Unfortunately, I really don't like Windows 7's photo viewer, for a number of reasons (that XP's doesn't have):
- It assumes the first pixel or something like that is transparent, and applies it across the image so all images have this yellowish tinge to them
- fades when going full screen are annoying
- when viewing large images, double you tee eff: http://i49.tinypic.com/2612btw.jpg (yes, as you can see, have plenty of RAM free)

Actually, I think I know the reason for the last problem.  For some stupid reason, it feels the need to decompress the image (even if it's an uncompressed BMP) into the temp folder.  Not only that, it uses absurdly lots of space.  I did a little test - a certain JPEG saved as BMP was 43.5MB, however opening it in Windows Photo Viewer, it consumed about 82MB of space in the temp directory (using 48bit colour? Lol).
Since I have my temp directory set up as a RamDisk, it runs out of space for larger images, so that's probably why it's displaying that message.
Still, I have plenty of space in main memory - see no reason why it needs to convert it to 48bit colour and save to disk.  In fact, I wonder how it even performs scaling.  Either load the whole 48bit image in memory anyway, or rely on the horribly slow HDD to perform reads...


So yeah, anyone have a good alternative?  Stuff like IrfanView are good image manipulators, but unfortunately, don't seem to be the best as a simple image browser.
Thanks.

will you shoot me for saying Microsoft Office Picture Viewer?

As for color tints, its to do with the color profile used, I had the same profile and just had to switch the color profile and the big orange tint I had in Photo Viewer went.

Like applying a PNG as Wallpaper, it automatically converts to BMP... and it loses quality in the process, while JPGs seem to be okay.

As for alternatives, I WAS going to say InfranView but you are right - its not a simple image browser. And Picasa and co. are too much for the purpose.

To be honest, though, I think you're quite unlucky to be taking these problems cause I don't have any after sorting out the color tint ^^"

i used to use ACDSee Photo Manager long ago.i found it fast and easy to use.its been a few years though so not sure how it is now.

I've never used Windows photo Viewer before, or any other photo viewer for that purpose.  Generally just use IrfanView (what I use to view like all images), and if I want smaller previews of the files, just go to the folder and set display to extra large icons.

Thanks, I'll try Fast Stone Viewer.  I recall trying ACD but didn't like it for some reason - can't remember why.

EDIT: Okay, had a quick look - FSView seems to have too many features and takes a bit of time to load.  It's more of a photo browser type thing than a simple image viewer.  Also in fullscreen mode, it doesn't appear to be preloading images - would be a nice thing to have since it can take a while for the images to render...
EDIT2: whoops, does preload, just a little slow.
Thanks though.

(This post was last modified: 08/12/2009 03:39 AM by ZiNgA BuRgA.)

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