Short answer
Convert it: drop the XCF on the converter at the top of this page and download a PNG, JPG or PDF that every program and phone opens. Ordinary 8-bit XCF files convert in your browser; 16-bit, 32-bit and palette files are read on our server by GIMP itself. The layers are merged into one picture; to edit them, you need GIMP (free).
What is an XCF file?
XCF is the working file of GIMP, the free image editor: like Photoshop’s PSD, it keeps every layer, channel and path so the picture can be edited later. Few other programs read it, so an XCF sent by a GIMP user often won’t open in Photoshop, in Windows Photos or on a phone.
| You want to | Do this |
|---|---|
| See it, send it, print it, put it on a website | Convert it: XCF to PNG, XCF to JPG or XCF to PDF |
| Open it in Photoshop | Convert XCF to PSD or PNG (layers are flattened) |
| Edit the layers | Install GIMP (free, for Windows, Mac and Linux), or ask the sender to export a layered PSD from GIMP |
Convert an XCF to PNG or JPG
- Drop the XCF at the top of this page. It’s set to PNG; pick JPG or PDF if you prefer.
- Click Convert. An 8-bit XCF (the usual kind) is converted in your browser; a 16-bit, 32-bit or palette XCF is read on our server by GIMP.
- Download the PNG, JPG or PDF: it opens anywhere.
Tip: 8-bit XCF files up to 200 MB never leave your device. The others go to our server, which deletes them after 72 hours.
What happens to the layers?
The visible layers are merged into one picture, exactly as GIMP shows them together; hidden layers stay hidden. To keep the layers, the file has to be opened in GIMP, which can also export a layered PSD for Photoshop users (File → Export As → .psd).
Can Photoshop open XCF files?
No, Photoshop has no XCF reader. Convert the XCF to PSD or PNG first: you get the finished picture as one layer. For a PSD with the layers intact, ask the GIMP user to export one from GIMP.
We tested it: eight kinds of XCF
In our weekly test with real files on the live server, eight XCF files, from 8-bit to 32-bit floating point, greyscale, palette, layer groups with text and a 4000 × 3000 picture, all converted to PNG. On the server GIMP reads each file, which takes a few seconds; 8-bit files convert in your browser in about a second.
| XCF file | Time on the server |
|---|---|
| GIMP 2.6 test file | 5.3 s |
| 8 bits per channel, several layers | 6.0 s |
| 16 bits per channel | 7.1 s |
| 32-bit floating point | 6.6 s |
| Layer group with a text layer | 6.3 s |
| Greyscale | 5.9 s |
| Indexed colour (palette) | 5.7 s |
| Large: 4000 × 3000 pixels | 19.1 s |
Tip: Tested on 8 November 2026 with GIMP 2.10.34 on our server. Until November 2026 16-bit and 32-bit XCF files failed; reading them with GIMP itself fixed that.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open an XCF file without GIMP?
Convert it to PNG, JPG or PDF with ConvertKitty’s XCF converter: drop the file, click Convert and download a picture every program opens. 8-bit XCF files convert in your browser, with nothing uploaded.
Can Photoshop open XCF files?
No. Convert the XCF to PSD or PNG first; the layers are merged into one picture. For a layered PSD, ask the GIMP user to export one from GIMP with File → Export As.
Can I convert XCF to PSD with layers?
Not with ConvertKitty, which merges the visible layers into one picture. GIMP itself can export a layered PSD: File → Export As, then choose .psd.
Does it work with 16-bit and 32-bit XCF files?
Yes. They are read on our server by GIMP itself; in our test 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point XCF files converted in about 7 seconds each.
Can I open an XCF on my phone?
Yes. ConvertKitty works in the browser on Android and iPhone: convert the XCF to JPG or PNG and open it in your gallery.
Is it free?
Yes. Converting 8-bit XCF files in your browser is free; files read on our server use free daily credits, usually one per file.
Sources
- GIMP: saving images (XCF keeps layers) · GIMP Documentation
- GIMP: free image editor · GIMP
- XCF (file format) · Wikipedia
Tools for this
More
Updated