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What is ARW?

Sony Alpha Raw (ARW) is Sony's proprietary raw image format containing unprocessed sensor data from Sony Alpha and Cyber-shot cameras.

What is PSD?

Adobe Photoshop Document (PSD) is the native layered image format for Adobe Photoshop, supporting layers, masks, and advanced image compositing.

When Should You Use ARW vs PSD?

Use ARW When...

Reach for ARW when your priority is sony camera post-processing, professional editing — its uncompromising quality ensures every detail is preserved.

Use PSD When...

Reach for PSD when your priority is photo editing projects, graphic design — its uncompromising quality ensures every detail is preserved.

ARW vs PSD: Key Differences

  • •The core technical difference: ARW relies on lossless compression whereas PSD uses lossless compression.
  • •Neither format changes compression philosophy — both are lossless compression — so any size differences are due to encoding efficiency, not a shift in quality approach.
  • •Alpha channel support: PSD handles transparency.
  • •Storage footprint: 20-40MB per photo for ARW vs 10MB to 2GB depending on layers for PSD.
  • •ARW is optimized for sony camera post-processing, professional editing while PSD is designed for photo editing projects, graphic design — choose based on your specific workflow needs

Advantages of ARW

  • ✓At its core, ARW relies on lossless encoding — a design choice that makes it perfect for Sony camera post-processing, professional editing.
  • ✓You won't run into compatibility issues with ARW — it's a universal standard across platforms.
  • ✓File size management with ARW: larger files guaranteed to match the original exactly.
  • ✓Every major application in the Sony camera post-processing, professional editing space supports ARW natively.

Advantages of PSD

  • ✓PSD uses lossless compression tailored for Photo editing projects, graphic design.
  • ✓PSD is supported natively on virtually every device, browser, and operating system.
  • ✓PSD files are bit-for-bit perfect, preserving every pixel and sample for professional work.
  • ✓PSD integrates seamlessly with all major creative tools and workflows.

Common Use Cases for ARW to PSD Conversion

  • Email marketing campaigns
  • Presentation graphics
  • Blog and article illustrations
  • Mobile app UI assets
  • Product photography for marketplaces
  • Digital art portfolios

Industry Applications

Digital ArtUI/UX DesignAdvertisingBrand ManagementContent ManagementMedical Imaging

Best Practices for ARW to PSD Conversion

  • →Before converting ARW to PSD, decide whether you need maximum quality or smallest file size — this determines which format truly fits
  • →Save a master copy in a lossless format before converting to PSD — you cannot recover detail lost during lossy compression
  • →Check the color profile: ARW images may use a wider gamut than PSD supports, causing a visible shift after conversion
  • →Resize images to the final display dimensions before converting — this avoids unnecessary processing of oversized files
  • →Run a single test conversion first to verify quality meets your standards
  • →Strip unnecessary metadata to reduce file size after conversion

Related Article

JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?

Learn more about ARW and PSD formats in our detailed guide.

Troubleshooting ARW to PSD Conversion

  • !Converting ARW to PSD gives blurry output → increase the quality setting before conversion
  • !Colors look different in PSD than ARW → check color profile mismatch (sRGB vs Adobe RGB)
  • !File size changed more than expected → PSD uses different compression, file size differences of 2-5x are normal
  • !Transparent areas in ARW turned white in PSD → PSD may not support transparency

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Convert ARW files to PSD online for free. High-quality conversion with no registration required.

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About ARW and PSD

ARW

ARW (Sony ARW raw) - Sony Alpha Raw, proprietary camera raw format for Sony cameras. Best for sony camera post-processing, professional editing.

PSD

PSD (Photoshop PSD) - Adobe Photoshop Document, layered image project format. Ideal for photo editing projects, graphic design.

Format Comparison

CompressionLossless → Lossless
TransparencySupported
Use CaseConvert from sony camera post-processing, professional editing to photo editing projects, graphic design
File Size~10MB to 2GB depending on layers after conversion

FAQs

Is converting ARW to PSD free?

Yes, GoConvertFile offers free conversion of ARW to PSD for files up to 100MB. No registration required.

How long does it take to convert ARW to PSD?

Most ARW to PSD conversions complete within seconds for standard-sized files. Larger files may take longer depending on the conversion complexity.

What is PSD best used for?

PSD is ideal for photo editing projects, graphic design. Adobe Photoshop Document, layered image project format

What file size should I expect after converting ARW to PSD?

File size after ARW to PSD conversion depends on the content complexity and quality settings. Both formats use similar compression approaches so sizes are comparable.

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