PSD vs SGI
A detailed comparison of Adobe Photoshop Document and SGI Image — file size, quality, compatibility, and which format to choose for your workflow.
Adobe Photoshop Document
Raster & Vector ImagesPSD is the native file format for Adobe Photoshop, storing layered image data, masks, color spaces, and editing metadata. Converting PSD flattens layers into a single composite image.
About PSD filesSGI Image
Raster & Vector ImagesSGI (Silicon Graphics Image) is a raster image format developed by Silicon Graphics for use on their IRIX workstations. It supports both uncompressed and RLE-compressed storage with up to 4 channels including alpha.
About SGI filesStrengths Comparison
PSD Strengths
- Preserves every Photoshop feature: layers, masks, adjustments, smart objects, text, effects, styles.
- Backward-compatible — files from 1990 still open in modern Photoshop.
- Industry-standard handoff format between designers, agencies, and prepress.
- Supports 32-bit HDR, CMYK, Lab, Duotone, and spot colors for professional print work.
- Rich metadata, color profiles, and printing instructions survive round-trips.
SGI Strengths
- Historic VFX pipeline format.
- 16-bit channel support.
- RLE compression.
- ImageMagick compatibility.
Limitations
PSD Limitations
- Proprietary — full fidelity only in Adobe tools; other apps approximate.
- File sizes are enormous (hundreds of MB is common for complex documents).
- Not a web format — browsers cannot display PSD natively.
- Binary structure is complex and version-dependent; parsers often lag the latest Photoshop version.
- Hard 2 GB / 30 000 px limit forces professionals to switch to .psb for large artwork.
SGI Limitations
- Legacy — SGI Inc. is gone.
- Superseded by OpenEXR/DPX in film.
- Niche tooling.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | PSD | SGI |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | image/vnd.adobe.photoshop | image/x-sgi |
| Max dimensions | 30 000 × 30 000 px (PSD); 300 000 × 300 000 (PSB) | — |
| Max file size | 2 GB (PSD); 4 EB (PSB) | — |
| Color modes | Bitmap, Grayscale, Duotone, Indexed, RGB, CMYK, Lab, Multichannel | — |
| Bit depths | 1, 8, 16, 32 bits per channel | — |
| Extensions | — | .sgi, .rgb, .rgba |
| Compression | — | None or RLE |
| Bit depth | — | 8 or 16 bits per channel |
Typical File Sizes
PSD
- Simple 2-layer logo 500 KB - 3 MB
- Website mockup with 20 layers 20-80 MB
- Magazine spread with hi-res photos 150-500 MB
- Matte painting / CGI composite 1-4 GB
SGI
- 1080p 8-bit SGI frame 4-8 MB
- 4K 16-bit SGI 50-100 MB
Ready to convert?
Convert between PSD and SGI online, free, and without installing anything. Encrypted upload, automatic deletion after 60 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
PSD (Photoshop Document) is the native file format for Adobe Photoshop. It preserves layers, masks, adjustment layers, paths, and smart objects, making it the industry standard for professional image editing and design workflows.
PSD (Photoshop Document) is the native formatoo de arquivo para Adobe Photoshop. It preserves layers, masks, adjustment layers, paths, e smart objects, making it the industry padrão para profissional image editando e design workflows.
PSD files open in Adobe Photoshop (full editing), GIMP (free, partial layer support), Photopea (free online editor), and Affinity Photo. For viewing only, XnView and IrfanView work well.
Os arquivos PSD abrem no Adobe Photoshop (edição completa), GIMP (grátis, suporte parcial de camadas), Photopea (editor online gratuito) e Affinity Photo. Para apenas visualização, XnView e IrfanView funcionam bem. Para compartilhar, converta para JPG ou PNG com o KaijuConverter.
Use PSD during active Photoshop editing to preserve all Photoshop-specific features like smart objects and adjustment layers. Use TIFF for sharing layered files with non-Adobe software or for archival in a more universal format.
Use PSD durante active Photoshop editando to preserve all Photoshop-specific features like smart objects e adjustment layers. usar TIFF para compartilhando layered arquivos com non-Adobe software ou para archival em um more universal formato.