Thumbnail View of PhotoShop 6 files in Windows7

I did a test and the shell shows a thumbnail image for PSD files on the desktop if thumbnails are enabled. The codec itself doesn't put one there, it only provides one when asked. Couldn't you create a folder on your desktop, put your image files in that folder, and set the view to small icons?

For all but the largest sizes of icon/thumbnail images in Explorer, the codec uses the embedded thumbnail. Our RAW codecs are used by professional photographers who shoot thousands of images on location and return to their PCs to review the images they have stored on external hard drives. We have worked to make our codecs load hundreds of thumbnails per second in directories with hundreds or thousands of images so that our customers aren't hindered by performance of their systems.

Ardfry said:

Couldn't you create a folder on your desktop, put your image files in that folder, and set the view to small icons?

I have customize Image Icons that identify the file type.
Tiny Views of Icons in a folder are not identifiable .. and an not answer.
There are a couple of ways I can work around not being able to see what I have on my Desktop.
Installing XP is the easiest to use.

Since Vista or W7 replaces Icons with Thumbnails on my desktop ..
I wouldn't be able to see which image is the original jpg, the working Photoshop file or the resulting animated gif Image.

noyb said:

[...]
Since Vista or W7 replaces Icons with Thumbnails on my desktop ..
I wouldn't be able to see which image is the original jpg, the working Photoshop file or the resulting animated gif Image.

I face the same issue when converting CR2/NEF to DNG. I rely on the file extension to distinguish the files, but I don't generally use the desktop as a working folder for my image files. For longer file names the extension isn't shown as in your screenshot, but you can see the extension when you select a file on the desktop.

[quote=noyb;383938]

Ardfry said:

[...]
What's the price of the Ardfry addon going to be ...
And is it better than the other freebies ???

Photoshop covers a lot of ground. We're initially focusing on where we have customers--professional photography (due to our RAW codecs), and grapic/web design and pixel art (due to our PNGOUT products).

Our PSD codec is very fast for even large numbers of files.
Since it's a full blown codec and not just a thumbnail provider (although we do include one) you can view PSD files in Photo Gallery and Windows 7 Media center. Some people use PSD as the working format for their photography, so having the ability to view their PSD files in Media Center and Photo Gallery is an advantage.

The codec also provides metadata to Windows and therefore integrates with Windows Desktop Search. I imagine larger design departments have trouble finding files from time to time, so this should be of great value to them.

Also, since it's a commercial product, we'll be providing support. We've helped out customers on short notice who were working with hard and fast deadlines.

The price for the initial release is $19.95 US. Time is money, so the gain in efficiency will pay for the codec almost immediately.

Thanks for the info.
Now if you can just fix M$'s stupid Desktop Manager.
I'm currently working on the Bobsled photos .. In XP
Some of them are over 100MB in PS
I think we're #1 so far

Just purchased the Ardfry NEF Codec. A great add-on to my system. FINALLY I'm able to readily view all my pic files.
Not being a computer expert, I'm miffed at Microsoft for not making this type of feature a part of Win 7.

I agree .. Windows 7 doesn't even see a psd as an Image file ..
This makes editing the Right Click psd context menu impossible.

Does it seem to slow anything down ???

Haven't noticed any slowdown at all. Since I've never been able to open psd files, I just don't use that format. It's not critical enough for
my uses to warrant any more time or expense.