XnView 1.90 Beta 3

With XnView you can quickly and easily view, process and convert image files. The program can read more than 400 different formats and then convert them to other formats such as GIF, BMP, JPG, PNG and even multi-page TIFF. XnView can also display video formats, many digital camera formats and even some relatively unknown formats such as Amiga IFF and Calamus.
XnView operates in three different Modes: ‘Basic’, ‘Browser’ and ‘View’. The mode in which the browser opens depends on whether there is no window, if there is a Browser window or a window with an opened, active image. The mode decides which functions are available in the menus and displays the relevant symbol.

Modes The Main Window is displayed when XnView starts up. This is the Basic/Default Mode, and XnView is in this mode until the Browser is opened and as long as no images are opened and active.

In the Browser Mode, you can display the file directory hierarchy, list of files and preview of images in the current directory. In the Image View Mode, the main window opens with an open image in the bottom part of the browser. An image can be opened using the Browser (by searching for files) or Direct Opening (through Windows Explorer).

Additional information about the open image is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the main window. The number of frames is also displayed in the status bar.

The Image viewer is similar to Windows Explorer. You simply navigate the directory structure as desired, and any image files found in a directory are displayed in thumbnail format. This lets you keep an overview of the images available, and at the same time lets you quickly view and select specific images. XnView can be run without installation and this makes it perfect to be used as a “photograph album on CD”, especially because it is free for personal use. XnView is also good for the presentations on a CD because it runs without the need for the software to be installed on the computer despite saving in a proprietary manner.

Apart from offering easy image viewing, XnView also offers more advanced features such as Web page creation, contact prints (images the size of negatives), multiple conversion (format and transformation), slide shows, screen capturing and TWAIN support for scanners and digital cameras.

Numerous image filters and effects for image processing are available. Connecting with other popular professional graphic programs, say, Adobe Photoshop, can be done using the ‘Drag and Drop’, ‘Clipboard’ or ‘Open With’ menu options. It’s got it all! XnView lets you create the optimal defaults according to your needs and preferences—for example, you can define templates according to which a Web page will be created directly from the application. Operations such as copying, moving, and creation of directories and files makes XnView the universal tool for viewing and browsing through graphics.

Here’s a list of the most important functions in XnView:

- Import about 400 graphic file formats
- Export about 50 graphic file formats
- Multipage TIFF, Animated GIF, Animated ICO support
- IPTC, EXIF
- Resize
- Adjust brigthness, contrast...
- Modify number of colors
- Apply filters (blur, average, emboss, ...)
- Apply effects (lens, wave, ...)
- Fullscreen mode
- Slide show
- Picture browser
- Batch convert
- Thumbnail create
- Screen capture
- Multi-page file create (TIFF, DCX, LDF)
- TWAIN support (Windows only)
- Print support (Windows only)
- Drag & Drop support (Windows only)
- 44 languages support (Windows only)
- The XnView Browser is similar to Windows Explorer. It lets you navigate the directory structure, displaying all pictures in the current directory in thumbnail view.
- Standard file operations such as copying, moving and deletion of files can be performed.
- XnView can display pictures in configurable slideshows. You can also display pictures directly from CDs (self-starting slideshows from CD), resulting in an electronic photograph album.
- Open and exchange pictures with other applications using Drag & Drop.
- Create contact sheets with thumbnails of pictures.
- Retrieve and display important image information such as size and colour density in a number of different ways.
- Supports scanners and digital cameras directly using the TWAIN protocol
- Create Web pages with images including navigation and preview.
- Play the most popular sound files including .mid, .rmi, .wav, and .mp3.
- Rotate or flip JPEGs with no loss of image quality.
- Join images horizontally or vertically to create panorama images.
- XnView is extremely flexible and allows a high degree of optimisation and default settings. This means it is easily tailored to individual needs and preferences.

Pros: It's efficient, easy to use and not a hassle to install. It is fast, reads many file formats and above all is not cluttered. Also free for private users and an all around speedy program.

Cons: XnView is NOT FREE for commercial use so buyers beware.

Download it here