Layers are the building blocks
Every PSD file is a stack of layers rendered from bottom to top. Each layer has its own pixel content, position, opacity, blend mode, and optional mask. When Photoshop renders the final image, it composites these layers together according to their order and settings.
Types of layers in a PSD file
Raster layers
The most common type. A raster layer contains pixel data (an RGBA bitmap). This is what you get when you paint, paste an image, or apply a filter in Photoshop.
Text layers
Text layers store the actual text string, font name, size, color, and paragraph settings separately from the rendered pixels. This means you can extract the text content even if you do not have the font installed.
Shape layers
Shape layers store vector path data. When exported, they are rasterized at the document resolution.
Smart objects
A smart object is a container that holds another file inside the PSD. This can be another PSD, an AI (Illustrator) file, a JPEG, or any other format Photoshop supports. Smart objects can be embedded (the data is inside the PSD file) or linked (the PSD references an external file path).
Adjustment layers
Adjustment layers modify the appearance of layers below them without changing pixel data. Examples include Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation, and Color Balance. They do not contain image data themselves.
Groups
Groups (folders) organize layers visually. A group can have its own blend mode and opacity, which affects how its child layers interact with layers outside the group.
What you can extract from layers
When you open a PSD file in PeekPSD, each layer is listed in the layer panel. For each layer, you can:
- See its name, type, blend mode, and opacity
- Toggle visibility on and off
- Export raster layers as transparent PNG files
- Extract text content, font names, and colors from text layers
- Download embedded smart object files in their original format
Why layer access matters
If you only have a flattened composite (like what Google Drive shows), you cannot tell which element is on which layer, what text says, or what fonts were used. Layer access turns a PSD from a "just an image" into a structured document you can actually work with.
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