Image viewer

Image viewer are computer programs with which you can view image files. In contrast to image management programs is not the management of large or very large collections of images, but the simple possibility of quick and easy viewing on the foreground with them. From image editing programs, they differs in that they often provide only rudimentary or no editing options.

Skills

Usually, the following capabilities are provided:

Graphic formats

An image viewer should understand the possible common graphic formats. The ability to load all existing image formats provides no single program, but the software authors usually strive after, to support as many formats. This is not least a popular argument used advertising.

Color reduction

An image viewer must be able to wrap an image displayed if the user of the currently selected graphics mode can not display all the colors that contains the image. There are various methods in order to best bring images even in limited color options on the output medium yet to bear ( image quantization and dithering).

Scaling

Images with a resolution greater than the currently selected graphics mode must be able to shrink a picture viewer, so that they can be displayed completely. Conversely, an increase should be possible. Typically, a plurality of stages is offered (zoom).

Thumbnails

Preview images ( thumbnails) that allow the user to get a preview of the image stored in the file without loading complete file or the images from multiple files - simultaneously present in an overview - about a directory. To display the preview images can be displayed quickly, some programs save them in the file system between, sometimes in a separate directory, sometimes in a special image database. It makes sense to use an image viewer already directly in the image file itself stored thumbnails.

Metadata Display

Since digital cameras and image management software are becoming increasingly common, and the display of existing metadata in image files has become common. These include in particular the information stored in Exif header and IPTC -NAA standard.

Additional functions

Most image viewers offer, one or more additional functions:

  • Slide Show displays images in sequence at a selectable distance without further user action, possibly with transition effects
  • Converting between file formats, such as TIFF to JPEG
  • Export of picture collections in a fair for the World Wide Web format ( HTML summary page and thumbnail files that can be loaded faster)
  • Scanning images
  • Simple image processing functions
  • Print a single picture or overview pages ( contact sheets )
  • Direct use of digital cameras

Common image viewing programs

  • Linux: Gwenview, GThumb and PixiePlus
  • Windows: ACDSee, IrfanView, FastStone Image Viewer, XnView and Adobe Bridge
  • Mac OS: GraphicConverter
  • Other operating systems: XnView, Picasa and XV
Exchangeable Image File Format Data conversion XV (Software)
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