Private browser converter
JPG to PSD Converter — Non-Destructive PSD in Your Browser
Locally. No upload. No account.
This free tool wraps a JPG photo into a PSD file that opens in Photoshop, GIMP, or Photopea. The pixels stay exactly as they are — compression artifacts included — but you get a format built for non-destructive editing. Conversion runs on your device; the photo is never uploaded to a server.
Convert JPG or JPEG to PSD
100% client-side — nothing leaves your deviceWhat to expect
JPG (what you drop in)
- Flat, compressed pixels — no layers
- Compression artifacts already baked in
- No alpha channel — always opaque
PSD (what you get)
- Your photo on its own named layer
- Same pixels — nothing recompressed or cleaned up
- Opens in Photoshop, GIMP, or Photopea for non-destructive edits
This converter does not remove JPG compression artifacts or restore detail lost during the original export — it wraps the existing pixels so future edits can happen on separate layers.
What you get
One untouched photo layer
Your JPG lands on its own layer exactly as it was — no smoothing, no artifact removal, nothing guessed.
Room for non-destructive edits
Add adjustment layers, masks, and retouching on top without ever touching the original pixels underneath.
Standard PSD file
We verify every build by re-opening it — it works in Photoshop, GIMP, and Photopea.
Nothing uploaded
Conversion runs in your browser's memory. Your photo never touches a server.
What changes — and what does not
| Property | JPG | PSD |
|---|---|---|
| File format | JPG | PSD |
| Layers | None — one flat photo | 1 image layer |
| Compression artifacts | Baked into the pixels | Unchanged — not removed or hidden |
| Color mode | RGB, 8-bit | RGB, 8-bit — unchanged |
| Resolution | Source DPI (if set) | 72 PPI |
| Transparency | Not applicable — JPG has no alpha | Not applicable — layer is fully opaque |
| Editability | Pixels only | Ready for masks, adjustments, added layers |
What's preserved
| What | Preserved? |
|---|---|
| Photo pixels & dimensions | Yes — byte-for-byte identical image data |
| Image quality | Unchanged — JPG compression artifacts are not removed (and not made worse) |
| Color | Converted to standard RGB (sRGB), 8-bit |
| DPI / resolution | Set to 72 PPI — the source DPI value is not carried over |
| EXIF metadata (camera, GPS, date) | No — stripped during conversion |
| Text as editable text | No — a photo stores pixels only |
| Transparency | Not applicable — JPG has no alpha channel, the layer is fully opaque |
How it works
- Drop your photo. Drag a JPG or JPEG into the upload zone, or click to choose one.
- The PSD is built locally. Your browser wraps the photo into a PSD — no server involved.
- Check the result. Preview the layer that will go into your file.
- Download and edit. Save the .psd, then open it in Photoshop, GIMP, or Photopea and work on top of the original.
Use cases
Retouch a client photo without risk
Keep the original pixels on their own layer and put every retouching change on layers above it, so nothing you do is permanent.
Prep a scanned photo for restoration
Bring an old scan into a working file so dust removal and color correction happen on adjustment layers, not the source pixels.
Composite a photo into a design
Drop a photo in so it sits as its own layer next to text, shapes, and other elements.
Hand a photo to an editor
Give a retoucher a layered file instead of a flat photo they'd have to duplicate manually before working on it.
JPG to PSD vs other converters
| Tool | Where it runs | Output | Free limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LayerPorter | Your browser — no upload | Photo on its own layer | Free, no account |
| Convertio | Cloud — file uploaded | Single layer (per their FAQ) | 1 GB free; batch conversion in Premium |
| CloudConvert | Cloud — file uploaded | Not stated | Free tier + paid credits |
| Photopea | Your browser — no upload | Full editor — retouch, then save as PSD | Free, ad-supported |
If you plan to retouch the photo heavily, Photopea gives you a full editor around the same client-side approach — you can open your JPG there directly and save as PSD after editing.
Browser extension
Need real editable layers?
A JPG photo only ever gives you one flattened layer, compression artifacts included. To pull real text, image, button, and background layers, capture the live page itself instead of wrapping an exported file.
Continue working with your file
Three ways to turn a JPG into a PSD
| Tool | Runs where | Output | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LayerPorter | Your browser — no upload | One photo layer, pixels untouched | Free, no account, no compression re-encode |
| Photopea | Your browser — no upload | Full editor — retouch, then save as PSD | Free, ad-supported, more setup |
| Photoshop (File > Place Embedded) | Desktop app | One placed/smart-object layer | Requires a paid license |
FAQ
Can I edit layers after converting a JPG?
You get one layer: the photo itself. A JPG is a flat image, so there are no original design layers to recover. The point of the PSD is what you add on top — adjustment layers, masks, text — without touching the original pixels.
Does the conversion remove JPG compression artifacts?
No. Artifacts are baked into the pixels, and this tool never alters pixels. What changes is your workflow: in a PSD you can retouch on separate layers and keep the original untouched underneath.
Is JPEG to PSD a different conversion?
No. JPG and JPEG are the same format — the three-letter version comes from old Windows file-name limits. This tool accepts both extensions and treats them identically.
Is my camera's EXIF data kept in the PSD?
No, EXIF is stripped: the PSD contains only the image itself. If you need the shot date or GPS data, keep the original JPG — conversion does not delete or modify your source file.
Does this converter upload my photos?
No. The PSD is assembled by your browser on your own device. Nothing is transmitted, so there is no server copy to worry about — a difference worth knowing if your photos are personal or client work.
Why is the PSD file so much bigger than my original JPG?
PSD stores pixel data uncompressed, while JPG is already compressed. A 5 MB photo can turn into a 30-40 MB PSD — that's the format's own storage method, not a sign anything was added or duplicated.
Can I just open the JPG directly in Photoshop instead of using this converter?
Yes — Photoshop opens a JPG straight into a single-layer document, the same starting point this tool builds. Converting here is useful when you want a portable PSD to hand off before anyone opens Photoshop.
Does converting to PSD add layers, masks, or adjustments automatically?
No. The file arrives with exactly one layer: your photo. Masks, adjustment layers, and any other Photoshop features are things you add yourself once it's open.
What's the difference between this and PNG to PSD?
The pixels. A JPG already carries compression artifacts that this tool leaves untouched, while a PNG is usually lossless and may include transparency. Use the PNG to PSD converter for images with an alpha channel.
More conversions
A JPG is a finished, compressed photo: one flat image, no layers, quality already spent. Converting it to PSD doesn’t undo any of that — it gives the photo a container designed for careful, reversible editing, so every change you make from here on can be undone.