# Is there a way to look at an image file without loading an application? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475 "2000-11-23T22:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![isopropyl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@isopropyl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isopropyl)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/1 "2000-11-23T22:20:22Z")
It seems whenever I want to check what a wallpaper file looks like I end up with a drawing package or a full browser window or something else with a border that obscures all four sides. Is there some way just to see it, then maybe hit escape to get out of it? ---
**Author:** ![Schieschkopf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Schieschkopf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schieschkopf)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/2 "2000-11-23T22:30:41Z")
go download ACDsee 3.1 Trial version and install it, it’ll change the associations so you can fire it up real quick, or you can turn image preview on in windows explorer. try [http://www.acdsee.com](http://www.acdsee.com) ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/3 "2000-11-23T23:08:12Z")
Or Irfanview-- [http://www.irfanview.com](http://www.irfanview.com) I like this program a lot, I use it as my default image viewer. It lets you browse through directories without having to open and close each image. And it’s free. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/4 "2000-11-24T01:49:32Z")
Thanks, Boscibo, I would have had to say the very same thing. Irfanview is great! ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_the\_drum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@Drum\_the\_drum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_the_drum)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/5 "2000-11-24T02:12:07Z")
I use \*\*ImageContext \*\* $19.95. Shareware trial copy at \*\* [http://www.castillobueno.com](http://www.castillobueno.com) \*\* ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/6 "2000-11-24T14:36:30Z")
Another vote for IrfanView. It’s so good, I consider it an essential tool for any Windows PC. It loads very quickly, and includes itself on the right mouse menu in Explorer - right where you need it when managing image files. Because it’s free, you don’t get any annoying nag screens. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/7 "2000-11-24T16:34:41Z")
I don’t suppose you could just _print_ it? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/8 "2000-11-24T17:37:45Z")
It’s possible I missed something here but I find the facility in Windows ME for image viewing and D / L really useful and simple. Does everything I need - is that blasphemous ? My Puter \>\> My Docs \>\> My Pictures ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/9 "2000-11-24T23:50:19Z")
Quick View Plus, is a program that does just what you said. It lets you see an image without opening the application it uses. ---
**Author:** ![\_hijack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/c0e974/32.png) [@\_hijack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_hijack)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/10 "2000-11-25T00:02:47Z")
Quick View usually gives me things that are of no interest, just empty tables of discarded external references. I can’t see any use to it. ---
**Author:** ![\_hijack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/c0e974/32.png) [@\_hijack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_hijack)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/11 "2000-11-25T00:06:29Z")
I have added something to my system (I forgot the name and have no idea where it “is”) that makes some image files appear as small pictures when you open a folder in Web Mode. But it only works on .gif and .bmp, not .jpg. I think it may work on .html, but I don’t keep any around because they are so large. ---
**Author:** ![Niggle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Niggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niggle)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-look-at-an-image-file-without-loading-an-application/42475/12 "2000-11-25T05:08:22Z")
PicaView is a great program as well. right-click on your picture file and it’ll show up as a thumbnail in the popdown menu. It’s done by the same folks as ACDSee and I’m sure can be found on the same site. -nigel