Photoshop PSD files - Enable Thumbnail Previews

How to Enable Thumbnail Previews for Photoshop PSD files in Windows 7
Published 20 Sep 2010

Published by

Abhishek Ghosh

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By default, You can not get the preview of Photoshop PSD files in Windows 7 Explorer. They will look like this Screenshot (The thumbnail you can see is of a PNG file):

We will perform some trick to enable the thumbnail preview of these PSD files in Windows 7 without any need of softwares.

Step 1

Download this open source dll file (new page will open). You will get something like this:

Step 2

Note: This method currently might not work for Windows 7 64 bit (please read the comments). We are trying to solve the problem, we will update the method as soon we get it universally working. (31/03/2010).

Differs a bit in 32 bit and 64 bit.

For 32 bit:

Place it in c

rogram filescommon filesadobeshell ( If the shell directory isn’t there create it.).

For 64 bit:

Place it in c

rogram files (x86)common filesadobeshell ( If the shell directory isn’t there create it).

Paste it:

Step 3

Open notepad; Copy the code given below:

For 32 bit:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSharedDLLs]

“C:Program FilesCommon FilesAdobeShellpsicon.dll”=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.psdShellEx]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.psdShellEx{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]

@=”{0B6DC6EE-C4FD-11d1-819A-00C04FB69B4D}”

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{0B6DC6EE-C4FD-11d1-819A-00C04FB69B4D}]

@=”Photoshop Icon Handler”

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{0B6DC6EE-C4FD-11d1-819A-00C04FB69B4D}InProcServer32]

@=”C:Program FilesCommon FilesAdobeShellpsicon.dll”

“ThreadingModel”=”Apartment”

For 64 bit:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSharedDLLs]

“C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesAdobeShellpsicon.dll”=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.psdShellEx]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.psdShellEx{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]

@=”{0B6DC6EE-C4FD-11d1-819A-00C04FB69B4D}”

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{0B6DC6EE-C4FD-11d1-819A-00C04FB69B4D}]

@=”Photoshop Icon Handler”

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{0B6DC6EE-C4FD-11d1-819A-00C04FB69B4D}InProcServer32]

@=”C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesAdobeShellpsicon.dll”

“ThreadingModel”=”Apartment”

Now save it as ” psdreg.reg ” (Without quotes. Change file type to all files, otherwise it will be a text file):

Step 4

Double click it and accept security prompt; Windows will inform you the values has been added:

Check your PSD files now:

Note:

1. Dont follow this method if you have folders containing GBs of PSD files; particularly if individual file size is like me (See first screenshot).

2. It will slow the explorer a bit.

3. You can use paid third party tools like Ardfry Codecs for Windows Explorer . In that case, apart from Windows explorer, you can get preview of PSD in Windows Photo Viewer, Windows Media Player (Windows Media Player can open any image file: try it) , Windows Media Center etc programs. I used trial version to check:

Note:

All the needed registry files plus those registry files you need to remove thumbnail preview in Windows 7 is here, Click here to download.

Read more: How to enable Thumbnail view for Photoshop PSD files in Windows 7 | Windows 7, Wordpress,Tips, Tricks, SEO, Computer, Tutorials, Software Downloads, Themes, Wallpapers
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Original source: The Customize Windows

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20 Sep 2010	#1
Arc Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit SP 1 20,725 posts
My System Specs

20 Sep 2010	#2
Abhishek Ghosh Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit, Mac OS X 10.6 991 posts	@Arc: Thanks mate Give me feedback from 32 bit side, when you will have time. (Or anyone).
My System Specs

20 Sep 2010	#3
CarlTR6 Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit 12,883 posts Orlando, Florida	Very well done!
My System Specs

20 Sep 2010	#4
Abhishek Ghosh Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit, Mac OS X 10.6 991 posts	Thank you very much Carl
My System Specs

20 Sep 2010	#5
x1341x Windows 7 Ultimate x86 9 posts	Nice and clean tutorial. :-bd It works on my 32bit 7 But how about a undo option? coz I've a lot of large PSD files. Worried about slower my explorer.
My System Specs

20 Sep 2010	#6
logicearth Windows 7 x64 (SP1) 5,223 posts	I think CS5 has fixed this issue, I haven't done the tutorial or anything else except install and run Adobe Master Collection CS5 and my PSD documents have thumbnails. Interesting...
My System Specs

20 Sep 2010	#7
x1341x Windows 7 Ultimate x86 9 posts	I use Adobe Photoshop Master Collection 32bit CS5 too, and have it updated to version 12.0.1 but still it doesn't show up psd preview like yours.
My System Specs

20 Sep 2010	#8
logicearth Windows 7 x64 (SP1) 5,223 posts	It might need to re-save the PSDs to a newer (CS5) format, I'm starting to think... Edit: Something strange is going on thats for sure...cause now one of the PSDs that had a thumbnail doesn't...
My System Specs

20 Sep 2010	#9
A Guy Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 31,510 posts Bay Area Peninsula	A Guy
My System Specs

Windows 7: Photoshop PSD files - Enable Thumbnail Previews

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