PSD Viewer
Look inside a Photoshop file without installing anything. Open a PSD to see the full image, the layer and group structure, and each layer's opacity and blend mode. Hide or show layers to explore the design, then save any layer, group or the current view as a PNG.
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How to use the PSD Viewer
- Open a PSD by dropping it on the box or clicking Open PSD file. Use Open a sample PSD to try the viewer first.
- Look around: zoom with the + and − buttons (or Ctrl + mouse wheel), use Fit to see the whole canvas and switch the background behind transparent areas.
- Toggle layers with the eye buttons. The preview is rebuilt from the visible layers; Reset to saved image brings back Photoshop's own composite.
- Select a layer to see its size, position, opacity and blend mode, then download it as PNG or show only that layer.
- Export the current view as PNG or all layers as a ZIP.
What the viewer shows you
A Photoshop document is made of a header (canvas size, color mode and bit depth), the layer section and a flattened copy of the whole image. The layer section lists every layer from bottom to top with its bounds, opacity, blend mode, visibility flag and name, and stores its pixels as separate color and transparency channels. Groups are marked by special start and end records. The viewer turns this into the same kind of tree you know from Photoshop's Layers panel, with the top layer first.
Exact view vs. rebuilt view
| Feature | Saved image (on open) | Rebuilt after toggling layers |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel, text and shape layers | Exact | Yes, as rendered pixels |
| Opacity and hidden layers | Exact | Yes |
| Blend modes | Exact | Normal, Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Darken, Lighten, Color Dodge/Burn, Hard/Soft Light, Difference, Exclusion, Hue, Saturation, Color, Luminosity |
| Clipping masks | Exact | Yes |
| Layer effects, layer masks, adjustment layers, smart filters | Exact | Not applied |
The saved image is only present when Photoshop's Maximize PSD and PSB File Compatibility option was on when the file was saved (the default). Without it the viewer builds the picture from the layers right away and tells you so in the status line.
Tips
- Use Show only this on a group to export a logo, button or text block on its own with a transparent background.
- Switch the background to Dark or Gray to check light or white layers that disappear on the checkerboard.
- Need just the flattened image of many PSDs at once? Use PSD to PNG, which converts files in batches.
- Received scans or faxes as TIFF instead? Open them in the Multi-Page TIFF Viewer.
Frequently asked questions
How can I open a PSD file without Photoshop?
Drop the file into this viewer. A PSD stores both the individual layers and a flattened copy of the finished image, and the viewer reads both directly in your browser, so you can see the picture and its layer structure without Photoshop or any other software.
Why does the image change slightly when I toggle a layer?
At first the viewer shows the flattened image Photoshop saved inside the file, which is exact. When you hide or show a layer it rebuilds the picture from the visible layers' pixels. That rebuild applies opacity, the common blend modes and clipping masks, but not layer effects (drop shadows, strokes), adjustment layers, layer masks or smart filters, so those parts can look different. Use Reset to saved image to return to the exact version.
Can I extract a single layer from a PSD as PNG?
Yes. Click a layer in the panel, then Download layer PNG. You get just that layer with a transparent background, trimmed to its content, or Download at canvas size to keep its position on a full-size transparent canvas. Groups can be exported the same way.
Are text layers editable?
No. The viewer shows text layers as the pixels Photoshop rendered for them. It does not edit text or other content, and it does not need the fonts used in the design.
Which PSD files are supported?
Standard PSD and large-document PSB files in RGB, CMYK and grayscale with 8 or 16 bits per channel, including layers, groups, hidden layers, opacity and blend modes. Indexed, bitmap and 32-bit files show the flattened image; their layers are read with the ag-psd library when it can be loaded. Files saved with Maximize Compatibility turned off are rebuilt from their layers.
Is it safe to open client files here?
Yes. The file is read by JavaScript on your own device and is never uploaded to a server, so confidential designs stay private.
Why is a layer listed as empty or adjustment?
Adjustment layers, fill layers without pixels and empty layers have no pixel data of their own. They are listed so you can see the full structure, but they have nothing to preview or export.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.