Mac Image Viewers: looking for an IrfanView clone

In the Windows world IrfanView is the definitive image viewer: intuitive yet powerful, it can be used for virtually any image processing, from impromptu slide shows to massive batch operations.

Well, I switched to a Mac, so I tried to find an equivalent. Sadly, there is not one, but there are some good partial substitutes.

The following are my very brief notes for my own use. They ignore the features I do not care about.

What do I care about? -

• view images full screen,
• navigate within (and, ideally, beyond) the folder while in fuyll-screen mode
• rotate with a hotkey
• lossless rotate (for jpegs)
• resize
• crop
• copy

Current Mac Preview looses the ability to go to the next image when in full-screen mode, thus forcing me into this search.

Xsee by bitcom - more of a mini iPhoto than an impromptu image viewer. Probably good for organizing pictures. Where is my instant-view? Not for me.

Graphic Converter - the closest thing to IrfanView (still my personal golden standard) in terms of features and power. A big, comprehensive application aimed straight at the professionals. Sort of like “PhotoShop of image processing”. And just like PhotoShop, it is somewhat intimidating and not exactly intuitive till you read the manual (yes, it comes with a manual). I wish I had time to harness its power - maybe there is a way to make it do the simple things too! (like, be an image viewer).

JustLooking - it’s a “Preview Plus”. What’s the plus? - rotating images and going to next/previous in the full-screen mode. There is also resizing. But there is no lossless rotation, and the exif data is not preserved when saving (that is kinda sad, not that everyone cares). Nice replacement for Preview, but i want more…

Photon - very professionally looking application great at what it does best: sorting through your images. If you find yourself coming from a photoshoot with hundreds of fresh pictures that need to be quickly evaluated and put into various “buckets”, this is an app for you. But it is not a “traditional” viewer. Not for me.

Photostickies

PhotoStickies in action

are a rather unique viewer. While they do not perform any image processing and do not let you navigate to another image either, they are worth considering for the gloat value: PhotoStickies are an excellent way to throw a bunch of pictures (and webcam streams) on your screen right before you show off your new Mac to those burdened with Windows. Each image is shown without any borders/toolbar and under arbitrary angle, so you can really create a credibly artistic impression. I think I am going to keep it just for that (I am vane). It could also be an awesome tool for trade show booths.

ToyViewer is “almost there” in terms of the features I consider essential. There is even a number of sophisticated filters. But there is no lossless rotation of JPEGs. Sadly, when you commit to viewing a folder in full-screen mode, you can navigate between its images just fine, but if you started with a single image, you are stuck with it. Nope. Not good enough for me.

CocoViewX is another near-perfect viewer. In fact, it does everything I want. I just cannot quite get used to a few rough edges in the UI (and I am too dumb to figure out how to resize an image, even though I refuse to believe that the functionality is not there). The ability to mark images while in full-sceen view and then see them in the drop box will appeal to many (and annoy some) - it depends whether you want an image viewer or an image manager.

Jview - a nice, very simple viewer. Too simple for me. Great for many.

Xee - finally! This one works. It crops, it rotates and saves losslessly, it shows fullscreen. The option to move/copy to one of many pre-defined locations is extremely convenient. And so is the hotkey to poen the image in an external editor. The only problem is that it does not resize images (WTF???), but then I guesss I can use some external app for that. Any suggestions?

P.S. Who would have thought? - I have configured Xee to launch Preview as the external editor for the sake of resizing. Twisted!  Some day it will be Graphic Converter…