How to view a .XCF file online
No app, no account, no upload.
Open your .XCF
Drag a .XCF file of any size onto the viewer, or choose it from your device. It's read right here.
View the layers
Every layer and group is listed with a thumbnail, blend mode and opacity. Click the eye to hide or show it and watch the image update.
Export what you need
Save the whole image as PNG, JPG or WEBP, or download any single layer as a transparent PNG.
What is a .XCF file?
Everything worth knowing about GIMP Image (eXperimental Computing Facility).
An XCF file is GIMP's native project format, the free-software equivalent of Photoshop's PSD. It stores all layers, masks, channels, and paths so the composition stays fully editable. Open it in GIMP (free, Windows/macOS/Linux). To share the image, use File > Export As in GIMP to produce a PNG or JPG, since most other apps cannot read XCF.
Programs that open .XCF files
- Windows
- GIMP, IrfanView, Blender, XnView MP
- macOS
- GIMP, XnView MP
- Linux
- GIMP, ImageMagick
- Web
- Photopea
| Full name | GIMP Image (eXperimental Computing Facility) |
|---|---|
| Developer | The GIMP Team / GNOME Foundation |
| First released | 1990s (native format of GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program) |
| Category | Images |
| MIME type | image/x-xcf |
| Signature | 67 69 6D 70 20 78 63 66 20 ("gimp xcf " (9 bytes), then a version tag and "\0") |
Related viewers
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need Photoshop to open a .XCF file?
No. This viewer reads your .XCF file directly: the finished image and every layer, without Adobe software or an account.
Is my design uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is decoded with a JavaScript reader.
Why does the image change slightly when I hide a layer?
At first you see Photoshop's own saved composite, which is exact. When you toggle layers we rebuild the image in the browser. Adjustment layers, layer effects and a few blend modes can't be reproduced exactly yet, and the panel tells you which.
Can I extract a single layer?
Yes. Click a layer's name, then Download this layer as PNG. You get the layer's pixels with transparency, at full resolution.
Why can't I open my PSD?
Very old PSDs, CMYK and Lab documents, or files saved without Maximize Compatibility and with unusual layer types may not open yet. You'll see what we detected and why.
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