XnView
Encyclopedia
XnView is a cross-platform
image viewer
used for viewing, converting, organising and editing graphical & video files. It is free of charge
for private, educational and non-profit organisations. For commercial use and distribution, the user must register the program.
It is popular with users as it provides features normally found only in commercial image viewers.
, supporting 44 languages in the Windows version. The language can be changed via the options menu. The toolbar
buttons can be modified to a certain extent, or be replaced by altering skins
.
Also, XnView has been able to support an increasing number of file formats (mainly image file formats
). It can read more than 400 image file formats, some audio and video file formats, and write 50 image file formats. XnView also supports ICC profile
s in JPEG
, PNG and TIFF files.
XnView can show IPTC
, Exif and XMP
metadata
, and write IPTC metadata (but cannot do batch writing of IPTC metadata, and some users are longing for the batch IPTC editing function). A further limitation is that it currently does not allow to sort thumbnails within a folder by a user-defined order.
XnView can search files that have the same filename or data, and can search for similar graphics as well.
In addition, the display of the histogram
of a picture is possible. And within a few mouse
clicks, scripts
can be created to convert, manipulate and rename a batch
of images in one go.
Several image editing tools are included, for instance color and size manipulation, several filters and effects
(full version even includes Harry's Filters
3.0). Lossless (without new encoding) turning, flipping
and cropping
of JPEG files is supported. Creation of advanced slide shows is also possible. Furthermore, it can upload images to an FTP site or ImageShack
, burn images to a CD or DVD
(Nero Burning ROM
required) with a few clicks (full version only).
The author no longer uses exe compressors to compress executables in the newest version, 1.95, after a long discussion about XnView 1.95 rc1 in the official forum.
XnView is accompanied by NConvert, a command line image conversion tool.
XnView MP (XnView Multi Platform) will eventually replace all other versions of XnView (*nix and Mac OS X and Windows) using the same source code for all platforms and is intended to have a unified look and feel. It will have native unicode
support and be able to load full bit depth pictures (8/16/32 bits per component), easier handling of native language support (text based files) and a better database. Currently the newest version is 0.39.
XnConvert MP (available on Windows, Linux & MacOSX) allows easy batch conversion of image files, resizing, filtering, adding watermark and more.
XnView exists now for Pocket PC
and smartphone
with Windows Mobile
5 & 6, Pocket PC 2002-2005. Latest version (as of 7 January 2009) is XnView Pocket v1.51.
XnView Deluxe was developed by Pierre-Emmanuel Gougelet for Xzeos Software. It was a commercial version that was more feature rich than the standard free XnView. On January 1., 2006, development, distribution and selling was stopped as a result of increased competition from Adobe Albums among others. The features in the XnView Deluxe were later incorporated into the XnView (free). XnView Deluxe is no longer supported.
, and Cnet.com
reports that the XnView has received four out of five stars from both the editors and users.
Cross-platform
In computing, cross-platform, or multi-platform, is an attribute conferred to computer software or computing methods and concepts that are implemented and inter-operate on multiple computer platforms...
image viewer
Image viewer
An image viewer or image browser is a computer program that can display stored graphical image; it can often handle various graphics file formats...
used for viewing, converting, organising and editing graphical & video files. It is free of charge
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
for private, educational and non-profit organisations. For commercial use and distribution, the user must register the program.
It is popular with users as it provides features normally found only in commercial image viewers.
Features
XnView is highly customisable and multi-lingualMultilingualism
Multilingualism is the act of using, or promoting the use of, multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. Multilingualism is becoming a social phenomenon governed by the needs of...
, supporting 44 languages in the Windows version. The language can be changed via the options menu. The toolbar
Toolbar
In a graphical user interface, on a computer monitor, a toolbar is a GUI widget on which on-screen buttons, icons, menus, or other input or output elements are placed. Toolbars are seen in office suites, graphics editors, and web browsers...
buttons can be modified to a certain extent, or be replaced by altering skins
Skin (computing)
In computing, a skin is a custom graphical appearance achieved by the use of a graphical user interface that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users....
.
Also, XnView has been able to support an increasing number of file formats (mainly image file formats
Image file formats
Image file formats are standardized means of organizing and storing digital images. Image files are composed of either pixels, vector data, or a combination of the two. Whatever the format, the files are rasterized to pixels when displayed on most graphic displays...
). It can read more than 400 image file formats, some audio and video file formats, and write 50 image file formats. XnView also supports ICC profile
ICC profile
In color management, an ICC profile is a set of data that characterizes a color input or output device, or a color space, according to standards promulgated by the International Color Consortium...
s in JPEG
JPEG
In computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
, PNG and TIFF files.
XnView can show IPTC
IPTC Information Interchange Model
The Information Interchange Model is a file structure and set of metadata attributes that can be applied to text, images and other media types...
, Exif and XMP
Extensible Metadata Platform
The Adobe Extensible Metadata Platform is a standard, created by Adobe Systems Inc., for processing and storing standardized and proprietary information relating to the contents of a file....
metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
, and write IPTC metadata (but cannot do batch writing of IPTC metadata, and some users are longing for the batch IPTC editing function). A further limitation is that it currently does not allow to sort thumbnails within a folder by a user-defined order.
XnView can search files that have the same filename or data, and can search for similar graphics as well.
In addition, the display of the histogram
Image histogram
An image histogram is a type of histogram that acts as a graphical representation of the tonal distribution in a digital image. It plots the number of pixels for each tonal value. By looking at the histogram for a specific image a viewer will be able to judge the entire tonal distribution at a...
of a picture is possible. And within a few mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
clicks, scripts
Scripting language
A scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...
can be created to convert, manipulate and rename a batch
Batch renaming
Batch renaming is a form of batch processing used to rename multiple computer files and folders in an automated fashion, in order to save time and reduce the amount of work involved. Some sort of software is required to do this. Such software can be more or less advanced, but most have the same...
of images in one go.
Several image editing tools are included, for instance color and size manipulation, several filters and effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
(full version even includes Harry's Filters
Harry's Filters
Harry's Filters is a plugin for Adobe Photoshop, which includes a set of 69 different image effects. There are 9 main effect categories including, among others, warp, pattern or color effects. Each main category then contains a series of parameters to fine tune the effect.The plugin also features a...
3.0). Lossless (without new encoding) turning, flipping
Flipping
Flipping is a term used primarily in the United States to describe purchasing a revenue-generating asset and quickly reselling it for profit...
and cropping
Cropping (image)
Cropping refers to the removal of the outer parts of an image to improve framing, accentuate subject matter or change aspect ratio. Depending on the application, this may be performed on a physical photograph, artwork or film footage, or achieved digitally using image editing software...
of JPEG files is supported. Creation of advanced slide shows is also possible. Furthermore, it can upload images to an FTP site or ImageShack
ImageShack
ImageShack is a free image hosting website. ImageShack has a subscription service but the majority of its revenue is produced from advertising related to its free image hosting. The imageshack.us Alexa ranking in September 25, 2007 was one of the top 40, but now as of September 25, 2011 it's...
, burn images to a CD or DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
(Nero Burning ROM
Nero Burning ROM
Nero Multimedia Suite is a popular software suite for Microsoft Windows by Nero AG . Version 10 of this product was released in April 2010.- Included products :The following applications are included in Nero 11 :Disc authoring...
required) with a few clicks (full version only).
The author no longer uses exe compressors to compress executables in the newest version, 1.95, after a long discussion about XnView 1.95 rc1 in the official forum.
XnView is accompanied by NConvert, a command line image conversion tool.
Versions
XnView MP (XnView Multi Platform) will eventually replace all other versions of XnView (*nix and Mac OS X and Windows) using the same source code for all platforms and is intended to have a unified look and feel. It will have native unicode
Unicode
Unicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
support and be able to load full bit depth pictures (8/16/32 bits per component), easier handling of native language support (text based files) and a better database. Currently the newest version is 0.39.
XnConvert MP (available on Windows, Linux & MacOSX) allows easy batch conversion of image files, resizing, filtering, adding watermark and more.
- XnView Pocket
XnView exists now for Pocket PC
Pocket PC
A Pocket PC is also known by Microsoft as a 'Windows Mobile Classic device'. It is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized computer, personal digital assistant , that runs the Microsoft 'Windows Mobile Classic' operating system...
and smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
with Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
5 & 6, Pocket PC 2002-2005. Latest version (as of 7 January 2009) is XnView Pocket v1.51.
- XnView Deluxe
XnView Deluxe was developed by Pierre-Emmanuel Gougelet for Xzeos Software. It was a commercial version that was more feature rich than the standard free XnView. On January 1., 2006, development, distribution and selling was stopped as a result of increased competition from Adobe Albums among others. The features in the XnView Deluxe were later incorporated into the XnView (free). XnView Deluxe is no longer supported.
Limitations
- XnView does not support UnicodeUnicodeUnicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
, however the author promises that in v2.0 Unicode will be supported. Unicode support exists in XnView MP.
Reception
XnView has received multiple awards, including five cows from TucowsTucows
Tucows was formed in Flint, Michigan, USA in 1993. It incorporated in Pennsylvania and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
, and Cnet.com
CNET.com
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
reports that the XnView has received four out of five stars from both the editors and users.