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

Anonymous
2009-10-27T08:16:58+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2011-03-02T18:29:35+00:00

Just install Pictus.  Free.

http://poppeman.se/pictus/

Associate with PSD files, done.

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Anonymous
2009-12-09T17:29:50+00:00

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
2010-02-01T20:51:16+00:00

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
2011-02-05T00:13:21+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-12T03:36:21+00:00

    Using the http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vista/PhotoshopPreviewHandler.aspx solution, thumbnails do work in the 32-bit version of Vista and Windows 7. The preview pane works in the 32-bit and 64-bit. The fact that it isn't a codec has nothing to do with the question on this forum. I would much rather use an open source solution than some proprietary codec.  Are you just another spammer for Axel's paid product? Why do you care if there is a FREE version that does exactly what the forum thread is asking -- displaying thumbnails of PSDs? For the majority of people, who are using 32-bit versions of windows, I'm sure they'd appreciate knowing there is an opensource and free solution. And those on 64-bit, I'd rather have only the partial solution than pay for something that should be free anyway.

    That said, the simplest solution was from the Microsoft Support Moderator above -- again for 32-bit installations.

    1. Search+Download psicon.dll
    2. Place the DLL in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Shell\
    3. Thumbnail previews of PSD files are now back

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