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Image MIME Reference
KTX2

Khronos Texture 2.0

image/ktx2
VS

Adobe Photoshop Document

image/vnd.adobe.photoshop
PSD

A complete technical comparison of Khronos Texture 2.0 and Adobe Photoshop Document — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.

Equal browser support

Feature Support

Feature KTX2 PSD
Transparency (Alpha) Yes Yes
Animation Support ✕ No Yes
Progressive Loading ✕ No ✕ No
HDR Support Yes Yes
EXIF Metadata ✕ No Yes
ICC Color Profile ✕ No Yes
Khronos Texture 2.0
image/ktx2
Extension
.ktx2
Container KTX 2.0
Compression Basis Universal (ETC1S / UASTC) / Zstandard (zstd) Supercompression / Uncompressed
Algorithm
ETC1SUASTCZstandard (zstd)Raw GPU Formats (ASTC, BCn)
Color Depth 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit (Float)
Developed by Khronos Group
Released 2021
Magic Bytes
AB 4B 54 58 20 32 30 BB 0D 0A 1A 0A
Full KTX2 reference →
Adobe Photoshop Document
image/vnd.adobe.photoshop
Extension
.psd.psb.pdd
Container Adobe Photoshop Document (PSD/PSB)
Compression Uncompressed / RLE (Run-Length Encoding) / ZIP
Algorithm
RLEZIP (with or without prediction)None
Color Depth 1-bit (Bitmap), 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit (Float/HDR)
Developed by Adobe Systems
Released 1990
Magic Bytes
38 42 50 53
Full PSD reference →

Browser Support Comparison

Browser KTX2 PSD
Chrome Chrome
✕ ✕
Firefox Firefox
✕ ✕
Safari Safari
✕ ✕
Edge Edge
✕ ✕
IE IE (Legacy)
✕ ✕
KTX2

KTX2 Strengths

  • Universal hardware compatibility: write once, transcode anywhere to the target GPU's preferred format (ASTC, BC7, PVRTC, etc.)
  • Drastically reduces transmission size over networks thanks to Basis Universal and Zstandard supercompression
  • Seamless integration with the glTF ecosystem for optimized 3D asset delivery
Limitations
  • Requires WebAssembly (Wasm) decoders and JavaScript loaders for web viewing, increasing initial application payload slightly
  • Encoding textures into high-quality Basis Universal UASTC can be computationally intensive and slow
  • Zero support in traditional 2D image viewers or native OS previews
PSD

PSD Strengths

  • The undisputed global standard for layered raster graphics and non-destructive image editing
  • Supports incredibly complex compositions combining raster data, vector shapes, live text, and adjustment layers
  • Full support for advanced color spaces (CMYK, Lab, multi-channel) and 32-bit floating-point HDR workflows
Limitations
  • Proprietary format: while the specification is published, complete feature-parity is rarely achieved by third-party software (e.g., smart objects and complex layer styles often break)
  • Files can reach enormous sizes (gigabytes) due to the preservation of unflattened, high-resolution layer data
  • Zero support for native rendering in web browsers or standard mobile image viewers

When to choose which format

KTX2
Use KTX2 when…
  • glTF 3D Models (KHR_texture_basisu)
  • WebGPU and WebGL Applications
  • Game Engines (Unity, Unreal, Godot)
  • Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR)
PSD
Use PSD when…
  • Professional Photo Retouching
  • Digital Painting and Illustration
  • UI/UX Design Workflows
  • Graphic Design and Print Production

More comparisons

KTX2 vs ACES → PSD vs ACES → KTX2 vs APNG → PSD vs APNG → KTX2 vs AVCI → PSD vs AVCI → KTX2 vs AVCS → PSD vs AVCS → KTX2 vs AVIF → PSD vs AVIF → All comparisons →
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