XCF is GIMP's native format
XCF (eXperimental Computing Facility) stores GIMP's full working state — layers, masks, paths and channels. It's the GIMP equivalent of Photoshop's PSD, and GIMP is what creates it.
Looking to convert PNG to XCF? Here's the honest answer — and what works instead.
Turn your file into a share-worthy AI Effect — one tap, no prompts.
PNG is a lossless raster format with full transparency. It keeps every pixel intact, making it ideal for logos, icons, screenshots and graphics with sharp edges.
PNG opens in every browser and image viewer, plus Photoshop, GIMP, Preview and Photos.
XCF is GIMP’s native format preserving layers, paths and channels — the open-source equivalent of PSD.
XCF opens in GIMP; export to PNG or PSD for other apps.
Not a real one. XCF is GIMP-specific; the dependable way to get an .xcf is to open your image in GIMP (free and open-source) and save it. SharkFoto can read XCF as a source, but doesn't write it.
Convert your PNG to PSD. PSD is the layered format the widest range of editors — Photoshop, GIMP, Photopea, Affinity — can open.
PNG converts to PSD, PNG, JPG, TIFF and more — free and instant.