Why can't PSD thumbnails be displayed in Windows 7?

Anonymous

I use Windows 7's File Explorer to upload or open graphics files in other apps. Thumbnails are very handy in seeing at a glance that I have the right picture. PNG,JPG,and even PDF thumbs are supported,but not PSD. I have to rely on a third party solution. A programmer from Adobe has answered that Microsoft has the PSD documentation and this implies that the ball is in their court. I hope a Microsoft tech can pass this concern on or give me a reason why it can't happen at least in Windows 7.

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Anonymous

Just install Pictus. Free.

http://poppeman.se/pictus/

Associate with PSD files, done.

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Anonymous

Check out Mystic Thumbs, donation-ware for now, 32 or 64 bit versions. Works good for me on windows 7 pro: http://mysticcoder.net/MysticThumbs/Default.aspx

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Anonymous

PSD is as common as PDF and it has been around as long. The reason psicon.dll was dropped was over "file locking" issues with Windows.

I"pestered" Adobe,this is the answer I got:

Apple has been able to add support for PSDs in Quick Look without relying on Adobe, and MSFT has the PSD format documentation. That's not to say we shouldn't step up, too. We just haven't been able to find time yet.

I had hoped MSFT would have given some sort of direct statement on this issue,which is why I asked. Something other than the third party solutions have been given. Perhaps this is not the forum to bring this up.

I really won't say anything more about this. I think I have gone as far as I can.

psicon.dll for the free fix,Ardfrey if you can spare the $20.

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Anonymous

The FREE Solution:

This is a FREE and open source PSD viewer for windows 7, 64-bit and 32-bit. Made for Vista, but I tested on Windows 7.

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vista/PhotoshopPreviewHandler.aspx

Download links are at the top of the article...

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83 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-02-21T00:13:26+00:00

For those of you suggesting Bridge, or psdviewer or any other previewing software, you don't understand the problem.

Photoshop comes with Adobe Bridge, which is a wonderful previewing and cataloging package that works with every adobe format including .psd. It's great for working with photoshop.

The problem is when I'm working in a non-adobe app, like Zbrush or Maya that supports .psd files. Those programs open files via the OS, if the OS doesn't support thumbnails than it makes working with them more time consuming.

It seems the only reason the OS doesn't support it is because MS and Adobe both think the other should take the time to add support. They need to get it together and fix this.
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