Convert ART to PSD — Free Online Converter
Convert AOL Compressed Image (.art) to Photoshop Document (.psd) online for free. Fast, secure image conversion with no watermarks or registration....
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How to Convert
Upload your .art file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .psd file when it's ready.
About ART to PSD Conversion
Adobe Photoshop Document (PSD) is the native file format of the world's most widely used image editing application. Converting ART files — AOL's proprietary Johnson-Grace compressed images — to PSD opens the door to professional-grade image restoration, enhancement, and manipulation in Photoshop and compatible editors like Affinity Photo, GIMP (with plugins), and Photopea.
This conversion is particularly valuable for digital restoration projects. ART files from the 1990s AOL era often contain family photographs, personal artwork, or historically significant internet imagery that would benefit from careful restoration. PSD's layer-based editing model allows restorers to work non-destructively, building correction layers above the original image data without ever modifying the source pixels.
Why Convert ART to PSD?
PSD format enables non-destructive editing workflows that are impossible with flat image formats. When you convert an ART file to PSD, the decoded image becomes the background layer, and you can add unlimited adjustment layers, correction masks, and retouching layers above it. This is essential for restoring degraded ART images — the Johnson-Grace compression artifacts can be addressed layer by layer without permanently altering the base image.
Additionally, PSD supports 16-bit and 32-bit color depths, color profiles, and advanced compositing modes. While the ART source is limited to 8-bit color, having it in PSD means you can upscale to higher bit depths during enhancement, apply selective color corrections, and integrate the recovered image into larger Photoshop compositions alongside modern high-resolution content.
Common Use Cases
- Restore degraded AOL-era photographs using Photoshop's non-destructive editing tools
- Integrate recovered AOL images into modern Photoshop compositions and collages
- Apply professional color correction and enhancement to vintage AOL photographs
- Create layered restoration projects that preserve the original decoded pixels on a separate layer
- Prepare AOL-era artwork for high-quality reproduction with professional retouching
How It Works
ImageMagick decodes the ART file and writes the pixel data as a flattened PSD file with a single background layer. The PSD uses the Photoshop 3.0 file format with compatibility mode enabled, ensuring it opens correctly in Photoshop CS2 through the latest Creative Cloud versions. Image data is stored uncompressed or with RLE compression in the PSD container. Color mode is set to RGB 8-bit with no embedded ICC profile unless specified.
Quality & Performance
The PSD output contains the exact pixel data decoded from the ART source, with no additional compression or quality loss. PSD's internal storage is either uncompressed or RLE-compressed (lossless), so the decoded image is preserved at full fidelity. The PSD faithfully represents every pixel the Johnson-Grace decoder produces from the ART file.
Device Compatibility
| Device | ART | PSD |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1Immediately duplicate the background layer after opening the PSD to preserve the original decoded pixels
- 2Use Photoshop's Camera Raw filter on the background layer for initial tone and color correction
- 3Create a dedicated layer for artifact removal using the Clone Stamp and Healing Brush tools
- 4Save as PSB (Large Document Format) if the restored image exceeds 2 GB after adding multiple layers
- 5Export a flattened JPEG or PNG copy alongside the PSD for quick sharing while retaining the editable master
Converting ART to PSD unlocks professional restoration and editing capabilities for orphaned AOL images, enabling non-destructive workflows in Photoshop and compatible editors.