CNET Editors' review
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:
- Now the Batch Rename tool supports all kinds of files if you select "All Files (*.*)" in the file filter list
- Now you can press +/- keys to zoom in/out animated gif files
- Fixed a bug causing the program to lose track of the current folder when it exits from full screen mode
More Products to Consider
-
View and edit most graphics formats simply and quickly.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Edit, enhance, and manipulate your digital photos or graphics.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert images into different formats in a batch mode.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create and edit photos using layers, effects, and other tools.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View, edit, print, or add frames to your photos.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Optimize your images and change their size.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View, edit, and manipulate your images.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Edit photos, add photo frame, photo effects, collages, and funn...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Download, edit, manage, save, and share photos.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create and alter photos and graphics manually or via scripting.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Optimize your photos and turn them into paintings or funny cari...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Process your digital photos and create slide shows for sharing.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Organize, edit, and share pictures with this free photo manager...Visit SiteThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products -
Carry out all essential tasks of the photography workflow and d...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Capture anything on your PC screen and draw annotation objects.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Browse and view your image and photo collection.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Capture and edit your images with various tools.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Share and edit your portraits using sophisticated processing te...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View, modify, and manage your image files.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Rip, edit, convert audio and video, and burn audio or video CDs...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create powerful images with a full-featured image editor.Visit SiteThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products -
View digital images and manipulate EXIF info.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Manage multimedia files and all possible image formats.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Crate memorable slideshows from your photos.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install
-
All versions:
4.6 starsout of 1,654 votes
-
Current version:
5.0 starsout of 7 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-7 of 7
-
"superb thing"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 5.1
Pros
Very fast worth the install.Simple programme.. Enough said.
Cons
nothing at all.:-) ....
Summary
Worth every penny. Personally, I like it very much. Another fav of mine is ***********. , Seriously.
-
"wonderful."
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 5.1
Pros
I like to make wallpapers that fill the screen. Only program that was easy to keep aspect ratio was Roxio Photosuite 8. It won't work beyond XP. This is even better. I like the fullscreen appearance of this. For free it is perfect.
Cons
Haven't found a single downside at all.
Summary
for fixing pictures it's the 2nd besy. 1st best can't be used, so this one wins.
-
"Allows modification of EXIF field "Date Picture Taken""
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 5.1
Pros
Views EXIF data easily
Allows modification of EXIF data field "Date Picture Taken"
Resizes images
Usual crop, lighting fixesCons
None found yet
Summary
I needed something beside Adobe Photoshop Elements that could change the date/time stamps ("date picture taken") in my .JPG files. Though this will not add one, it will change an existing one to whatever you want. It is easy enough to add a "date picture taken" field to a JPG using Windows Explorer but the time always gets set to current time. With FastStone, you can set the time to whatever you want or use +/- to change it by a certain amount of time. I haven't yet explored the other features but it looks very promising.
-
"As Simple or sophisticated as you would like."
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 5.1
Pros
I've been using the FastStone Image viewer since it first appeared through CNET. The downloadable tutorial should answer any questions you might have. Their support team is also very user friendly should you have a really big concern you can't find an answer for.
Cons
I can't think of anything negative to say.
Summary
Of all the shareware I have used, I didn't mind sending a $10 donation even though none was demanded. Wish Microsoft had similar sentiments.
-
"Intuitive UI"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 5.1
Pros
Simple and intuitive interface. Managing images with minimal mouse movement.
Cons
Images comparison by content is not enough.
Summary
Fast, functional, free for non commercical use, frendly UI.
-
"Simple & awesome function."
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 5.1
Pros
Simple & awesome function.
Cons
Simple & awesome function.
Summary
Simple & awesome function.
-
"Best Available"
Version: FastStone Image Viewer 5.1
Pros
Fast - still one of if not the fastest image viewer available
good file and batch sorting
great for desktop wallpaper with numerous optionsCons
None really found
Summary
If you are looking for a fast, reliable image viewer, then this one will more than fit the bill
Results 1-7 of 7
