Image viewing software

Johnboy2978 · Jan 10, 2007

What software program do you all recommend to your clients who want to preview some of the digital images you've done for them? If I have a portrait, it will look somewhat different with PS, PS Bridge, IE, Windows picture and fax viewer and also with IrfanView. The contrast, colors and nuances will vary slightly between all of these. So if you were to recommend that they view it as you edited it, what is the best for them? I realize that monitor calibration will come into play as well, and they are likely not going to have a calibrated monitor, and that will have more effect than the software, but I can't control that. I use PS CS2 to do my editing, and it seems like irfanview is the best free program that comes close to accurately showing what the print will appear like. Anyone care to share an opinion?

markc · Jan 10, 2007

There should be very little difference in how the image looks if the program is written correctly. The main issue will be monitor calibration, which as you said, you can't control, through you can send them to one of these pages:
http://epaperpress.com/monitorcal/
http://www.photofriday.com/calibrate.php
http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html#gammachart

If they don't have Adobe Gamma, they can get QuickGamma for free. (I haven't tried it myself.)

I use Irfanview myself and also recommend that.

Alex_B · Jan 10, 2007

monitor calibration problems BY FAR exeeed any differnece in software and even in colour spaces and profiles.

it is really a pain that 99% of all computer screens on the planet are totally uncalibrated and unprofiled. in this visual world it should really be a standard procedure, but it is not

90% of all complaints i get regarding my images (i am not a pro) are based on calibration issues of the viewers' screens.

the other 10% are much more painful to my ego thogh