PHOTOSHOP FILE EXTENSIONS


PHOTOSHOP FILE EXTENSIONS


Photoshop can save many of its settings as separate files.  This allows the settings to be shared or stored centrally so they can be used on other images.  The table below lists these file extensions, what they contain and the click path, if appropriate, to access or create the file.  Most of the file extensions below are not image file formats.

File ExtensionWhat It IsClick Path
ABRBrushesEdit > Preset Manager, then select Brushes
ACBColor BooksClick the foreground/background icon Foreground icon in the Tools panel to display the Color Picker dialog box, then click Color Libraries.  The libraries shown are the color book ACB files.
ACOSwatchesEdit > Preset Manager, then select Swatches
ACTColor tableFile > Save for Web, then click the Color Table flyout menu icon Fly out menu, then click either the Load or Save Color Table options
ACVCurves adjustment settingsLayer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
ADODuo/tri/quad tonesImage > Mode > Duotone
AHUHue/Saturation adjustment settingsLayer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
AIAdobe Illustrator fileFile > Export > Paths to Illustrator
ALVLevels adjustment settingsLayer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
ASLStylesEdit > Preset Manager, then select Styles
ASVSelective Color adjustment settingsLayer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Color, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
ATNActionsMake the Actions panel the active panel.  Left click an action to highlight it, then click the flyout menu icon Fly out menu, then click either Load or Save Actions.
AVAVariations SettingsImage > Adjustments > Variations
AXTColor Range settingsSelect > Color Range
AXTReplace ColorsImage > Adjustments > Replace Color
CHAChannel Mixer adjustment settingsLayer > New Adjustment Layer > Channel Mixer, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
CSFColor settingsEdit > Color Settings
CSHCustom ShapesEdit > Preset Manager, then select Custom Shapes
GRDGradientsEdit > Preset Manager, then select Gradients
HDTHigh Dynamic Tone mapping optionsHDR Conversion dialog box when converting a 32 bit HDR image to a 8 or 16 bit image file.
HOWTOHow To Help index fileThis is a unicode text file and should be accessed using your computer's text editor.  It is used to create entries in the Photoshop Help menu.
IROSOutput settingsFile > Save for Web, then click the Preset flyout menu button Fly out menu, then click Edit Output Setting, then click either the Load or Save buttons.
IRSOptimized settingsFile > Save for Web, then click the Preset flyout menu button Fly out menu, then Save Settings
KYSKeyboard shortcutsEdit > Keyboard Shortcuts
MNUCustom menusEdit > Menus
MTXZoomView image definitionThe ZoomView file that defines the image.  Automatically created by Photoshop when an image is exported to ZoomView.
MZVZoomView tile fileAutomatically created by Photoshop when a ZoomView file is created.
PATPatternsEdit > Preset Manager, then select Patterns
PMGPhotomerge CompositionFile > Automate > Photomerge
PSDPhotoshop Document.  Photoshop's proprietary image file formatFile > Save
PSFProof settingsView > Proof Setup > Custom
RCVResponse CurveThe Load from File button on the Merge to HDR preview box.
SHCContoursEdit > Preset Manager, then select Contours
SHHShadow/Highlight PresetsImage > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlight
STAImage statisticsImage > Adjustments > Match Color
TPLTool PresetsEdit > Preset Manager, then select Tools
XMPExtensible Metadata Platform.  Metadata file format used by Photoshop.File > File Info > Advanced and then either Replace, Append or Save.
ZVTZoomView templateFile > Export > ZoomView, then click the Load button to load a ZoomView template.  Also see MTX and MZV.  ZoomView is a trademark of Viewpoint Corporation.