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{{short description|Image and PDF viewer software by Apple}}
{{redirect|Preview (software)|the term used in software release cycles|Technical preview}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2010}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2010}}
{{Infobox software
{{Infobox software
| name = Preview
| name = Preview
| logo = Preview icon.png
| logo = Preview icon.png
| logo_size = x64px
| logo_size =
| logo alt = photograph and loupe
| screenshot = Preview (Mac OS X).png
| screenshot = Preview (macOS).png
| screenshot_size = 300px
| screenshot_size = 250px
| caption = Preview 8.0 running on [[OS X Yosemite|OS X 10.10 Yosemite]]
| caption = Preview 11.0 running on [[macOS Big Sur|Big Sur]]
| genre = [[Image viewer|Image]] and [[PDF viewer]]
| developer = [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]
| latest release version = 11.0
| operating system = [[macOS]]
| operating system = [[macOS]]
| website = https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/welcome/mac
| website = {{ url | support.apple.com/guide/preview }}
}}
}}
{{macOS topics}}
{{macOS topics}}


'''Preview''' is the [[image viewer]] and [[PDF viewer]] of the [[macOS]] operating system; it enables users to view and print [[digital image]]s and [[Portable Document Format]] (PDF) files. Preview uses Apple's implementation of the PDF specification, the [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua graphical user interface]], the [[Quartz (graphics layer)|Quartz]] graphics layer, and the ImageIO and [[Core Image]] frameworks.
'''Preview''' is the built-in [[image viewer]] and [[PDF viewer]] of the [[macOS]] operating system. In addition to viewing and printing [[digital image]]s and [[Portable Document Format]] (PDF) files, it can also edit these media types. It employs the [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua graphical user interface]], the [[Quartz (graphics layer)|Quartz]] graphics layer, and the ImageIO and [[Core Image]] frameworks.


==History==
==History==
Like macOS itself, it originated in the [[NeXTSTEP]] operating system from the company [[NeXT]].<ref>[https://www.levenez.com/NeXTSTEP/NeXTSTEP.pdf NeXTSTEP promotional brochure from 1995.]</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/2863923/the-many-superpowers-of-apples-preview-app-part-1.html|title=The many superpowers of Apple's Preview app: Part 1|work=Macworld|access-date=2017-11-18|language=en}}</ref> It was part of every release of NexTSTEP OS since 1989.
Like macOS, Preview originated in the [[NeXTSTEP]] operating system by [[NeXT]],<ref>[https://www.levenez.com/NeXTSTEP/NeXTSTEP.pdf "NEXTSTEP"] (Brochure). Redwood City: Next Computer. February 1995. Retrieved 2021-05-19.</ref> where it was part of every release since 1989. Between 2003 and 2005, [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] claimed Preview was the "fastest PDF viewer on the planet."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mac OS X Panther|url=http://www.apple.com:80/macosx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050111015225/http://www.apple.com:80/macosx/|archive-date=2005-01-11|publisher=Apple Computer}}</ref>


==Supported file types==
==Supported file types==
Preview can open the following file types.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Snider|first=Lesa|date=2014-12-30|title=The many superpowers of Apple's Preview app: Part 1|language=en|work=Macworld|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/2863923/the-many-superpowers-of-apples-preview-app-part-1.html|access-date=2017-11-18}}</ref>
Preview can open the following file types:
{{div col}}

⚫
* [[Adobe Illustrator Artwork|AI]] – Adobe Illustrator artwork files (if PDF content included in file)
{|
⚫
* [[BMP file format|BMP]] – Windows bitmap files
| valign = top |
⚫
* [[Raw image format|CR2]] – Raw image file used by Canon cameras
⚫
* [[Adobe Illustrator Artwork|AI]] – Adobe Illustrator Artwork files (if PDF content included in file)
⚫
* [[BMP file format|BMP]] – Windows Bitmap files
⚫
* [[Raw image format|CR2]] – RAW Image file used by Canon Cameras
* [[COLLADA|DAE]] – Collada 3D files
* [[COLLADA|DAE]] – Collada 3D files
* [[Digital Negative (file format)|DNG]] – Digital Negative files
* [[Digital Negative (file format)|DNG]] – Digital negative files
⚫
* [[Fax|FAX]] – Faxes
* [[Encapsulated PostScript|EPS]] – Encapsulated PostScript files (after an automatic conversion to PDF)
⚫
* [[Fax|FAX]] – faxes
* [[FlashPix|FPX]] – FlashPix files
* [[FlashPix|FPX]] – FlashPix files
* [[Graphics Interchange Format|GIF]] – Graphics Interchange Format files
* [[Graphics Interchange Format|GIF]] – Graphics Interchange Format files
* [[High dynamic range imaging|HDR]] – High Dynamic Range Image files
* [[High-dynamic-range imaging|HDR]] – High-dynamic-range image files
* [[Apple Icon Image|ICNS]] – Apple Icon Image files
* [[Apple Icon Image|ICNS]] – Apple Icon Image files
* [[ICO (icon image file format)|ICO]] – Windows icon files
* [[ICO (icon image file format)|ICO]] – Windows icon files
Line 38: Line 41:
* [[Wavefront .obj file|OBJ]] – Wavefront 3D file
* [[Wavefront .obj file|OBJ]] – Wavefront 3D file
* [[OpenEXR]] – OpenEXR files
* [[OpenEXR]] – OpenEXR files
| valign = top |
* [[Portable Document Format|PDF]] – Portable Document Format version 1.5 + some additional features
* [[Portable Document Format|PDF]] – Portable Document Format version 1.5 + some additional features
* [[PICT]] – [[QuickDraw]] image files
* [[PICT]] – [[QuickDraw]] image files
* [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]] – Portable Network Graphics files
* [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]] – Portable Network Graphics files
* [[Netpbm format|PPM]] – Netpbm Color Image files
* [[MacPaint|PNTG]] – MacPaint Bitmap Graphic files
* [[MacPaint|PNTG]] – MacPaint Bitmap Graphic files
* [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PPT]] – PowerPoint files
* [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PPT]] – PowerPoint files
* [[PostScript|PS]] – Adobe PostScript files (after an automatic conversion to PDF)
* [[Adobe Photoshop|PSD]] – Adobe Photoshop files
* [[Adobe Photoshop|PSD]] – Adobe Photoshop files
* [[QuickTime|QTIF]] – QuickTime image files
* [[QuickTime|QTIF]] – QuickTime image files
Line 54: Line 56:
* [[Tagged Image File Format|TIF]] (TIFF) – Tagged Image File Format files
* [[Tagged Image File Format|TIF]] (TIFF) – Tagged Image File Format files
* [[X BitMap|XBM]] – X BitMap files
* [[X BitMap|XBM]] – X BitMap files
{{div col end}}
|}


In [[macOS Monterey]] and earlier, Preview supported the display of [[Encapsulated PostScript|EPS]] and [[PostScript]] documents using on-the-fly conversion to PDF format. However, this functionality was removed in [[macOS Ventura]], although users can continue to print {{mono|.eps}} and {{mono|.ps}} files by dragging them into the printer queue.<ref>{{cite web
The version of Preview included with [[Mac OS X Panther|OS X 10.3]] could loop animated GIFs via an optional "play" button that could be added to the toolbar. With [[Mac OS X Tiger|OS X 10.4]], Preview lost playback functionality and animated GIFs would instead display as individual frames in a numbered sequence.<ref>[http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20030406072752940 Use Preview to play animated GIFs]</ref><ref>[https://support.apple.com/kb/PH20212?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US Preview for Mac: View animated GIF files in Preview]</ref>
| url = https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213250
| title = View .ps and .eps files on Mac
| date = 2022-10-24
| website = Apple Support
| publisher = Apple
| quote = The Preview app included with your Mac supports PostScript (.ps) and Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files in macOS Monterey or earlier. Starting with macOS Ventura, Preview no longer supports these files.
| access-date = 2022-11-25
}}</ref>

The version of Preview included with [[Mac OS X Panther|OS X 10.3]] (''Panther'') could play animated GIF images, for which an optional button could be added to the toolbar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20030406072752940 |title=Use Preview to play animated GIFs |website=Mac OS X Hints |publisher=IDG |date=2003-04-08 |access-date=2021-05-19 |archive-date=2020-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806114641/http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20030406072752940}}</ref> As of [[Mac OS X Tiger|OS X 10.4]] (''Tiger''), Preview lost playback functionality and animated GIF files are displayed as individual frames in a numbered sequence.<ref>[https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/preview/prvw1016/10.1/mac/10.13 "View an animated GIF's frames"]. ''Preview Help.'' Apple. Retrieved 2021-05-19.</ref>


==Features==
==Features==
⚫
===Editing PDF documents===

⚫
[[File:Preview 7.0.png|thumb|Preview 7.0 screenshot]]
⚫
===Editing features - PDF===
Preview can encrypt PDF documents, and restrict their use; for example, it is possible to save an encrypted PDF so that a password is required to copy data from the document, or to print it. However, encrypted PDFs cannot be edited further, so the original author should always keep an unencrypted version.
Preview can encrypt PDF documents, and restrict their use; for example, it is possible to save an encrypted PDF so that a password is required to copy data from the document, or to print it. However, encrypted PDFs cannot be edited further, so the original author should always keep an unencrypted version. A new "edit button" where the picture can be edited is introduced in Version 7. The "edit button" allows options to insert shapes, lines, do cropping, and among other things.


Some features which are otherwise only available in professional PDF editing software are provided by Preview: It is possible to extract single pages out of multi-page documents (e.g. PDF files), sort pages, and drag & drop single or multiple pages between several opened multi-page documents, or into other applications, such as attaching to an opened email message.
Some features which are otherwise only available in professional PDF editing software are provided by Preview: It is possible to extract single pages out of multi-page documents (e.g. PDF files), sort pages, and drag & drop single or multiple pages between several opened multi-page documents, or into other applications, such as attaching to an opened email message.


===Editing features - Image files===
===Editing images===

Preview offers basic [[Image editing|image correction]] tools using [[Core Image]] processing technology implemented in macOS, and other features like shape extraction, color extraction, cropping, and rotation tools. When annotating images, Preview uses vector shapes and text until the image is rasterized to JPEG, PNG or another bitmap format. [[PDF]] and image documents can also be supplied with keywords, and are then automatically indexed using macOS's system-wide [[Spotlight (software)|Spotlight]] search engine.
Preview offers basic [[Image editing|image correction]] tools using [[Core Image]] processing technology implemented in macOS, and other features like shape extraction, color extraction, cropping, and rotation tools. When annotating images, Preview uses vector shapes and text until the image is rasterized to JPEG, PNG or another bitmap format. [[PDF]] and image documents can also be supplied with keywords, and are then automatically indexed using macOS's system-wide [[Spotlight (software)|Spotlight]] search engine.


Line 72: Line 83:
Preview can directly access image scanners supported by macOS and import images from the scanner. Preview can convert between [[image format]]s; it can export to BMP, JP2, JPEG, PDF, PICT, PNG, SGI, TGA, and TIFF. Using macOS's print engine (based on [[CUPS]]) it is also possible to "print into" a Postscript file, a PDF-X file or directly save the file in [[iPhoto]], for example scanned photos.
Preview can directly access image scanners supported by macOS and import images from the scanner. Preview can convert between [[image format]]s; it can export to BMP, JP2, JPEG, PDF, PICT, PNG, SGI, TGA, and TIFF. Using macOS's print engine (based on [[CUPS]]) it is also possible to "print into" a Postscript file, a PDF-X file or directly save the file in [[iPhoto]], for example scanned photos.


Beginning with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Preview restricts the Format option popup menu in the Save As dialog to commonly used types. It is possible to access the full format list by holding down the Option key when clicking the Format popup menu.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://osxdaily.com/2010/01/24/convert-images-in-mac-os-x-jpg-to-gif-psd-to-jpg-gif-to-jpg-bmp-to-jpg-png-to-pdf-and-more/|title=Convert Images in Mac OS X: JPG to GIF, PSD to JPG, GIF to JPG, BMP to JPG, PNG to PDF, and more|date=2010-01-24|website=OS X Daily|access-date=2017-01-08}}</ref> (GIF, ICNS, JPEG, JPEG-2000, Microsoft BMP, Microsoft Icon, OpenEXR, PDF, Photoshop, PNG, SGI, TGA, TIFF)
Beginning with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Preview restricts the Format option popup menu in the Save As dialog to commonly used types. It is possible to access the full format list by holding down the Option key when clicking the Format popup menu.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-01-24|title=Convert Images in Mac OS X: JPG to GIF, PSD to JPG, GIF to JPG, BMP to JPG, PNG to PDF, and more|url=http://osxdaily.com/2010/01/24/convert-images-in-mac-os-x-jpg-to-gif-psd-to-jpg-gif-to-jpg-bmp-to-jpg-png-to-pdf-and-more/|access-date=2017-01-08|website=OS X Daily}}</ref> (GIF, ICNS, JPEG, JPEG-2000, Microsoft BMP, Microsoft Icon, OpenEXR, PDF, Photoshop, PNG, SGI, TGA, TIFF.)

===New Features in Version 7===
⚫
[[File:Preview 7.0.png|thumb|right|Preview 7.0 screenshot]]
A new "edit button" where the picture can be edited is introduced in Version 7. The "edit button" allows options to insert shapes, lines, do cropping, and among other things.<ref name="alltop9">{{cite web |url= https://www.alltop9.com/mac-preview-tool-tricks/ |title= 6 Incredible Things You Can Do With "Preview" Tool on Your Mac|work= AllTop9.com }}</ref>

==Issues==
As of OS X 10.9.2, Preview does not support ISO-standardized PDF (ISO 32000), and when saving, destroys aspects of PDF files without warning to the user.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://duff-johnson.com/2014/04/07/apples-preview-still-not-safe-for-work/ |title=Apple's Preview: Still not safe for work|author=Duff Johnson|accessdate=2014-04-07}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of PDF software]]
* [[List of PDF software]]
* [[Image viewer]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 00:16, 28 July 2024

"Preview (software)" redirects here. For the term used in software release cycles, see Technical preview.
Preview
Developer(s)Apple
Stable release
11.0
Operating systemmacOS
TypeImage and PDF viewer
Websitesupport.apple.com/guide/preview
Part of a series on
macOS
Features
Versions
Applications
Utilities
Related

Preview is the built-in image viewer and PDF viewer of the macOS operating system. In addition to viewing and printing digital images and Portable Document Format (PDF) files, it can also edit these media types. It employs the Aqua graphical user interface, the Quartz graphics layer, and the ImageIO and Core Image frameworks.

History

Like macOS, Preview originated in the NeXTSTEP operating system by NeXT,[1] where it was part of every release since 1989. Between 2003 and 2005, Apple claimed Preview was the "fastest PDF viewer on the planet."[2]

Supported file types

Preview can open the following file types.[3]

  • AI – Adobe Illustrator artwork files (if PDF content included in file)
  • BMP – Windows bitmap files
  • CR2 – Raw image file used by Canon cameras
  • DAE – Collada 3D files
  • DNG – Digital negative files
  • FAX – Faxes
  • FPX – FlashPix files
  • GIF – Graphics Interchange Format files
  • HDR – High-dynamic-range image files
  • ICNS – Apple Icon Image files
  • ICO – Windows icon files
  • JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group files
  • JPEG 2000 – JPEG 2000 files
  • OBJ – Wavefront 3D file
  • OpenEXR – OpenEXR files
  • PDF – Portable Document Format version 1.5 + some additional features
  • PICT – QuickDraw image files
  • PNG – Portable Network Graphics files
  • PPM – Netpbm Color Image files
  • PNTG – MacPaint Bitmap Graphic files
  • PPT – PowerPoint files
  • PSD – Adobe Photoshop files
  • QTIF – QuickTime image files
  • RAD – Radiance 3D Scene Description files
  • RAW – Raw image files
  • SGI – Silicon Graphics Image files
  • STL – STereoLithography 3D format
  • TGA – TARGA image files
  • TIF (TIFF) – Tagged Image File Format files
  • XBM – X BitMap files

In macOS Monterey and earlier, Preview supported the display of EPS and PostScript documents using on-the-fly conversion to PDF format. However, this functionality was removed in macOS Ventura, although users can continue to print .eps and .ps files by dragging them into the printer queue.[4]

The version of Preview included with OS X 10.3 (Panther) could play animated GIF images, for which an optional button could be added to the toolbar.[5] As of OS X 10.4 (Tiger), Preview lost playback functionality and animated GIF files are displayed as individual frames in a numbered sequence.[6]

Features

Editing PDF documents

Preview 7.0 screenshot

Preview can encrypt PDF documents, and restrict their use; for example, it is possible to save an encrypted PDF so that a password is required to copy data from the document, or to print it. However, encrypted PDFs cannot be edited further, so the original author should always keep an unencrypted version. A new "edit button" where the picture can be edited is introduced in Version 7. The "edit button" allows options to insert shapes, lines, do cropping, and among other things.

Some features which are otherwise only available in professional PDF editing software are provided by Preview: It is possible to extract single pages out of multi-page documents (e.g. PDF files), sort pages, and drag & drop single or multiple pages between several opened multi-page documents, or into other applications, such as attaching to an opened email message.

Editing images

Preview offers basic image correction tools using Core Image processing technology implemented in macOS, and other features like shape extraction, color extraction, cropping, and rotation tools. When annotating images, Preview uses vector shapes and text until the image is rasterized to JPEG, PNG or another bitmap format. PDF and image documents can also be supplied with keywords, and are then automatically indexed using macOS's system-wide Spotlight search engine.

Import and export

Preview can directly access image scanners supported by macOS and import images from the scanner. Preview can convert between image formats; it can export to BMP, JP2, JPEG, PDF, PICT, PNG, SGI, TGA, and TIFF. Using macOS's print engine (based on CUPS) it is also possible to "print into" a Postscript file, a PDF-X file or directly save the file in iPhoto, for example scanned photos.

Beginning with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Preview restricts the Format option popup menu in the Save As dialog to commonly used types. It is possible to access the full format list by holding down the Option key when clicking the Format popup menu.[7] (GIF, ICNS, JPEG, JPEG-2000, Microsoft BMP, Microsoft Icon, OpenEXR, PDF, Photoshop, PNG, SGI, TGA, TIFF.)

See also

References

  1. ^ "NEXTSTEP" (Brochure). Redwood City: Next Computer. February 1995. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  2. ^ "Mac OS X Panther". Apple Computer. Archived from the original on 2005-01-11.
  3. ^ Snider, Lesa (2014-12-30). "The many superpowers of Apple's Preview app: Part 1". Macworld. IDG. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  4. ^ "View .ps and .eps files on Mac". Apple Support. Apple. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-11-25. The Preview app included with your Mac supports PostScript (.ps) and Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files in macOS Monterey or earlier. Starting with macOS Ventura, Preview no longer supports these files.
  5. ^ "Use Preview to play animated GIFs". Mac OS X Hints. IDG. 2003-04-08. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  6. ^ "View an animated GIF's frames". Preview Help. Apple. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  7. ^ "Convert Images in Mac OS X: JPG to GIF, PSD to JPG, GIF to JPG, BMP to JPG, PNG to PDF, and more". OS X Daily. 2010-01-24. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
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