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04/17/2010 12:03:08 PM · #1 |
| Windows Image and Fax Viewer is okay, but it has some quirks and limitations. Is there an image previewer that can do things like preserve 100% view while going back and forth between pictures? Show EXIF by default? Allow right/left-click for zoom in/out? I'd like it to be the default action for JPG files. Thanks. |
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04/17/2010 12:49:22 PM · #2 |
Picasa > Picasa 3 is pretty good and worth a try. I use it as my default viewer.
It will preserve 100% view whilst going back and forth between photos and it shows exif data by default and there is a zoom slide.
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04/17/2010 12:51:09 PM · #3 |
| I love Picasa as a viewer. It has a slider for zoom and you can also view raw files though I'm not sure that's what you're asking. |
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04/17/2010 01:24:55 PM · #4 |
| I use IrfanView -- not only an excellent browser/previewer but can perform many basic editing funtions as well. |
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04/17/2010 01:34:53 PM · #5 |
| I'll check these out. I've heard of both, but don't think I've ever used them. I'm looking for something lightweight also, I should add. The extra functions are fine, but if it's loading a whole image editing toolset as part of the preview, then it might be more than I need. |
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04/17/2010 01:42:11 PM · #6 |
IrfanView is fast -- even on my ancient Pentium III it loads in 5-10 seconds.
You may also want to check out the Freebie Imaging Software thread. |
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04/17/2010 01:59:22 PM · #7 |
I really do like the Picassa one although it's slower but it shows exif and has a seamless interface.
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04/17/2010 02:33:18 PM · #8 |
I like FastStone Image Viewer. If you open an image with it (use Open With), it goes directly to full screen, which is kinda cool. The not-so-cool part is that for images larger than your screen, it does it without using a resizing algorithm to save time (and it really is instant in 99.99% of the cases)... this means your images will look kinda blocky, the way they do in Photoshop if you're not viewing them at 50%, 25%, 12.5%, etc.
You can override that rendering mode by checking off "Smooth," which will still open the image instantly the original way, but will switch it to a properly rendered version within a second or so. The difference between that and Windows Pic & Fax Viewer is that it still displays something that looks like your image (albeit crappily resized) until it processes the image... Win Pic/Fax Viewer just displays a gray screen or a sized-up thumbnail while it loads your properly resized image.
ETA: Whoops, I think there's an option for always loading an image at 100%, but left and right arrows are mapped by default to "move left" and "move right" within an image when it's viewed at "bigger than will fit on screen." I'm not sure if there's a way to change that mapping so that you have shortcut keys for just "next img" and "prev img."
Message edited by author 2010-04-17 14:41:24. |
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04/17/2010 05:10:39 PM · #9 |
Check out Directory Opus (DO). It's a better file manager than ANYTHING I've used, and I've used a lot!
//www.gpsoft.com.au/
It's wonderful for managing all types of files in your file system, as an Explorer replacement. Really eliminates the need for a "special photo viewer" for file management. Anything I've needed, it just does. For example, I hate having sidecar files (from LR or PS) visible in my folders; in DO, no problem, there's a special field for "Hide Files" and you just give it a pattern like (*.ini|*.xmp) and poof, no more side cars in the listings.
Vista and Windows 7 aren't "bad" at this, but DO is so much better at file manager I bought it after the trial. Really worth it, though it's not cheap (about $60) for a file manager.
Anyway, don't take my word for it. Download the 60 day trial and see if it doesn't change the way you work with your files (and let you organize them better and faster.)
Sounds like a commercial, but I'm just a paying customer myself.
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04/18/2010 11:49:35 AM · #10 |
I have used both Picasa and Irfanview and continue to use Irfanview for quick views and minor edits to jpg (as well as many other formats) files. Picasa is good but I didn't want the whole cataloging functionality that Picasa wants to force on you when you first bring it up. However, if you are looking for a catalog program then Picasa may be for you.
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