PSD File Definition Document

Hi all,
I am writing a Flex application that needs to be able to examine a PSD file, and determine the size of the Photoshop PSD image, be able to extract a predetermined selection of settings for the file, and then to be able to parse and interpret image data from it to be able to render a preview.
I'm wondering if anyone has come across anything that's already been written first of all, however, more likely, I'm hoping that someone knows if/where I can get my hands on the PSD file definition document.
Thanks for your help guys.
-b

Download the Photoshop SDK - then read the SDK FAQ about how to request documentation on the PSD file format.

Similar Messages

PSD file definition

Hi all,
Apologies in advance for asking a programmer's question in an Artists forum, but I am having trouble locating a standards definition for the PSD file format.
I am writing a Flex application that needs to be able to examine a PSD file, and determine the size of the Photoshop PSD image, be able to extract a predetermined selection of settings for the file, and then to be able to parse and interpret image data from it to be able to render a preview.
I'm wondering if anyone has come across anything that's already been written first of all, however, more likely, I'm hoping that someone knows if/where I can get my hands on the PSD file definition document.
Thanks for your help guys.
-b

Download the Photoshop SDK - then read the SDK FAQ about how to request documentation on the PSD file format.

Bug report: "convert to pdf" from explorer on set of .psd files prints documents on physical printer

I've recorded a tiny screen video to show this bug:
Please note,that printer window error 6000 is as expected (since I don't actually need to print this stuff).

I have a little speculation about this. Maybe...
I speculate that Acrobat will offer "convert to Adobe PDF" for any file where it finds a "print" verb available in the Windows shell. Acrobat assumes it can to a ShellExecute printto Adobe PDF. (It works for files you can drag to a specific nondefault printer in the printers control panel).
So, Acrobat doesn't understand PSD files and Photoshop doesn't know anything about Acrobat (though it can of course save as PDF, no connection to this). But because Photoshop offers a service to Windows, and Acrobat tries to use that service unsuccessfully, we end up with this mess.
So, Acrobat may offer conversion for whole classes of file which are quite surprising; and it won't always work (generally for a whole class of file).
End of speculation.

I place a psd file with transparent background on another layer in my InDesign document. The layer b

I placed a psd file with transparent background on another layer in my InDesign document. The layer below has a color (RGB). When the psd file is placed it changes the color on the layer below. I've tried other psd files thinking something is wrong with my file, but get the same result. I have tried for days to figure this out. Can anyone help me?

Wow, thank you! That was fast. I googled that question to death and even bought (another) book on CS5 and never saw that answer. Thank you so much. You made a very good ending to my day! I'd buy you a beer if I could!!

Photoshop CC 2014 Cannot open .psd file because it's not a "photoshop document"

Right, straight to the case,
I was working on a very important file at work. I kept saving it at .psd (photoshop), then I also saved it as .esp and .pdf, just to be able to open then in AI.
Anyhow, after some saving, I had the .psd file ready and done so I closed it. Wen't to open it later to find out the it's not a photoshop document.
I've tried to repair it but even the repair apps can't read it. I'm 100% sure i saved it as .psd
Does anyone have a clue here of what could of have happen to it?
This is how it looks like on "finder"
The file is nearly 300MB large.. so there must be something in it? any help would be MUCH appreciated

My first thought is retrieving a backup copy via Time Machine if you set that up.
Krita is a free app that I have seen open Photoshop files that even Photoshop could not open. There you may find the problem layer or flatten it.
www.krita.org

My PSD file is larger when placed in InDesign both documents are the same dimensions.

My 300dpi PSD file and InDesign CC file are the same dimensions (14.625 x 11)...
I have drawn guides in both files in the same place but when I place the PSD file the image appears larger and the guides do not align even though InDesign indicates that the PSD file is placed at 100%.

Did you double check that both the holding frame and the image are at 100%? It's possible to have a scaled frame with the image at 100% like this:

Reading a Layer's content in a psd file

Hi, I hope somebody would have definitely come across this and could help me out!!!!!!
Well I need to read layers(and their inside content!!) in a psd file. Basically the psd file is an interface with several buttons and icons.
All I need is to get the coordinates of these buttons and icons. Its really easy if you hav just one icon/button per layer and adobe javascripts are easily available.
But how to do this for a layer having two or more button/icons ??
Please revert if you have come across this situation to so that we can share our ideas.
Thanks in advance!!!!!!

I have not done this before so others may have more specific and better answers. Assuming you just have buttons on a common color background without other misc image items to deal with, here are the general steps I would take (I am sure the experts may have a better way or tell if this suggestion will not work)
- Create a Selection that selects everything other than the background (e.g. select background and invert)
- Convert Selection to a Workpath
- From the Pathitems collection pull out the Pathitem associated wtih the Work path.
- The Pathitem has a SubPathItems collection
- Each SubPathItem has a property identifying if it is closed (you should only have closed paths if all you have are buttons and a background)
- Each SubPathItems that is closed has a PathPoints Colleciton
- The series of PathPoint objects in the PathPoints Collection give the locations of all the points of the Path
With the above, there should be enough info to identify the location of all buttons (in theory).
I hope that at least gives you something to thing about.
As a seperate note, the Automate> Crop and Straighten Photos tool bascially has the capability you need since it identifies all objects out of the background and puts them all in their own document. I just did not see a way for you to access the locations from which it pulled the objects.
Good Luck

Photoshop CS6 - Spot channels are not saved correctly in the psd files.

Hi,
I'm using Photoshop CS6 and something happent a few days ago....some Windows or Adobe update messed up everything...I don't know...
Here's how things are.
If I add to an image a couple of new spot channels (any Pantone color) and remove the informations from the CMYK channels (or not-the problem it's there anyway), I should have an image with 6 color plates (CMYK and the 2 Pantone). It doesn't happened anymore...
I'm using Corel to print the files and the previous saved files are fine, I have all the Spot colors there. Now, If I edit any file I've worked on before, and save it again, the spot colors dissapear when I'm importing the psd file in my Corel document. And if there is no information on the CMYK channels, I'm getting a blank image...
I hope someone will give me some ideas because I don't know what to do anymore...
Codrut

Right. It's not reading these new saved files correctly. The old ones are fine.
I forgot to mention one thing. I've got this CS6 as an upgrade and I still have the CS5 one running on the same computer. The CS5 version does the same thing...
Today I tryed again to open a PSD (CS6) with another CS5 version from another computer and came with an error message "Could not complete your request because the specified color book cannot be found". And the file didn't opened....
Who messed up my color book and how can I fix it?

I received a psd file created in CS6 for MAC, I am unable to find the layers when I open it in photoshop in Windows. What can i do to edit the files?

I received a psd file created in CS6 for MAC, I am unable to find the layers when I open it in photoshop in Windows. What can i do to edit the files? What can be done so that I can either open and see the layers or how can the sender save it in a way that it doesn't "merge" the layers in some way to just one?

Could try saving as tiff provided layers and transparency are chosen at the time of saving. But it's hard to give a definitive answer as it depends on the final usage. For example PSD's tend to work better in applications like In Design in comparison with tiff.

Why is my .psd file not rendering correctly in ae

Some layers of the .psd document are not rendered correctly. However they are imported.
The strange thing is that when I first move from Photoshop to Illustrator, save it as an .ai file it is rendered properly (in Ae).
I am kind of clueless as to what is causing this issue.
Kind regards,
Jelle

Okay if more information is needed, i'll provide. However you may disregard my initial comment about illustrator. It flattens the photoshop layers so I do not have any flexibility in After Effects. In other words, my main question remains: why is my psd file not rendering correctly in ae?
Further details:
-photoshop cc and after effects cc.
-macbook pro retina
If still not clear enough, please tell me what details you are looking for furthermore

Is it possible when saving the psd file to have an automatic jpg file saved at the same time?

My work involves preparing images for printing lightboxes and window installations. My clients require to pre-approve the photos before printing.
I usually save my files as psd but since the files are very large in this format I usually save another copy as a jpg file that has a much smaller file size. This makes it possible for me to add these to a presentation and and send them to my client.
Is it possible when saving the psd file to have an automatic jpg file saved at the same time? Or do I still have to do this manually?

If you save the document manually as a PSD file in Phtoshop not from within an Action, Script, Plugin or Droplette. You may be able to write a Photoshop that would do as save as Jpeg, And you should be able trigger its execution by setting up a Script Save event using the Script event manager. When You do a manual save the script should be triggered. I wrote may be able to for I have never tried to write that script or set up a Script Manager Save event. I have only use open events.

What is the best way to get PATHS from one Photoshop psd file to another?

Hi! New on the site, and I signed up specifically to ask the best way to import one .psd file into another, including the paths on the paths palette.
Almost all of my Photoshop drawings make heavy use of vector paths, which I then stroke using using PS natural-media brushes and the "stroke paths" function (usually with "simulate pressure" checked.) Also, my .psd files tend to be, um, HUGE... and I typically break up a whole drawing into separate PS files and then assemble all of them into one final finished graphic.
I have no trouble moving raster stuff from file to file. Just put all the layers I want to transfer into a group and drag the group to the other .psd. Works fine, including layer masks. But I have not found a good way to get vector paths from the Paths palette of one .psd to another. Of course I can select paths and copy them to the Win clipboard, switch to the other .psd, and paste them back in. The drawback to that method is that I lose the correct size relation between the results of previously done "stroke paths" operations (on raster layers) and the paths that generated them. Sometimes the copied-in paths are way too large, sometimes way too small, never Just Right.
As I'm sure most of you know, if you resize an entire Photoshop document from within PS, any paths it contains are correctly resized along with everything else. That's no longer true after grouped raster layers are dragged over to another document but paths are copied and pasted in. The size connection is lost. (Location placement, too.)
I WANT those paths! After I bring a piece of a drawing into the full final drawing, what looked good when I was working on it separately often doesn't look right any longer and I want to re-stroke those paths using different brush diameter, opacity, etc., or maybe even a completely different brush.
I've tried bring outside .psd files in as smart objects with the Place command but either that doesn't work or I'm not doing it right. Using Place, the paths in the Placed document don't come in at all.
I'll be very grateful for any hints or strategies any of you knowledgeable folks can give me. Thanks very much!
Jim
Note, PS CS3 extended on Win 7 pro.

Denny
1. Connect the two macs - firewire, ethernet, sneakernet as suits you - and copy the iPhoto Library Folder from Old Machine to New Machine. Drag it from Home/Pictures to the same location on the new machine.
2. Because all the files 'belong' to the account on the old machine, you have to update the file permissions: hence Download BatchMod from
http://macchampion.com/arbysoft/
And apply it to the iPhoto Library Folder using the settings found here:
http://homepage.mac.com/toad.hall/.Pictures/Forum/BatChmod.png
(Credit to Old Toad for this one).
Note: This must be run on the new machine after copying the files over.
3. Then launch iPhoto on the new machine.
Regards
TD

Add layers from other psd file and retain text layers (Batch processing)

I want to batch process a large number of portraits adding text info from the filename (year_name_number.jpg) to existing text layers. I want to make a template psd file containg the correct labeled text layers formatted and adjusted (With bleding effects and more) How can i add layers from an other psd file to the active document and retaining the text layers editable. The place command in PS5 adds the file as a smart object, no use.
Any ideas?
I tried the combined action/script way, but no joy so far. Right now i am making the text layers with a action, then calling the script from the action. It works but its difficult to make different templates from adjusting a action.
The code i am using now (in combination with a action creating the 3 text layers and other grapchical elements)
var docRef = activeDocument;
// strip the extension off
var fileNameNoExtension = docRef.name;
fileNameNoExtension = fileNameNoExtension.split( "_" );
if ( fileNameNoExtension.length > 1 ) {
fileNameNoExtension.length--;
fileNameNoExtension = fileNameNoExtension.join("_");
var myString = fileNameNoExtension;
var mySplitResult = myString.split("_");
var textLayer = docReflayers['Year']; // define the existing text layer to a var
docRef.activeLayer = textLayer;
textLayer.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;
var T1 = textLayer.textItem;
T1.contents = mySplitResult[0]
var textLayer = docRef.layers['Name']; // define the existing text layer to a var
docRef.activeLayer = textLayer;
textLayer.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;
var T2 = textLayer.textItem;
T2.contents = mySplitResult[1]
var textLayer = docRef.layers['Number']; // define the existing text layer to a var
docRef.activeLayer = textLayer;
textLayer.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;
var T3 = textLayer.textItem;
T3.contents = mySplitResult[2]
Thanks
Eivind

norway_photo wrote:
Here is my intended workflow:
- A set of same size portraits labeled "year_name_number.jpg"
- A template.psd os same size with graphical elements and text layers (named "year", "name" and "number")
- A script or action copy/pasting og adding all layers from the template.psd file to the open portrait file, retaining text layers editable.
- A script (The one i have working) changing the text layers added from the template to text from the filename.
- A action saving this as a PDF ready for print.
This way i can process a large number of portraits, add names and other information and save it as a file ready for print.
I can image it is much easier to edit a template than writing a script or an action creating all the graphical elements.
And even better, to change this template for different customers/departments/logos.
Basically i need a way to add layers to an open file using a batch file or script.
Eivind
OK I understand what your trying to do and now I do not agree with your conclusion you made in you first append about place being no good for you. Its is I think a perfect solution for you. I feel you need to address the process from a new angle.
I am very familiar with templates I use them all the time for collages which I populate with an actions. However I do not batch this process and my process is interactive. If you look at what your trying to do from the angle of creating a collage. You will see what you are trying to do is automate the population of a single image collage using a single template in a batch process. An example of one of my single image collage populated by one of my actions that has been saved as a jpeg image file. My actions are played in Photoshop with no document opened. After my action is play there is a single collage document in Photoshop that contains layers that can be tweaked all text is in text layers the can be edited.
If I wanted to automate the batch population of a single collage template I think all I would need to know is three thing.
1.) The location of the input images
2.) The full Path of the PSD template file.
3.) The location to store the output file
Looking at some of the recent threads in this forum I could almost cut and past the script you want to put together. There was a recent thread that had javascript code to process files in a folder and process only a list of file types. There also was a thread that had a place function in it to place images into the current document or create a new document to place the image into. The image was read from the web using a URL. This thread has code to change a text layer. At first I though you may need to open these image file to get at its meta-data to get the Portrait image Exif creation data. But see all you need is the Filename for it has the data you want the year and name. So the function that get the image files from the folder will give you that. The Script needs to Open the Template PSD file and retrieve the prototype text layers text content then the scrip needs a loop that get the next image file to be processed from the folder get filename function. In the loop the image files are place into the open template above a place holder layer like the Background layer. Then using the prototype text contents and the filename are used create the new content for the text layer and then change the text layers content to it. Follow that up with a save as for the output file. Once the output file is saved delete the placed smart object layer. When this loop ends the script will close the document with no save and end. As for the three inputs you need the script could either have a dialog like the images processor or simply prompt you for the folders and template file.

L'il Help Please! Text changes color half way up some characters in PDF created from PSD files

Hi there,
I have been asked to refresh the layout of an existing document that utilizes Zapfino font. The font is yellow with a black stroke at 50% opacity and also with a drop shadow. The group of text with the inconsistent color is immediately under a group of text w/ the same layer styles applied (which remains solid with the correct color).
When I save the PSD file as a PDF to send the client, the yellow switches to white in a clean break arbitrarily in some of the characters in the output PDF files. I've tried rebuilding the file twice to see if there was some error in the file but to no avail.
Any ideas on what I could try?
Cheers,
Mandi

When I save the PSD file as a PDF to send the client, the yellow switches to white in a clean break arbitrarily in some of the characters in the output PDF files.
How about posting a screenshot?
Is the type one of the faux-styles (faux-bold, faux-italic etc.)?
if this doesnt help, maybe try rasterizing the text?
In general I would rather recommend »Convert to Shape« to at least maintain vector-output, but if a stroke is applied that’s probably useless anyway.

PSD files saved as Photoshop Image 13

I have been using Photoshop CS6 (64 Bit) on my Windows 8.1 laptop (64 bit) for over a year and has been working perfect. About two days ago something weird happened. All of my PSD files show that they are Photoshop Image 13 files instead of showing it as a regular Photoshop document. When I open a file or import another Photoshop file, I get a dialogue box saying that the "file cannot be opened because it is not compatible with the current version of Photoshop". I can't figure out what happened. I never saved any files differently that could cause this. I even checked my preferences to see if something was accidentally changed but everything is unchanged. I even uninstalled Design And Web Premium CS6 from my computer and reinstalled it to no avail. What happened? Can someone please help!

Photoshop 13 is Photoshop CS6
Try resetting your preferences
How to delete/reset Photoshop preferences
If that doesn't work see if your file associations have changed
Windows Change which programs Windows uses by default - Windows Help
Mac http://osxdaily.com/2009/10/25/change-file-associations-in-mac-os-x/

PSD File Definition Document

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