Fix PSD File Error Unsupported Color Mode CMYK

PSD, acronym of Photoshop Document is an image file format created on Adobe Photoshop application. This image file consists of numerous layers with different color modes called CMYK color, RGB color, Bitmap, Gray-scale, Lab color, Multichannel color, Duotone color and so on. Each color mode of PSD file serves vivid purposes and each image editing application support different color modes of PSD. RGB is the most common color mode that most of the graphics editing tools can handle with, in which colors of the image is described by Red, Green and Blue color combinations.

Similar to Adobe Photoshop another wonderful graphic editing application called GIMP (GNU Image manipulation Program) is widely in use. This program can be used as simple paint program, as an image format converter, high quality photo retouching tool and so on. And this application can be easily used on any platform by using plug-ins. Along with its native image format .xcf, GIMP also supports Photoshop PSD file on it. But when opening a PSD file with color mode other than RGB (specifically CMYK) in GIMP, the application produces an error “Error Loading PSD file: Unsupported Color Mode CMYK”. When this error occurs then the PSD file cannot be edited in GIMP. So, for the given instance let us see how to fix this PSD file error. Before that glance at the reasons behind PSD file error unsupported color mode CMYK:

CMYK color mode of PSD file is a crucial factor for images that are to be printed. This is because printers generate colors by mixing Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) to give accurate coloring for the image. And making use of CMYK color mode for PSD file will serve the purpose. Such PSD file will have just one layer of exact size, due to which GIMP doesn’t support this type of file. Even if GIMP opens some PSD file with CMYK color, its layer masks, layer style, etc. will be lost that reduces the image quality. Hence throws the above mentioned error message 'GIMP failed Error loading PSD file unsupported color mode CMYK'.

Resolutions to open PSD files with CMYK color mode in GIMP:

Before going through the below given alternatives, backup the selected PSD file and then proceed. This is to avoid further corruption of image file.

• Method 1: Open the PSD file in Adobe Photoshop and convert its color mode to RGB mode. To do this, click on Image in tool bar, go to mode option and select RGB color
• Method 2: Make use of efficient color mode converter program like ‘ImageMagick’ to convert PSD file with CMYK color to PNG image file of RGB mode and fix the issue. Trying to convert PSD file to other image formats like .xcf, .tiff, etc. will create blunders and corrupts the image file

If the PSD file gets corrupt or if any of these alternatives doesn’t work In the process of converting / changing PSD file color mode, then go for third party PSD file repair utility and fix the error showing Photoshop file.

Software to fix error showing PSD file:

Yodot PSD Repair is the best solution to repair PSD that shows error loading PSD file unsupported color mode CMYK on any Windows platform. Software had read-only scanning techniques that will safely resolve all issues related to PSD file just in few minutes. Photoshop files with 1, 8, 16 and 32 bits per channel and color modes like RGB, CMYK, grayscale, Bitmap, etc. that are not working due to application crash, virus infection and file corruption can be easily fixed with this tool. This utility is capable of fixing corrupted / damaged Photoshop files created on various versions of Adobe Photoshop like 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS6 on major Windows operated computers.

Follow these steps to make use of Yodot PSD Repair tool:

• Download the software on your Windows system on which PSD file resides
• Install and launch the tool by going through the steps
• Now, browse and select the victim PSD file that has to be repaired with the help of Browse button
• Once you select the Photoshop file, click on repair button to trigger repair process
• The status of repair process will be displayed in progress bar
• Few seconds later, repaired image file along with its different layers will be displayed based on name and size
• Examine the fixed PSD file using Preview option and save the image file in desired location on the system drive