How to use it
- Pick a background colour for any transparent areas.
- Drop in the PSDs.
- Download the JPGs, or add a watermark with the watermark tool before sending.
Previews for people without Photoshop
Designers constantly need to show work to people who do not have Photoshop: clients, managers, printers, friends. A JPG of the flattened design opens on every phone and in every inbox, at a tiny fraction of the PSD's size. This page produces that JPG straight from the PSD, using the composite image Photoshop saved.
Protect drafts
If the work is not yet paid for or approved, run the JPGs through the watermark tool with a tiled “DRAFT” or your studio name. Keep the resolution modest too: a preview does not need print resolution, and the resizer can bring it down to around 2000 pixels.
Transparency
PSDs with transparent backgrounds get the background colour you choose, white by default. For designs that will sit on a coloured page, pick that colour so the preview looks right.
PSD and JPG compared
| PSD | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| First released | 1990 | 1992 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation or pages | Layers | No |
| Best for | Working files in Photoshop | Photos for sharing, email and print |
| Support | Adobe and many editors; not browsers | Universal |
Questions people ask
Can clients open the result on their phones?
Yes. JPG opens everywhere.
Will layer effects show?
Yes, if the PSD was saved with Maximize Compatibility on, which is Photoshop’s default.
How do I keep the file small?
Resize to about 2000 px on the long edge and use quality 80 to 88.