Aspose.PSD Graphics Editor for .NET

Aspose.PSD Graphics Editor for .NET is a powerful plugin that allows developers to inspect, edit, and manipulate Photoshop® layers programmatically—without Adobe® Photoshop®. Supporting text, smart objects, adjustments, shapes, effects, and more, it offers a complete code-driven toolkit for PSD and PSB editing in .NET applications.

Installation and Setup

  1. Install the package via NuGet:

    dotnet add package Aspose.PSD

  2. Refer to the Installation guide for detailed steps.

  3. Configure licensing as explained in Metered Licensing .

Features and Functionalities

Text Layer Editing

  • Read/write text, fonts, sizes, and colors.
  • Support for complex scripts, OpenType, and font fallback.
  • Control line spacing, alignment, and text boxes.

Smart Object Handling

  • Access embedded or linked smart-object content.
  • Replace or update smart-object sources.
  • Preserve PSD smart-object references when saving.

Adjustment Layer Manipulation

  • Add, remove, or modify adjustment layers (curves, hue/saturation, brightness/contrast, etc.).
  • Edit RGB curves, hue ranges, black/white points.
  • Control stacking order and clipping.

Shape Layer Editing

  • Modify vector paths, anchors, and handles.
  • Update fills, gradients, strokes, and join styles.
  • Support for compound paths and boolean operations.

Layer Effects (Styles)

  • Apply shadows, glows, bevel/emboss, overlays, and more.
  • Control blending, opacity, angles, and sizes.
  • Toggle effects dynamically.

Blending and Opacity

  • Apply Photoshop blend modes.
  • Control global and per-channel opacity.
  • Preview composite results programmatically.

Layer Grouping and Hierarchy

  • Create and manage nested groups.
  • Flatten or ungroup layers.
  • Query and iterate hierarchical layer trees.

Masks and Clipping Paths

  • Read/write pixel/vector masks.
  • Apply/remove clipping masks.
  • Edit mask channels via code.

Import, Export, and Serialization

  • Load/save PSDs or export to PNG, JPEG, BMP, TIFF.
  • Control profiles, compression, and transparency.
  • Stream I/O support for high performance.

Example: Editing PSD Layers 

var loadOpt = new PsdLoadOptions() { LoadEffectsResource = true };

using (PsdImage image = (PsdImage)Image.Load(sourceFileName, loadOpt))
{
    var text = (TextLayer)image.Layers[0];
    text.UpdateText("Updated Text via API");

    var smart = (SmartObjectLayer)image.Layers[1];
    smart.ReplaceContents(Image.Load("ExternalImage.psd"));

    var adj = (CurvesLayer)image.Layers[4];
    var manager = (CurvesContinuousManager)adj.GetCurvesManager();
    manager.AddCurvePoint(0, 50, 32);

    image.Save("EditedOutput.psd");
}

Advanced Features

  • Gradient and pattern layer manipulation.
  • Sophisticated text effects with shadows, bevels, and overlays.
  • Multi-layer smart object and adjustment workflows.
  • Real-time rendering previews for design validation.

Performance Optimization Strategies

  • Adjust visibility configurations to improve rendering speed.
  • Use layer groups for bulk operations.
  • Cache fonts, patterns, and presets to reduce resource use.
  • Profile memory and CPU for large PSDs.

Tips and Best Practices

  • Dispose of PsdImage and related objects (using blocks recommended).
  • Validate layer types before casting.
  • Maintain change logs or snapshots for undo workflows.
  • Stream large files instead of using temp disk storage.

Supported Platforms

  • OS: Windows (7–11, Server 2003–2022), macOS (10.12+), Linux.
  • Frameworks: .NET Framework 4.0–7.0, .NET Core, .NET 5/6/7+.
  • Languages: C#, VB.NET, F#, Delphi, C++ (via COM Interop).
  • IDEs: Visual Studio, VS Code, JetBrains Rider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What editing capabilities does it provide? You can edit text, shapes, smart objects, adjustments, masks, and effects programmatically with full fidelity.

Which formats can I save edited PSDs in? Save as PSD/PSB, or export composites to PNG, JPEG, BMP, or TIFF.

Can it be used across platforms? Yes, it runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS with .NET. For Java/Python, use Aspose.PSD for those platforms.

Which industries benefit from this tool? Graphic design, advertising, e-commerce, photo editing, digital art, and enterprise content management.

How does it improve collaborative workflows? Direct PSD editing in .NET allows real-time updates, removes export/re-import cycles, and preserves layer integrity.

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