IvanView

Like other image browsers, IvanView displays and converts a wide array of image formats, including PNG, TIFF, and JPEG 2000. However, it packs a few surprises. One was mildly unpleasant, when the IvanView installer slapped an icon on our desktop without asking. However, the application interface is familiar and easy to use. Opened images and thumbnails appear in the main window beneath the toolbar. The click of a button starts a slide show of the currently selected folder. You can't pick individual images for a slide show, which seems like an oversight. On the other hand, we liked how the mouse scrollwheel zooms images in and out. IvanView's most remarkable feature is its array of filters and effects, normally found only in dedicated image-editing packages. These include Gaussian blurs, sharpening, lens distortion, and edge detection. Web developers will find IvanView a useful, lightweight companion to a more serious editor such as Adobe Photoshop.