10 Best Ways to Open and Edit PSD files without Photoshop.
Your friend created a cool logo and sent you a PSD file, but unfortunately you left town without a work computer. And you want to open the PSD file without Photoshop, maybe even edit the image a little. So what’s the best way to do this?
But first, what is a PSD file?
When you save an image in Photoshop, the default is PSD (short for Photoshop Document). This PSD file contains all your images, layers, features like color grading, etc., which are stored in their original quality. Just like WMA is proprietary to Microsoft, but you can play a WMA audio file on most music players, just like PSD is owned by Adobe, but other programs can also open (and sometimes edit) a PSD file. So let’s take a look at them.
Open PSD files without Photoshop
1. Google Drive
Google Drive is a nice and simple option if you just want to view an image inside a PSD file. Just open Google Drive and then drag the PSD file to your Google Drive. Now, once the download is complete, you will have various options. Right-click the archive and select Preview to preview the image. You can print the photo or convert it with a cloud converter. Google Drive does not allow viewing layers of PSD files.
Layer support – no, only gives PSD preview
Accessibility – Google Drive can be accessed from any web browser.
Visit Google Drive
2. Photopea
Photopia may look new to you, but it’s a great online site for opening PSD files. This is the online version of PhotoShop. You can open the PSD directly from your computer or from the link. He can access your webcam and take a picture directly. Photopia is available in eight different languages, and you can customize Photopia at any time.
Even though it’s a web app, it can open heavy PSD files with no problem.
Layer Support – Shows all layers of the PSD file. You can also edit your layer with basic functions such as adjustments, image transformations and the ability to apply various filters.
Accessibility is a web-based tool, which means you can access it from any platform, be it Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, etc. . We also tried it on Android and iPad and surprisingly it worked on mobile too.
Visit Photopea
3. IrfanView
IrfanView is for those who want more than just displaying a PSD file. It can do a lot more like transform, optimize, scan and print, and create slideshows. It can also play audio / video, but you need to install the appropriate plugins. There are many options for saving a PSD file, the most common of which are jpg, BMP, Raw, and PDF.
Read: Best Photo Viewer for Windows 10
Layer support – no way to view layers of PSD files in Irfan View.
Available – IrfanView is only available for Windows.
Download IrfanView
4. Artweaver
Artweaver is a fantastic tool to open PSD files without any problem. You can easily view layers, create a new layer and make basic changes to the image. The free version of Artweaver has filters like blur, distortion, sharpening and some other necessary filters. You can make adjustments such as increasing hue / saturation, brightness, and changing image levels. And you can save the PSD file in jpeg, TARGA, bitmap, tiff and gif formats.
Layer Support – Yes, you can create a new layer and make basic changes to existing ones.
Affordable – Artweaver is free to use at home, but a commercial version is available. Its file size is only 11.94 MB and is available for Windows 7/8 and 10.
Download Artweaver
5. A quick look
If you want to open a PSD file on Mac OS, then you’re in luck. Unlike Windows, macOS has a built-in program to open PSD files. All you have to do is select the PSD file and hit the space bar and it will show you the top layer of your PSD file. Or you can also open the PSD file with a preview if you want to tweak it a bit – rotate, color, resize, add annotation, etc.
READ ALSO: 5 Best Free Online Image Editors Like Photoshop
Layer support – None.
Availability – Quick Look is available exclusively for macOS.
6. Mastering the art
Art Master is a simple image viewer that can open multiple file formats, including PSD. You can simply drag and drop files onto the app interface to upload an image. The app not only opens multiple formats like PSD, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, etc., but can also convert your PSD to other formats like JPEG, PNG, etc.
Layer support – Art Master does not support layers.
Available: Art Master is available for macOS on the Mac App Store.
Download Art Master
7. GIMP
GIMP is the closest open source alternative to Photoshop. The application is very similar to Photoshop in terms of layout. In GIMP, you can not only open a PSD file, but also perform basic editing like in Photoshop. Setting up GIMP is a little tricky compared to all the other apps on this list.
Of course, GIMP can never be as powerful as Photoshop, but when it comes to basic image editing, this is the best you can get for free.
Layer support – Yes, you can also edit your layer with basic functions like resizing, cropping, blurring, etc.
Available: GIMP is a cross-platform desktop tool available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
Download GIMP
8. PSD certifies
Testify is a different app from other apps on this list. It doesn’t open PSD files on your iPhone, but downloads an image directly from Photoshop running on your computer. The app streams live directly from the Photoshop software to the app, where you can preview your changes in real time. However, the devices must be on the same network. It works with Photoshop on Mac and Windows. If you are going to use it with Windows, make sure iTunes is installed on the system.
You can take a screenshot, zoom in / out, create a new iPhone resolution file, and add shortcuts to the floating toolbox. It’s a decent app if you want to track the progress of Photoshop images on your iPhone in real time.
Support for layers – it transfers frames in real time from the computer, and you can see all layers and transitions.
Availability – Testify PSD is only available for iOS in the App Store.
Install Testify PSD
9. File Viewer for Android
A simple file viewer that supports over 100 file types, including PSD. Along with all the popular file types, it also supports raw photos, archives, email files, and more. You can browse the device storage to navigate to a folder, and tap a file to open a preview. It allows you to invert colors and rotate photoshop, but unfortunately you cannot view individual layers. The app is free and contains ads.
Layer support – does not support layers.
Availability – The app is available for Android in the Play Store.
Install Android File Viewer
Open PSD without Photoshop
While all of the above methods work fine, if you’re in a rush or just want to see an image from a PSD file, then Google Drive and Photopea are the best options. If you can spend a little time installing PC software, then GIMP is a great option. Testify PSD streams a Photoshop window to your iPhone and is great if you’re editing to fit the screen of a mobile device. So what are you waiting for? Choose the best option that suits you and do not forget to let us know your choice.
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