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 Extension	What It Is	Click Path
ABR	Brushes	Edit > Preset Manager, then select Brushes
ACB	Color Books	Click the foreground/background icon in the Tools palette to display the Color Picker dialog box, then click Color Libraries.  The libraries shown are the color book ACB files.
ACO	Swatches	Edit > Preset Manager, then select Swatches
ACT	Color table	File > Save for Web, then click the Color Table fly out menu icon , then click either the Load or Save Color Table options
ACV	Curves adjustment settings	Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
ADO	Duo/tri/quad tones	Image > Mode > Duotone
AHU	Hue/Saturation adjustment settings	Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
AI	Adobe Illustrator file	File > Export > Paths to Illustrator
ALV	Levels adjustment settings	Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
ASL	Styles	Edit > Preset Manager, then select Styles
ASV	Selective Color adjustment settings	Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Color, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
ATN	Actions	Make the Actions palette the active palette.  Left click an action to highlight it, then click the flyout menu icon , then click either Load or Save Actions.
AVA	Variations Settings	Image > Adjustments > Variations
AXT	Color Range settings	Select > Color Range
AXT	Replace Colors	Image > Adjustments > Replace Color
CHA	Channel Mixer adjustment settings	Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Channel Mixer, click OK, then click either the Load or Save button.
CSF	Color settings	Edit > Color Settings
CSH	Custom Shapes	Edit > Preset Manager, then select Custom Shapes
GRD	Gradients	Edit > Preset Manager, then select Gradients
HOWTO	How To Help index file	This 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.
IROS	Output settings	File > Save for Web, then click the Preset fly out menu button , then click Edit Output Setting, then click either the Load or Save buttons.
IRS	Optimized settings	File > Save for Web, then click the Preset fly out menu button , then Save Settings
KYS	Keyboard shortcuts	Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts
MNU	Custom menus	Edit > Menus
MTX	ZoomView image definition	The ZoomView file that defines the image.  Automatically created by Photoshop when an image is exported to ZoomView.
MZV	ZoomView tile file	Automatically created by Photoshop when a ZoomView file is created.
PAT	Patterns	Edit > Preset Manager, then select Patterns
PMG	Photomerge Composition	File > Automate > Photomerge
PSD	Photoshop's proprietary image file format	File > Save
PSF	Proof settings	View > Proof Setup > Custom
SHC	Contours	Edit > Preset Manager, then select Contours
SHH	Shadow/Highlight Presets	Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlight
STA	Image statistics	Image > Adjustments > Match Color
TPL	Tool Presets	Edit > Preset Manager, then select Tools
XMP	Extensible Metadata Platform.  Metadata file format used by Photoshop.	File > File Info > Advanced and then either Replace, Append or Save.
ZVT	ZoomView template	File > Export > ZoomView, then click the Load button to load a ZoomView template.  Also see MTX and MZV.  ZoomView is a trademark of Viewpoint Corporation.