Often, many users of Windows-systems have questions related to the choice of software for comfortable viewing images. Based on the many reviews and comments posted on various forums, there are those who are clearly dissatisfied with Microsoft's improvements regarding the tenth modification of the system, in which the standard image viewer was replaced with a new application. In this regard, you have to look for some other more interesting program. But what to choose, because today there are a lot of them? Let's try to consider some popular software packages that are firmly established in the top ten leaders in all world ratings.
New image viewer for Windows 10
Yes, indeed, for many unknown reasons, the developers of the “dozens” replaced the classic program with a new application, called “Photos” and set to open images of almost all formats (with rare exceptions) by default. For some reason, many users are not happy with it.
You can argue with this, because in the updated application there are many interesting features. So, this picture viewer allows you to add a lot of interesting effects (including three-dimensional ones) to a photo, create video with musical accompaniment from images, etc.
In addition to this program, the system in a predefined form has two more editors - the classic Paint and Paint3D. You can also use them as a tool for viewing pictures, however, the main minus is that you will not be able to flip through pictures in turn (each must be opened separately). However, if we talk about using them specifically as editors, their capabilities are also significantly limited.
How to return the classic program in the form of a picture viewer in Windows 7?
Since many users do not want to work with new tools, their attempts to return the old application look completely natural. But how to activate the standard image viewer, which was present from the seventh version and below, even if it is not in the RMB menu used to select the program? To do this, you need to perform a series of actions that an unprepared user may find somewhat complicated. Alas, besides the proposed option, there are no other ways.
First you need to enter the registry editor (regedit), and then navigate the HKLM branch to the section of the standard application (Windows Photo Viewer) called FileExtensions. It is easy to notice that initially in the window on the right for it an association with only two formats (TIF and TIFF) is set.
In the same window, you need to create a new string parameter, specify the desired extension in its name, and specify PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff as the value and save the changes. This operation should be performed for all formats that are supposed to be opened by default using the old Windows image viewer.
Upon completion of actions with the registry, through the settings menu, go to the system section, select the default application item, find the standard program in the list, then go to the manual selection of parameters, and then select all of them in the window with extensions and save the changes. Now it remains to find the desired graphic file in the "Explorer", through the RMB menu, select the "Open with ..." item, select the standard application in the list and check the box for the permanent use of the selected program for all files of this type.
This solution looks rather time-consuming, so ordinary users are advised to use the free Winaero Tweaker utility, in which for the classic program in the Get Classic Apps section you just need to select its default activation and mark the necessary extensions, as in the previous case.
Best third-party image viewer software
Alas, anyway, not a single image viewer available in the operating system itself can match its capabilities with some popular applications created by third-party developers. As a rule, such programs look not only more convenient to use or configure, but also have very impressive toolkits that Windows applets can only dream of. It is not surprising that when choosing the best image viewer, users are most often guided by the world ratings of such software, in which the following applications are most significant:
- ACDSee
- XnView
- IrfanView
- FastStone Image Viewer;
- Universal Viewer;
- Picasa;
- Galapix;
- "Watching."
All programs presented, except for ACDSee, with a trial period and a price of about $ 60 for the maximum version, are free. And any image viewer for Windows 10 can be downloaded from the official Internet resources of the developers. But the Galapix program is not designed to work on Windows-based systems, since it is initially oriented to Linux and Mac OS.
ACDSee
This image viewer is almost the most popular among users of all skill levels.
Among its main advantages, it is worth highlighting the support of almost all known graphic formats, the ability to quickly edit files and convert formats among themselves, quick red-eye removal, batch convert multiple files according to specified parameters, record collections on optical discs, including Blu-ray , directly from the application without the need for additional utilities for burning, a simple interface that resembles the tree structure of the "Explorer", etc.
Xnview
This image viewer has no less features than the one described above.
It also has a lot of tools for simple image editing, for performing batch format conversion or conversion based on a custom template. However, the key feature of this program, which, in fact, distinguishes it from many similar ones, is the presence of an integrated audio player in the shell!
Irfanview
The toolkit of this software product can also be called one of the most impressive. It, like many other applications, works with almost all known formats and allows you to convert formats between themselves.
With the addition of additional plugins, the application's capabilities (already considerable) are significantly expanded. So, for example, with its help it is possible to work even with graphic objects of the RAW format. In addition, the program provides support for filters of 8BF format, which are used in the notorious professional photo editor Photoshop.
FastStone Image Viewer
Before us is another popular application for viewing graphics. It supports a lot of formats, including RAW, and has about 150 predefined effects and filters.
However, a key feature of this software product is providing access to EXIF metadata, as well as sending files by e-mail, which can be configured directly in the application itself.
Universal viewer
As the name implies, this program is a simple universal viewer, but it’s not limited to graphics only.
The fact is that using this application you can easily view the contents of any text files, videos, files containing binary and hexadecimal codes, as well as listen to audio. Among other things, it is for text formats that support for almost all known encodings is claimed.
Picasa
Apparently, this software product does not need to be introduced, because it is one of the most popular and in demand among users around the world.
Many of his fans use the program mainly for creating photo collages, completely forgetting that the application is the most powerful of its kind organizer of collections. When installing the optional Feature Pack module, you can save your photos in the cloud using your Picasa account or Google account, and quickly share collections with friends (even on the same social networks).
Galapix
Finally, consider one of the representatives, so to speak, of heavy artillery. This OpenGL-enabled image viewer can do wonders.
But first of all, the program is designed to work with graphics in terms of the most accurate image detailing and allows you to increase any image to incredible sizes without loss of quality, which can almost always be observed with other programs (even professional editors). Alas, the application works exclusively on Linux and Mac OS, and, as far as is known, versions for Windows are not planned to be released at all.
"Inspector"
Finally, a few words about one of the simplest programs of all presented above. It is designed to quickly view images in a slide show and search for the necessary files in the selected user directories. Support for formats is not as great as in previous software products, but this package can open files in CUR format.
Epilogue
Of course, ACDSee is the leader in all parameters and ratings, despite its rather high cost. But most users can be advised something simpler, for example, XnView or IrfanView, because these applications can even work with the WEBP format, which many other applets simply ignore.