What is a PSD ?

In this article, I’ll be introducing what are PSD files and how to use them.

So, let’s get started.

 

• What is a PSD ?

Photoshop files have default file extension as .PSD, which stands for “Photoshop Document.” A PSD file stores an image with support for most imaging options available in Photoshop. These include layers with masks, transparency, text, alpha channels and spot colors, clipping paths, andduotone settings. This is in contrast to many other file formats (e.g. .JPG or .GIF) that restrict content to provide streamlined, predictable functionality. A PSD file has a maximum height and width of 30,000 pixels, and a length limit of 3 Gigabytes. Photoshop files sometimes have the file extension .PSB, which stands for “Photoshop Big” (also known as “large document format”). A PSB file extends the PSD file format, increasing the maximum height and width to 300,000 pixels and the length limit to around 4 Exabytes. The dimension limit was apparently chosen arbitrarily by Adobe, not based on computer arithmetic constraints (it is not close to a power of two, as is 30,000) but for ease of software testing. PSD and PSB formats are documented. Because of Photoshop’s popularity, PSD files are widely used and supported to some extent by most competing software. The .PSD file format can be exported to and from Adobe’s other apps like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, and After Effects, to make professional standard DVDs and provide non-linear editing and special effects services, such as backgrounds, textures, and so on, for television, film, and the web. Photoshop’s primary strength is as a pixel-based image editor, unlike vector-based image editors. Photoshop also enables vector graphics editing through its Paths, Pen tools, Shape tools, Shape Layers, Type tools, Import command, and Smart Object functions. These tools and commands are convenient to combine pixel-based and vector-based images in one Photoshop document, because it may not be necessary to use more than one program. To create very complex vector graphics with numerous shapes and colors, it may be easier to use software that was created primarily for that purpose, such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. Photoshop’s non-destructive Smart Objects can also import complex vector shapes.

• How to use a PSD ?

First of all download the PSD you want to use. Then right click on the file and select ‘open with’ and then select Photoshop (if you have photoshop already installed). Then, if you are using one of my PSD’s then, select ‘place’ from ‘File’ and then import your screenshot. ‘rasterize’ it (by right clicking on the layer, right hand side of the screen). Then hit ‘ctrl+t’ and right click on the image and select ‘distort’. Join all the corners of the screenshot layer with the phone’s display. Then hit ‘Lctrl+Lshift+S’ and save it as ‘.png’ anywhere you want. You can further customize it by adding a custom background or a wallpaper, almost anything you like would go perfect.

 

Now, I guess you guys are well aware of what a PSD file is and how to use it.