LinuxWhat is the PSPIMAGE file format?
The .pspimage file type is the native image format created by Corel PaintShop Pro software. These files support both vector and raster graphics in a single layered document. .pspimage files offer a wide range of features including layered designs, image filters, transparency levels, adjustment layers, and other effects that designers use to create graphics - making them widely used for photo retouching and image processing workflows.
The .pspimage extension was introduced with Paint Shop Pro 8 (2003), when Jasc Software renamed the native extension from .psp to .pspimage; Corel acquired Jasc in 2004. Both extensions share the same underlying binary format, identified by the 7E 42 4B 00 (~BK\0) signature header and the ASCII string Paint Shop Pro Image File. Each file stores a layered document: raster layers, vector shapes, editable text, adjustment layers, layer masks, selection data, and an embedded composite preview thumbnail.
Full layer support requires PaintShop Pro itself or a viewer with dedicated plug-in support such as XnView or IrfanView. Most other applications read only a flattened composite. For cross-application workflows, PSD, PNG, or TIFF are the recommended interchange formats. The format is Windows-only - no native macOS or Linux PaintShop Pro version exists.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWPSPIMAGE is a passive image format with no scripting or macro support, so files pose little inherent risk. Caution: searches for 'free PSPIMAGE viewer' surface adware bundlers and fake 'universal opener' installers. Always download XnView, IrfanView, or PaintShop Pro from their official sites only.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open PSPIMAGE files
Windows5 apps
CorelDRAW
Paid Can import .pspimage as a raster object (flattened). NOT a substitute for PaintShop Pro for layer editing. 
IrfanView
Free Install IrfanView plus its plug-in pack; then open the .pspimage to view and convert it (File > Save As). 
Corel PaintShop Pro
Paid File > Open the .pspimage to edit all layers, masks, and vector text in full fidelity. The native, full-featured editor. 
XnView MP
Free Open the .pspimage to view the composite and export to PNG/JPG/TIFF via File > Export (free for personal use; renders flattened image). 
ACDSee Photo Studio
Paid Open .pspimage to view, manage, and batch-export in ACDSee photo library - reads the flattened composite. 
macOS1 app
XnView MP
Free Open and convert .pspimage on macOS - no native PaintShop Pro for Mac exists, making XnView MP the best free option. 
Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Layered raster and vector image (proprietary binary) |
| Magic bytes | 7E 42 4B 00 ("~BK\0") + ASCII header "Paint Shop Pro Image File" |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Container | Proprietary PSP tagged-block hierarchy (RIFF-like but not Microsoft RIFF) |
| Compression | Per-layer selectable: none, RLE, or LZ77 |
| Color depth | 1, 4, 8, 24 bpp (legacy); 48-bit (16 bits/channel) in modern PaintShop Pro |
| Max canvas size | Up to 30,000 × 30,000 pixels in recent PaintShop Pro versions |
| Layer types supported | Raster, vector, editable text, adjustment layers, layer masks, channels |
| Embedded preview | Composite thumbnail stored in file for quick display without full decode |
| Typical file size | 500 KB - 300 MB (scales with layer count, bit depth, and canvas size) |
| Format versioning | Internal version number tracks PaintShop Pro release; v8 = .pspimage debut (2003) |
| Legacy counterpart | .psp (same binary format, used in Paint Shop Pro versions 3-7 before 2003 rename) |
| Platform | Windows only - no native macOS or Linux PaintShop Pro |
| Released | 2003 (Paint Shop Pro 8 - extension change from .psp to .pspimage) |
| Latest version | Format v10+ (PaintShop Pro 2024/2025 series) |
| Specification | www.paintshoppro.com |
PSPIMAGE conversions
Community Q&A
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