LHTSOFT Photo · BETA · Product guide

How to open and safely export Photoshop PSD files in LHTSOFT Photo

A realistic PSD compatibility and editing workflow, including layer masks, 16-bit conversion, unsupported effects and backup checks.

PSD is a complex document format rather than a simple photo file. LHTSOFT Photo can read useful layered content from many PSD files, but it is not an exact replacement for Photoshop. This guide helps you preserve your source and recognize when a round trip may change it.

Before opening a PSD

PSD import supports common RGB raster content and several blend modes. Some 16-bit content is converted for 8-bit editing, which can reduce tonal precision in gradients. Unsupported metadata and Photoshop-only editing constructs may not round-trip.

  1. Keep a separate untouched copy of the original PSD. Avoid treating your downloaded export as the only surviving source.
  2. Open the PSD locally and let the editor finish decoding its layers; larger documents may require more device memory.
  3. Check the layer count, groups, blend appearance and any masks against a known screenshot of the original.

What commonly changes in a PSD round trip

Smart objects, native Photoshop text, advanced effects, certain color profiles and unusual adjustment layers may not retain their original editable meaning. A file that visually resembles the original can still have fewer editable features.

LHTSOFT Photo-specific adjustment layers can require flattening on PSD export. If the export warning says that artwork will be rasterized, save an .lhtp copy first and do not overwrite your source PSD.

Safe editing steps

  1. Use the layer list to identify the raster layer you want to change. Lock layers that must remain untouched.
  2. Make localized raster or mask edits; keep newly added text as an editable LHTSOFT layer in the .lhtp source file.
  3. Export a PNG preview to confirm the composite appearance, then export the limited PSD only if another application needs it.

Troubleshooting mismatched appearance

Unexpected colors may indicate a profile or bit-depth conversion; inspect both the original and the export in a consistent color-managed viewer. Disappearing effects often mean an unsupported layer representation rather than a failed download.

If import fails because of memory or unsupported data, make a flattened PNG copy in a compatible desktop application and work on that copy instead. This sacrifices editability but preserves appearance more predictably.

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