PSD to PDF
Share the visible Photoshop composite as a one-page PDF for sign-off. The page does not preserve PSD layers, masks, or editable adjustments.
Format Comparison & Technical Specifications
| Specification | PSD | |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | - | application/pdf |
| Type | - | document container |
| Compression | - | Flate / JPEG / JBIG2 / CCITT |
| Standard Specification | - | ISO 32000-2:2020 |
| Magic Bytes Header | - | 25 50 44 46 (%PDF) |
Format Overview & Applications
Photoshop teams can continue editing the PSD; reviewers can mark up its current visible composite without receiving or needing its layer stack.
Technical Specifications & Codec Breakdown
The PSD decoder skips the layer-and-mask section and reads the merged composite image data; it turns that composite into RGBA PNG pixels, so Photoshop layers do not become separate PDF elements.
OS & Browser Compatibility
A Photoshop user can return to PSD for layer edits; a reviewer can open the flattened page in PDF software and comment on the visible composition.
Useful info
Save or refresh the merged composite in Photoshop before converting; this path reads the composite stored in the PSD, not the editable layer stack.
Format Comparison & Technical Specifications
A 3000×2000 Photoshop comp produces a 20×13.3 inch page for the studio sign-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide a layer in the PDF later?
No layer controls are written to the PDF. It contains the merged composite that was present in the PSD when converted.
What happens to a 16-bit PSD composite?
The decoder writes 8-bit RGBA pixels; for 16-bit channels it takes the high byte, reducing the source channel precision.