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Despite its name, FastStone Image Viewer is more than just a program for viewing images. It's also capable of performing a fairly significant number of editing functions, which come packaged in an innovative interface. It's no Photoshop replacement, but we think it's a good choice if you need a way to view images and perform basic editing and correction tasks.
At first glance, the program's interface is a bit cluttered; there are toolbars with lots of buttons across the top, and there are panes where you can navigate to particular directories, view thumbnails of the contents, and view larger previews of individual images. The cool part of FastStone Image Viewer appears when you enter full-screen mode; the image is displayed by itself, but moving your mouse to the edges of the screen brings up a variety of tools and options.
Mouse to the right and the image's metadata appears; to the left, a menu appears with tools for rotating, resizing, and adding text, as well as adjusting colors and adding special effects. Mousing to the top of the screen brings down a thumbnail preview of the current directory, making it easy to select a different image, while at the bottom of the screen there's a toolbar with some of the most basic editing options. We especially liked the program's slideshow feature, which makes it easy to create custom slideshows using your own music.
Although most users should be able to figure FastStone's features out without much assistance, there's a 95-page PDF Help file that offers plenty of guidance. Overall, we were impressed with the variety of features that FastStone Image Viewer combines in an easy-to-use package, and we recommend the program to anyone seeking a basic but well-stocked image editor.
FastStone Image Viewer installs a desktop icon without asking but uninstalls cleanly.
FastStone Image Viewer - View, edit, and manage images - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From FastStone Soft:
FastStone Image Viewer is a fast, stable, user-friendly image browser, converter and editor. It has a nice array of features that include image viewing, management, comparison, red-eye removal, e-mailing, resizing, cropping and color adjustments. Its innovative but intuitive full-screen mode provides quick access to EXIF information, thumbnail browser and major functionalities via hidden toolbars that pop up when your mouse touch the four edges of the screen. Other features include a high quality magnifier and a musical slideshow with 150+ transitional effects, as well as lossless JPEG transitions, drop shadow effects, image annotation, scanner support, histogram... It supports all major graphic formats including BMP, JPEG, JPEG 2000, GIF, PNG, PCX, TIFF, WMF, ICO and TGA.
What's new in this version: Version 4.8 added a Minimize button (hidden at the top-right corner of the screen) to full screen mode. Added two Mouse Click options to use left/right clicks for previous/next images. Improved the Draw Board to draw curved lines. Improved the Print dialog.
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All versions:
4.6 starsout of 1,627 votes
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Current version:
4.8 starsout of 17 votes
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My rating:
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"Over all great program I rely on as a basic"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
Very simple to use
Cons
Problem with the scanning function
Summary
Although the scanning feature misfires, eventually it will work, and it is my one of main programs...its a keeper/must have for me.
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"I really like it"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
It has a lot of options that I haven't explored so someone else could get even more out of the program.
Cons
I think some of the editing options are lacking. There have been times that I would switch to MSPaint for some tasks.
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"Everything you need for photo browsing and correction."
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
Elegant full screen mode where you can just admire and quickly browse your photos/images or easily switch to sophisticated editing and correction functions, including simple crop & go function, and a really useful 'straighten' tool (depressing how often I need that ...).
Also has a great explorer mode with thumbnails and expanded view of selected picture - multiple layouts possible.
RAW file support - most current camera formats supported and raw files can be edited - make sure you set the correct option though otherwise it will just load (and edit) the jpeg previewCons
Buggy - I have hit several crashes after extensive use, and sometimes crop to file takes the wrong aspect. Also at least one case of a cropped image having the same preview/thumbnail as the original.
Summary
Great editor browser for the price. I use it in preference to my FastPictureViewer/Photoshop combo for image browsing and correcting - it is much quicker and more productive.
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"The King Of Image Viewers!"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
The best image viewer around, that has been continually updated since .... wow, a REALLY long time! It especially shines when it comes to viewing images in fullscreen.
You pretty much never need to run the program in a windows because you can do pretty much everything while you are in fullscreen! Just move the mouse cursor to any one of the 4 borders of the screen, and you'll see why!
It's also great for resizing those ridiculously huge .jpg pictures you find on the internet. You can make a giant batch of .jpg files to resize, and then let FastStone resize them for you while you sleep! hehehe.
Oh! It's also great for scanning stuff from a scanner! You won't have to install some awful, bloated, and super slow program that probably came with your scanner. FastStone Image Viewer those this task far better than them!
And I almost forgot that you can add text and shapes to an image within the program too! It's no Photoshop, but it isn't supposed to be!Cons
The one gripe I've always had is that it is rather slow when browsing a hard drive. But then again, it might be because of the ludicrous amount of .jpg files I have! hehehe.
Also, the slideshow viewer is limited to just the folder you are currently in. But then again, is there any image viewer that has a slideshow that will traverse multiple folders?Summary
I've been using FastStone image viewer for years, it's one of my staple programs that I use all the time. I've even donated TWICE to them eventhough it is a completely free program that doesn't try to sneak in any adware (i.e. those awful toolbars!). Believe me, looking at images in fullscreen is 10 times better than in a stupid window. I never understood why Irfan View was always more popular. Anyway, this program is the best at what it does, so if you came CNET looking for an image viewer because you are not happy with the one you are using (Windows Image Viewer??) then you won't be disappointed. Keep up the good work guys!
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"Can It convert PhP Photos"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
Seem Like a grest program
Cons
Need to Know if it will convert PhP Photos???
Summary
If It converts then I will Download it and Use It
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"Nice piece of software."
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
Easy and relatively intuitive to use; doesn't require you to spend a lot of time poring over a manual.
Cons
Unless I haven't found it amongst the bewildering array of buttons, it could use a "batch" processing feature.
Summary
A very nice editor and verrry inexpensive considering that ThumbsPlus (a close competitor) does less and costs $40. You could hardly go wrong "purchasing" this one.
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"Liking what I see so far"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
Like batch resizing and naming - saves me a lot of time. Many photos can be adjusted for lighting, exposure easily. Only a few Photos need additional eciting.
I consider it good value.Cons
Its great for what it is. Its not photoshop but it doesn't cost as much either.
Summary
I am happy with my purchase. It is a real time saver for me.
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"Simply the best out there"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
So simple to use, and yet so full of all the right things to make your pictures stand out.
Cons
none, it's simply the best out there.
Summary
A super programm for biginners and advance users, manage picture files easely, all the necessary bells and whisles are there.
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"best photo editing software on earth"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
ablity to correct photo from root
Cons
i have tried many software for correcting the old photos of my marriage which were in bad shape.but fast stone does the wonder by correcting them.
Summary
very easy to understand and install.much much much better then adobe photo shop.very easy to understand,so many tweaks.thankyou fast and c net
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"The best photo manipulator under $100"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 4.8
Pros
INTUITIVE!!! This application has no learning curve as we are accustomed to with new software. Every step leads logically to the next. "Image Viewer" is not an accurate decription of what this aplication can do. Unless you are a profesional photographer or professional photo manipulator, this will do everything you need. Did I mention it's free?
Cons
inadequate name
Summary
The best photo organizer and editor for the family photographer at any price. (family photographer is the family member who takes pictures for the entire family at all the family get-togethers) This photo editor puts all the free ones and most of the cheaper paid ones to shame.
