effects, and rotations.

The great thing well-nigh this lesser-known app is that information technology can read over 500 formats and export to over seventy formats, and so not only is information technology useful for viewing images, only too converting them.

  1. Become to File > Open up.
  2. Find and select the PSD file.
  3. Click Open.

When downloading, yous tin can cull betwixt three setup types: Minimal, Standard, and Extended. Minimal requires the least amount of deejay infinite and is all y'all demand to open PSD files. No demand for add together-ons, plugins, or annihilation like that.

Download: XnView (Gratuitous)

5. IrfanView

PSD file open in Irfanviw

IrfanView is similar to XnView in that its main use is every bit an prototype viewer and converter. Information technology may not support equally many formats equally XnView does, but information technology supports all the of import ones—and that's all that actually matters, right?

While IrfanView can easily return flattened PSD files, information technology can't edit or save them unless you commencement export to a different format.

  1. Become to File > Open.
  2. Find and select the PSD file.
  3. Click Open.

We recommend keeping this app on your system. Use it equally your primary image viewer, and yous'll never be disappointed by it. The best part is it'southward extremely lightweight and fast. Plus you can further enhance IrfanView with some bang-up plugins.

Download: IrfanView (Free)

six. Google Drive

PSD file open in Google Drive

It may seem weird to use Google Drive as a file viewer, only you absolutely tin can—and it works rather well. Similar many other file types, PSDs are viewable through Google Drive on the web.

  1. Visit the Google Bulldoze page.
  2. Click My Drive and select File upload.
  3. Find and select the PSD file.
  4. Click Open.
  5. Double-click the file to view it.

When would you ever utilize Google Drive for this? Peradventure when you aren't on your own PC and can't install whatsoever other software. Information technology's as well like shooting fish in a barrel to manage shared files on Google Drive, so it could exist useful if you need a simple PSD viewer to share work with other people.

seven. Convertio

Convertio screenshot

This last option is not a way to view, open, or edit PSD files. Information technology's just a way to convert PSD files into other formats similar PNG and JPG. If that's the unabridged reason why y'all wanted to open PSDs in the commencement identify, then you might equally well skip the center steps.

  1. Click Choose Files.
  2. Navigate and select your PSD file.
  3. Select a new file format.
  4. Click Convert.
  5. Once the conversion is washed, click Download.

Simple and straightforward. Zip more to information technology.

8. macOS PreviewPSD file open in macOS Preview

If you're a Mac user, so you lot don't need to download any software at all—you have your very ain PSD file opener built in. The Preview app will open PSDs quite easily.

  1. Find your PDF file, and right-click it.
  2. Select Open With > Preview

And that'southward all at that place is to it. You tin can make modest edits and relieve to different formats, but whatever PSDs yous open up in Preview will exist flattened, so you lot'll lose any layer data in the file.

Why Not Apply Adobe Photoshop?

These solutions definitely piece of work, so if yous're happy with them, proceed and keep using them. But if you lot intend to practise serious PSD editing in the futurity, you lot really ought to consider grabbing an Adobe Photoshop CC subscription plan instead.

It's particularly worth information technology if yous're a photographer—no matter what your skill level is. There's so much you tin can practise to edit your images, a lot of which isn't possible with free apps.

x Must-Know Photoshop Skills for Beginner Photographers

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