PSD and PDF are two types of documents that we see very often on the internet these days. But even if we know them by name and have used them, it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly what each one is for. In this article we will teach you what PSD and PDF files are, and how to convert a PSD file to PDF for free online.
Meet PSD and PDF files
PSD
PSD is a type of graphics file. Its name actually comes from the acronym for PhotoShop Document . As the name implies, this is a file type that is primarily used with the Adobe Photoshop program. However, they can also be used on Android devices .
If you don’t know what Adobe Photoshop is and what it is for , we will tell you what is known as “Raster Graphics Editor”. It is a program that allows you to create and edit images, to save them in a raster graphics format, such as JPG, PNG, or GIF.
The main feature that separates Photoshop from other similar programs such as Microsoft Paint, is the support for layers. When you create or edit an image in Paint, everything you do is saved on a single layer, which is the image itself. But when you create or edit an image in PhotoShop, you can work in different layers.
This means that you can have a layer with a drawing, another layer with colors, and another layer with details. Or as many artists in the digital world do: you can have a layer for the background of the drawing, a layer for what is in front, and another for the details; and you can also copy and paste these layers into other files.
But raster files like JPG or PNG don’t save layers, they only save the whole image, so Photoshop needs a file type that supports layers , in order to save the information on each layer, rather than an image as such.
That is the PSD file . It is basically an image file , but it supports each layer separately. However, the PSD file is used only with PhotoShop and some compatible programs.
Therefore, when viewing an image, you will not be able to see it if it is a PSD file. Therefore, when you finish a drawing, a presentation, or a document in photohop; you need to export it, or convert it to a file that others can easily view.
PDF files support text, images, and sometimes even code. But if there is something that they do not support, it is layers. The name PDF comes from the initials Portable Document Format ( Portable Document Format ).
As the name implies, it is made to be portable. Almost all devices can open and even edit PDF files in one way or another, so the best way to send your presentation, document, and even drawing is in PDF.
How to convert a PSD file to PDF and vice versa
If you entered here, chances are that you already know what each file is, but are not sure how they are handled. If you are a Photoshop user, all you have to do to convert your project to a PDF is use the export button within Photoshop.
You must open your project, select the “file” menu on the top bar, go to “export”, then “Export as …” There you will have several options to select. Among them are JPG, TIFF, and PDF.
How to convert the file online
If you don’t have photoshop, but need to read a PSD file , it is best to convert it using a free online converter. This is also convenient for you if you have photoshop and want to use it to edit a PDF
There are many services that can convert your file for free; the one we recommend in this article is Convertio . To convert your PSD with Convertio , all you have to do is:
- Upload the file to the page (Don’t worry, nobody but you will be able to see it) by clicking on “select files”
- Choose input and output file types
- Press convert
- Download the converted file .
And that’s it, you can take your file anywhere, and open it with any PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat, Nitro or Foxit Reader. The same instructions serve you to do the opposite, convert a PDF to PSD to edit it with Photoshop. If you need character recognition, Convertio also offers that service for free, but only up to 10 pages.
