Camera RAW conversion
Convert RAW to PSD
Updated Jul 2026
RAW is the unprocessed data straight off a camera's sensor, and PSD is Photoshop's native format for editing. To convert RAW to PSD, open the RAW file in a converter and export it as a PSD you can work with in layers. Doing this on your own computer keeps the shot, and its metadata, off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .raw
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Various cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .psd
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Photoshop files
- Transparency
- Supported
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert RAW to PSD on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert RAW to PSD
- Open Morphjet and drag in the RAW file, or a whole folder of RAW files, you want to convert.
- Choose PSD as the output format.
- Convert. The PSD files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
RAW vs PSD: what actually changes
| RAW | PSD | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, holds the full unprocessed sensor data | Large too, and grows with every layer you add |
| Quality | Everything the sensor captured, nothing baked in yet | Lossless, keeps every edit and layer intact |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs camera-specific software or a RAW-aware app | No, needs Photoshop or a compatible editor |
| Editable in layers | No, it's a single unprocessed exposure | Yes, layers are the whole point of PSD |
| Transparency | No | Yes, once you add layers or masks |
| Keeps camera info (EXIF) | Yes | Yes, carried over on export |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert RAW to PSD when you're bringing a photo into Photoshop for real editing, retouching, or compositing, since PSD holds onto every layer and adjustment you make from there.
Keep the RAW file if you haven't started editing yet, since RAW holds the full sensor data and lets you reprocess exposure, white balance, and color from scratch, something a PSD export can't undo.
Why not just use an online converter?
RAW files carry the metadata your camera recorded, including the date, camera model, lens settings, and sometimes a location if your camera or phone tagged the shot. Upload that file to an online converter and all of it travels to someone else's server before you get your PSD back. Converting on your own computer keeps the photo, and everything attached to it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting RAW to PSD lose quality?
No, the conversion itself is lossless, since PSD can hold the full image data. Any quality loss comes later, from edits you make or from flattening layers, not from the format change.
Will the PSD keep my camera's metadata?
Yes. The date, camera model, and other EXIF details stored in the RAW file carry over to the PSD on export, unless you strip them deliberately.
Do I need Photoshop to open a PSD?
Photoshop is the natural home for PSD files, though a few other image editors can open them too. If you just need to view or share the image, exporting to JPG or PNG afterward is usually simpler.
Why convert RAW to PSD instead of just editing the RAW?
Most RAW workflows only let you make basic adjustments before you commit to a final image. Converting to PSD lets you keep working in layers, add masks, and combine multiple images, which RAW alone doesn't support.
Can I convert RAW to PSD without uploading my photos?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts RAW, PSD, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.