best multi-layer file type

[w00fd06]

I have a few multi-layer projects from when i was using Paint.NET, so these are saved as ".pdn" files, but now that i'm using GIMP, i would like to be able to access these files while maintaining the layers. Currently, GIMP will not open these files, as pdn is an unknown file type.

and now, the real question:
Does anyone know of a good, multi-layer file type that supports multiple layers, and can be accessed through both Paint.NET and GIMP?

[Alathald]

I've never used Paint.NET but I took a look at the file support and I must say I'm not impressed...your best bet is to find a GIMP plug-in that adds support for PDN (Paint.NET is under the MIT license so there is probably one out there but I couldn't find it).

Other than that, you can try exporting from Paint.NET to one of the two major support types (TIFF or PSD) and opening that in the GIMP. Unfortunately, Paint.NET only has "partial" support for those file types.

Short of that, you could export each layer to a PNG and reimport to the GIMP but, depending on the number of layers, that could take awhile.

Hope you get this figured out!

BTW the default file type in the GIMP is XCF so I try to use that whenever I'm not sending the file to someone that may not use the GIMP.

[w00fd06]

i didn't know PDN even had "partial" support for psd files, so i'll try that out.

thanks for the info!!

[w00fd06]

as it turns out, in order to save the image as a TIFF, i need to flatten it, and i don't think i can export the image as a PSD

[Alathald]

Here's a Paint.NET PSD plugin...this should let you save to PSD which GIMP can open: [link]
Hope this works.

[w00fd06]

granted there are a few issues when saving (layer blending doesn't convert from PDN to PSD correctly) it kept the layers intact and the blending could easily be fixed.

thanks for that link!!! now working with those files will be a lot easier!

quick update: i don't think the extension can successfully convert PDN files larger than 50Mb

[Alathald]

Glad you got it working, I don't know if the GIMP's support for PSD files are 100% but I've not had much issue with opening most PSDs. As for the plugin, I have no experience with it so IDK how well it will work.

BTW I recently ran across a really interesting plugin for the GIMP that allows you to use photoshop plugins with the GIMP...check it out here [link]

[w00fd06]

I think I've seen that before

Also, if you place ABR (photoshop brushes) files in the brushes folder (program files/gimp-2.0/share/gimp/2.0/brushes) then you can access the PS brushes within GIMP!