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For a layered .psd, open a working copy in Krita first; use GIMP when the job is raster retouching, compositing or export. For a vector .ai, open it in Inkscape and save the editable result as .svg. If you need one browser-based tool for both formats and open-source licensing is not a requirement, Photopea can open PSD and AI files, but it is not fully open source.
No alternative guarantees perfect fidelity. PSD is an internal format, and Illustrator files can depend on PDF compatibility data, fonts, effects and linked assets. Preserve the original, inspect the import, and keep an interchange copy such as SVG, PDF, TIFF or OpenRaster.
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Choose the application by the file and the job
PSD and AI are not interchangeable kinds of artwork. PSD is primarily a layered raster document, although it can contain text, vector shapes and other elements. AI is a vector-illustration format associated with Illustrator; some files also carry a PDF-compatible representation. The best open-source choice depends on which structure you need to preserve.
| Application | Primary focus | PSD handling | AI, EPS and PDF handling | Working format | Access and licensing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krita | Raster painting, layered image editing and compositing | Loads and saves raster layers, blending modes, layer styles, vector shapes, text layers, layer groups and transparency masks from PSD; exact rendering of every Photoshop feature is not guaranteed | Not the vector-first choice for Illustrator artwork | .kra; can export common raster and interchange formats |
Desktop open-source application; current operating-system requirements depend on the release |
| GIMP | Raster retouching, compositing and export | PSD and PSB are listed as import and export formats | Its developer format table lists AI support as none; an AI file may still expose its embedded PDF compatibility layer in another application | .xcf; exports to many raster formats |
Desktop open-source application; current operating-system requirements depend on the release |
| Inkscape | Vector drawing and page layout | Not intended for preserving a complex layered PSD | Lists AI, EPS and PDF among supported import/export formats; results vary with Illustrator-specific features | .svg |
Desktop open-source application; current operating-system requirements depend on the release |
| Photopea | Browser-based image and design editing | Lists PSD support | Lists AI support and many other complex formats | Browser editor with its own save/export options | Runs in a browser, but its repository explicitly says it is not fully open source |
For a layered Photoshop document, start with Krita when preserving layers and masks matters. Choose GIMP for pixel-level repair, compositing or a straightforward export. For Illustrator artwork, start with Inkscape and make SVG your editable handoff. Use Photopea only when the convenience of opening both formats in a browser outweighs the open-source requirement.
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Prepare a safe working copy
Importing can change text wrapping, blend modes, masks, effects or linked images. Work non-destructively so you can return to the source if an element does not translate correctly.
- Duplicate the original
.psd,.psbor.aifile. Give the copy a clear name such asproject-import-test.psd. - Keep the original in its native format and location. Do not save over it from another application.
- Collect linked images, placed graphics and the fonts used by the document if the sender can provide them. Missing resources can make an otherwise successful import look wrong.
- Note the intended output: editable layered artwork, a print-ready PDF, a transparent PNG, a web graphic or simply a preview. That decision determines which compromises are acceptable.
- Open the copy and inspect it at 100 percent and at the final output size. A file can look correct as a thumbnail while masks, small type or effects are broken when enlarged.
Open a PSD in Krita
Krita has the clearest documented route for layered PSD work. Its manual states that it supports loading and saving raster layers, blending modes, layer styles, vector shapes, text layers, layer groups and transparency masks from PSD. That is broader than simply importing a flattened preview, but it is not a promise that every Photoshop-only feature will render identically.
Step-by-step
- Launch Krita and choose File then Open.
- Select the duplicate
.psdor.psbfile. Let the document finish loading before editing. - In the Layers docker, expand groups and check that the layer count and nesting resemble the original. Toggle groups and masks one at a time to locate differences.
- Check text layers for missing fonts, changed line breaks and altered tracking. A substituted font can change the dimensions of an entire layout.
- Inspect blending modes, layer styles, vector shapes and transparency masks against a reference export from the source application.
- Save the editable working document as
.kra. This keeps Krita’s own editing information while the original PSD remains untouched. - When another application needs the file, export a copy as PSD, TIFF, PDF, PNG or OpenRaster as appropriate. Reopen the exported file and verify it before sending it onward.
What may not survive perfectly
PSD has no complete public online specification. Krita describes it as an internal format that must be reverse engineered and contrasts it with interchange formats such as PDF, TIFF, EXR, ORA and SVG. Consequently, no program outside Photoshop can support PSD at 100 percent. A layer can be present but render differently because its blend algorithm, style, mask, smart-object behavior or text engine is not identical.
Use Krita’s import when editability is more valuable than pixel-perfect parity. If the document is a final advertisement, package artwork or other high-stakes file, compare a flattened reference image with the imported result before approving it.
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Open a PSD in GIMP
GIMP’s developer format table lists PSD and PSB as both import and export formats. It is a practical choice for raster retouching, compositing, color adjustments, masking and conversion. Its strengths are different from Krita’s: the safest expectation is that you will obtain usable raster layers and then finish the image in GIMP, not that every Photoshop-specific construct will remain fully editable.
Step-by-step
- Open GIMP and select File then Open. Choose the working copy.
- Review the imported layer stack. Confirm image dimensions, color mode, transparency and group structure before making changes.
- Zoom into text, masks, shadows and areas that use unusual blending modes. Compare them with a known-good preview.
- Perform retouching or compositing in GIMP. Keep major edits on new layers so you can disable them during comparison.
- Save the editable GIMP version in
.xcf, then export the delivery format separately. Retain the original PSD for anyone who must continue in Photoshop. - If you need to return a layered file, export PSD and test that export in the receiving application; do not assume that a successful save means every feature was preserved.
Why GIMP is not the answer for native AI files
GIMP’s own format table lists AI as None. Therefore, do not promise that GIMP opens every .ai file. An Illustrator file often includes PDF data for compatibility, but that does not turn GIMP into a native Illustrator editor. Ask for an SVG or PDF instead, or open the AI file in a vector application first and export a format GIMP can use.
Open an Illustrator AI file in Inkscape
Inkscape is the open-source, vector-first option. Its main format is SVG, and its reference lists AI, EPS and PDF among supported import and export formats. Saving the imported artwork as SVG gives you a more open working file and avoids repeatedly editing the original proprietary document.
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- Open Inkscape and choose File then Open or Import, depending on the release and the way you want the artwork placed.
- Select the duplicate
.aifile. If an import dialog offers a choice between the document’s vector data and a PDF-compatible view, choose the option that matches your goal and note which one you selected. - Inspect the page size, artboards, clipping paths, gradients, strokes, transparency and text. Zoom in on effects and small type.
- Resolve missing fonts by installing the permitted font or converting a copy of the text to paths when the recipient no longer needs live text. Keep a live-text version when future editing matters.
- Save the working file as
.svg. SVG is Inkscape’s native format and is generally a better long-term handoff than repeatedly modifying the AI source. - Export a PDF for print exchange or a PNG for raster delivery. Open the exported file in a separate viewer and check dimensions, colors, clipping and transparency.
When the AI import is incomplete
Illustrator-specific effects, plug-ins, linked assets, fonts and advanced appearance settings may not have an equivalent in Inkscape. If objects disappear or the page is blank, ask the sender for an SVG or PDF. Many AI files contain PDF compatibility data; when present, that data can provide a usable visual handoff even though it may not preserve every original editing feature.
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A PDF is often the right choice for a print or proofing handoff, while SVG is better when the recipient needs vector objects. Neither should be treated as a guarantee that proprietary effects remain editable.
Use a browser tool only when open-source licensing is optional
Photopea lists both PSD and AI support and can be useful when you cannot install desktop software. It is a browser-based fallback for opening, inspecting and exporting complex files. Its repository explicitly states that Photopea is not fully open source, so it does not satisfy a requirement for an entirely open-source workflow.
- Open the service in a current browser and load a copy of the file.
- Check layers, text, masks, fonts and effects just as you would in a desktop application.
- Save or export to a format your next application can use, then download the result and verify it locally.
- Do not upload confidential artwork unless your organization’s security policy permits browser processing. Keep the source and downloaded copy under your own control.
Understand the compatibility limits before you approve an import
PSD is not a universal interchange format
PSD can carry much more than a flat bitmap, but its behavior is tied to the application that created it. Krita’s documentation says that PSD lacks an official online specification and that outside applications cannot support it completely. This affects advanced blend modes, layer styles, smart objects, adjustment behavior, masks, text engines and other implementation details. A file that opens successfully may still require visual correction.
AI can mean vector data, PDF data or both
The .ai extension does not tell you which Illustrator features a receiving application will understand. Some files include PDF compatibility data, while others depend heavily on Illustrator-specific structures. Inkscape is the appropriate first test for vector artwork; if its result is incomplete, request SVG or PDF from the source rather than forcing a raster application to interpret the file.
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Fonts and linked files are part of the document’s appearance
A missing font can reflow text, change line breaks and move objects. A missing linked image can leave an empty frame or a low-resolution preview. Before judging an import, identify whether the source used live fonts, placed files, clipping paths, external profiles or plug-ins. Ask the sender to package those resources or provide outlined text and embedded images when licensing allows.
Choose an interchange format for the next handoff
Keep the native source for archival purposes, but choose a format designed for exchange when several applications must participate.
- OpenRaster (ORA): useful for cross-application layered raster work when both applications support it.
- TIFF: suitable for high-quality raster exchange and often safer than PSD for a flattened or carefully prepared image.
- PDF: practical for proofs, print delivery and viewing when the recipient does not need every layer editable.
- SVG: the preferred editable handoff for vector artwork that can be represented with standard SVG features.
- PNG: appropriate for a final raster image with transparency, but it does not preserve editable layers or vectors.
- EXR: an interchange option for workflows that require high-dynamic-range image data, where the receiving applications support it.
Krita specifically recommends formats such as ORA or TIFF instead of relying on PSD as a universal interchange format. Export the format that matches the recipient’s actual need rather than sending every possible version.
Troubleshoot the common failure modes
The PSD opens as a flat image
Confirm that you opened the original layered file rather than a PNG or JPEG preview. If layers are still absent, try Krita, which documents support for a wider range of PSD layer content. Ask the sender for a TIFF, ORA or the original application’s native file if the layers are essential.
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Layer names or groups look wrong
Expand every group, check hidden and clipped layers, and compare the layer count with a reference screenshot. Save a test copy in the receiving application’s native format before making structural edits.
Text changed position or appearance
Install the correct fonts when you are licensed to do so, reopen the document and compare line breaks. For a final vector handoff, request text converted to paths; for an editable handoff, retain live text and include the font information.
Blend modes, shadows or masks look different
Toggle the affected layer, compare against a flattened reference and rebuild the effect using the receiving application’s equivalent tools. Do not flatten the only copy; keep a version with the imported layers available for later correction.
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Inkscape shows a blank or incomplete AI file
Check whether the file includes PDF compatibility data and try opening that representation. If the result remains incomplete, request SVG or PDF from the sender. An AI file that depends on proprietary effects or plug-ins may not have a faithful open-source translation.
The exported file looks different from the canvas
Reopen the exported file in another viewer, inspect it at 100 percent, and check page dimensions, color settings, transparency, clipping and fonts. Export again only after identifying the specific mismatch.
Recommended workflows by situation
You received a layered PSD and must keep editing layers
- Duplicate the source.
- Open the copy in Krita.
- Audit groups, masks, text, blend modes and styles.
- Save a
.kraworking file. - Export PSD, TIFF, ORA or PDF only after checking the result in the recipient’s application.
You need to retouch a PSD and deliver a finished image
- Open the copy in GIMP or Krita.
- Perform retouching on separate layers where practical.
- Save the editable project in the application’s native format.
- Export PNG, TIFF or PDF for delivery and inspect the exported file independently.
You received an Illustrator logo or illustration
- Open the copy in Inkscape.
- Check fonts, linked assets, gradients, clipping paths and effects.
- Save the editable result as SVG.
- Export PDF for print exchange or PNG for raster use.
You only need a quick preview of either format
Use a browser-based option such as Photopea when installation is impossible and the file is suitable for online processing. Remember that this solves access, not the open-source licensing requirement, and still requires a visual check after export.
Quick Recap
Final verification checklist
- The original PSD, PSB or AI file is stored unchanged.
- The working copy opens without missing pages, groups or obvious errors.
- Fonts are present or the text treatment is documented.
- Linked images and placed assets are available and at the required resolution.
- Blend modes, masks, clipping paths, layer styles, transparency and effects match a reference.
- The chosen editable format is appropriate: KRA or XCF for raster editing, SVG for vector editing.
- The delivery export has been reopened and checked in a separate viewer or application.
- Anyone receiving the file knows which elements are editable and which were flattened, outlined or rasterized.
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