Thumbnail View of PhotoShop 6 files in Windows7

[CadillacPat]

Just two days ago I purchased a new Pavilion HP with an 8 G memory and 750 HardDrive.
My old HP with XP just bit the dust and rather than spend $200 fixing it,(only a 512 M with a 160 HD) I decided to buy something new.

I was seriously considering wiping any new PC clean of Vista and installing XP which I am comfortable with.
However, the timely demise of my old HP happened just as W7 was coming out, so I have kept 7 as my OS.
So far I am pleased with most of the changes but I am having a couple of small but important problems.

Everything I do is in PhotoShop.
I design and print Custom Decals for Custom DieCast Cars,i.e., HotWheels, MatchBox, etc..

Here's my situation,
When I open up a folder from Documents, mostly of which all are image files, there is no Thumbnail option in the Windows 7 View drop down menu.
Available options include Extra Large, Large, Medium, and Small Icons, Details, and List, but no Thumbnail option.
Any image that is a jpeg displays as a Thumbnail but psd files just show up as the Icon.
If I want to "see" all the different files in a folder I can't.
Setting the View menu to Large Icons did allow the jpegs to display as thumbnails.

I have to open up the folder in PhotoShop to get the Icons to display as Thumbnails.

If I right click onto a file that is opened up in Documents, and go to "Open With" there is no option to open it with PS.

Could Windows 7 not be allowing the usual interfacing of files I am used to.

To actually view all my image files of all types, psd and jpeg, I had to put everything into Picasa 3 which readily displays everything as thumbnails.

However, right clicking onto anything in Picasa also gives no option of opening it with PhotoShop.

Is this ancient program PhotoShop 6 just too old to be completely compatible with Windows 7.
Might I have the very same inability I describe even if I purchased the latests versions of PhotoShop.

I understand Windows 7 has only been out 3 days all problems with it are just beginning to surface,
but,
This looks like a pretty active Forum and perhaps someone can give me some insight or tell me ther is simply no way to fix this.
Thanks for aking the time to read my problem,

Sincerely,
Pat Parker

 

[noyb]

To "Open With" ..
You have to browse to find it the first time ... for it to be in the Open With list.
There's a program to show psd Thumbnails in 7 .. but I found it was Very slow and I didn't like it.

The freeware Irfanview has a nice thumbnail browser that shows psd files ..
and Irfanview can be set up to send a file directly to Photoshop .. as its external editor.
I Have Irfanview installed to be my Default Viewer and basic Image editor.

There's also a way to edit the registry for Irfanview that will open a file in Photoshop ..
Without having to take the "Open With" > "Multiple Choice" test.
Or you can try the registry edits Here

If I get a new computer .. I'll put XP in it ...
Since Vista or W7 doesn't know there's difference between an Icon and a Thumbnail.

 

[noyb]

Since W7 doesn't recognize psd files as an Image ...
It's registry cannot be edited to include psd files ... as a direct click path as shown.

Too bad Vista and W7 removed this advanced customizing option from the folder options.

If you decide to install Irfanview ..
I can send you a reg file that will customize it's file type Context menus...
By performing the required registry edits ...
So you'll never have to take the "Open With" >> "Multiple Choice" test again.

 

[CadillacPat]

Hi Noyb,

Thank you very, very much for your excellent assistance.
Right off the bat, in your very first sentence you put me on the right path to correct things.

I write Tutorials that I post on the Internet for DieCast Customizing and I always get the same "I am amazed you take the time to help us" feedback that I now want to extend to you with thanks.

From your help I am now able to "see" small pictures (thumbnails) of my psd documents just as I did on my old PC using XP.

Your expertise may find my method a bit archaic but here is how I am correcting this problem of Document files being displayed as Icons and not Thumbnails.

From the Desktop open the Document and display the Files in Details mode in the View Menu. Leave this window open.
Open PhotoShop, open the same Document and using the Large Icons mode in the View Menu all the Icons will transform into Thumbnails.
While the PhotoShop view is open go back to the other Document and when you change your View from Details to Large Icons all the files will transform from Icons into Thumbnails with tiny PhotoShop icons in the lower right half corner.

I'm doing this for each Document that contains psd files.
It may be redundant and slow but it works.
After closing all applications and starting fresh, my files open and display as Thumbnails.
It's pretty much what I am used to with XP except Thumbnails are smaller.
Even using the Large Icons option the Thumbnails are still smaller than with XP but I'm not complaining.

The key here is to make sure, while viewing the Thumbnails in PhotoShop, is to scroll down the page so all Icons (all your files in that Document) transform into Thumbnails.
As the Icons roll up into view they will transform into Thumbnails.

Your explanations are concise and easy to follow.
Not everyone knows how to write instructions so that anyone can follow them.
You do.

Thanks for taking the time to help and moreso thanks for giving accurate answers that go straight to the root of the problem.
I'll be telling others on other sites that this "Windows 7 Forums" should be their first place to come to for assistance with their Windows 7 questions.

If I have another problem or question, like Arnold says, "I'll be back."

Pat Parker

 

[noyb]

I figured that once you trained W7 and showed it the way .. You'd be OK
But, You did mention Picasa .. and I think there's a better/faster way.

I do all my work in Windows with Irfanview .. And only go to PS when I need an advance editor.
Otherwise, PS is too slow for me .. and I hate organizers.

 

[Ardfry]

PSD thumbnails in Windows Explorer: PSD codec

We are working on a commercial PSD codec for Windows XP SP3 and later.

It provides PSD thumbnails, previews, metadata in Windows Explorer, Windows Live Photo Gallery, and Windows 7 Media Center.

A free trial is available.

View Photoshop PSD files in Windows - x64 PSD CODEC for Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

 

[noyb]

Does this get a little slow with Huge psd files ???

 

[CadillacPat]

We are working on a commercial PSD codec for Windows XP SP3 and later.

It provides PSD thumbnails, previews, metadata in Windows Explorer, Windows Live Photo Gallery, and Windows 7 Media Center.




Ardfry,
It's obvious from my first reply I have solved my problem with tools already on my PC.

As you can see in my other Thread entitled "Fancast" I am much more reluctant to install extra programs on my new PC if they really aren't necessary.
My old PC had the Desktop full of Icons for programs that I installed but never used.
I now prefer keeping things trimmed down for a lean mean clean machine.

I now have Thumbnails insead of Icons and my Picasa files open up in PhotoShop.

Like Noyb said, "I just had to train the PC to do it."

--CadillacPat the UnCustomizer--

 

[Ardfry]

RE: PSD Thumbnails on Windows 7

CadillacPat,
I was just answering the question you raised in your original post, which was how to get thumbnails for PSD files in Windows Explorer on Windows 7.


noyb, how big is huge? One of our beta testers reported that he had thousands of 50 MB PSD files on his system and didn't experience any slowdowns. We are always working to improve the performance in our codecs, and usually do in our free updates.

David Blake

 

[noyb]

noyb, how big is huge?

I'm currently working in a folder of 28 files .. 33 > 83MB
The last time I installed psd thumbnail software ..
The loss of speed wasn't worth the advantage of seeing Thumbs.

As a side note ...
If someone could figure out how to see Icons instead of Thumbs on the Desktop ...
without disabling all thumbs ... I might be able to use W7.

Does this add psd thumbs to the desktop ??

 

[Ardfry]

RE: Thumbnails on Windows 7

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.

 

[noyb]

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.

 

[Ardfry]

[...]
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.

 

[noyb]

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..

I'm spoiled by twin screens and my second desktop is usually my working space.
Many times .. I will have 2 or 3 files with the same name .. and can usually see the extension.
But I've also been spoiled by XP .. I see no reason to have to resort to several workarounds or tolerate irritations to use something newer and more handicapped.

This is what I see if I disable all Thumbnails so I can use my customized Icons ...
But this is not an acceptable workaround...
Since it is nice to be able to Browse a folder and see the contents in an appropriately sized Thumbnail .. Including psd files.

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

 

[Ardfry]

RE: Ardfry PSD Codec

[...]
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.

 

[noyb]

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

 

[jameswhe]

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.

 

[noyb]

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 ???

 

[Barman58]

Thumbviewlight and mystic thumbs both display .PSD files not sure on the delay on huge files but may be worth a try

ThumbView - See DDS, PCX, PNG, and TGA thumbnails in Explorer (+16 other image formats)

MysticThumbs

 

[jameswhe]

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.