PhotoCraft PSD Compatibility: What Opens and What Breaks

PhotoCraft opens PSD files, but fidelity is the weak point. It reads the publicly documented parts of Adobe's format, which covers everyday files well — and leaves complex professional files risky. Here is exactly where things stand.

What imports cleanly

Standard layers, layer groups, masks, text layers, basic adjustment layers, and common blend modes generally come through fine. If your PSD is the kind of file a hobbyist or student makes — a poster, a photo edit, a simple composite — it will probably open and look right.

What breaks or degrades

• Smart objects may not import correctly or at all.
• Advanced layer effects (complex strokes, pattern overlays, newer effects) can render differently or drop out.
• Newer Photoshop features added in recent Adobe versions are the least likely to be supported.
• Very large or complex files stress the alpha renderer and are the most likely to crash the app.

The 65% accuracy caveat

Even when a file opens without errors, PhotoCraft's rendering matches Photoshop's pixel output only about 65% of the time. Subtle differences in filters, blending, and color handling add up. Always compare the opened file against a flattened reference export from Photoshop before doing serious work on it.

Safe workflow for PSD files

Never open your only copy. Duplicate the file first, open the duplicate in PhotoCraft, and immediately export a PNG to compare against the original. If you are round-tripping (Photoshop → PhotoCraft → Photoshop), expect some fidelity loss on the return trip and verify layer by layer.

Who this is fine for

If you are a former Photoshop user with an archive of old PSDs you want to peek at without a subscription, PhotoCraft is genuinely useful. If you are collaborating with Photoshop users on active client work, it is not safe yet — use Photopea for that instead.