Reduce PSD file size without losing layers
Need a smaller PSD without flattening or exporting? Most tools destroy your layers — this one doesn’t.
Photoshop files become huge for one specific reason: accumulated XMP metadata that Photoshop appends with every save and every collaboration handoff. Below is the honest comparison of options designers use to make a PSD smaller.
Common methods, compared
Traditional fixes
- ❌ Flatten image — destroys editability
- ❌ Export to JPG/PNG — loses all layers
- ❌ Rebuild file manually — hours of work
- ❌ Save As — keeps the bloat
This tool
- ✅ Keeps every layer and mask
- ✅ Removes only unnecessary metadata
- ✅ Works instantly in your browser
- ✅ Open source, no upload, no account
What gets removed
DocumentAncestors— list of every editor who ever touched the filerdf:Bagandrdf:li— RDF wrappers around the ancestor list- Hidden Photoshop history blocks that aren’t needed to open the file
Image pixel data, layer structure, smart objects, and color profiles are all preserved bit-for-bit. The output is a normal PSD that Photoshop opens identically to the original.
Drop a PSD above to see the size reduction on your file. No upload, no signup.
FAQ
How much can I actually save?
It depends on how bloated your XMP block is. Files that have been passed between many designers can shrink dramatically — sometimes from gigabytes to hundreds of megabytes. Files saved fresh in a single session may not change much.
Does it work with .psb files?
Yes. The engine handles both .psd and .psb (Large Document Format) using 64-bit offsets internally.
Will Photoshop still open the result?
Yes. The output is a standard PSD/PSB file — Photoshop opens it exactly as the original, just without the extra metadata.
Why not just use Save As?
Save As keeps the same metadata. Even Photoshop’s own “Save a Copy” doesn’t remove DocumentAncestors. You need to strip that data explicitly.