Updated April 7, 2023
Definition of XnView Alternatives
XnView alternatives provide much superior image viewer/organizer options to overcome shortcomings found in XnView such as:
- It is not free for all and is licensed for enterprise user and per license cost is around 25 euros,
- Managing video and movie files are a bit cumbersome as compared to image files,
- It doesn’t jell smoothly with touch screens,
- Some of its operation like Cropping is not perfect,
- Performance is relatively slower during certain operations like Right-click, Thumbnails,
- Email interfacing is very much limited.
Alternatives we are going to study in this article not only address the gaps found in XnView but also bring in new features to the table.
Brief understanding on XnView
This software enables users to view/edit images and compile them into a Web page or Contact sheet or slide show. It handles more than 500 types of images. It works efficiently with all operating systems and supports multiple languages.
Unique Features of XnView
- Renaming bulk of the files with a single command in Batch mode
- Editing options like Cropping, Changing the sizes
- Inclusion of IPTC Metadata
- Integrated viewing of XnView directory with local folders
- Inspection in hexadecimal format
- Screenshots
- Minute photo editing to manage the red-eye effect
Alternatives of XnView
Let’s analyze some of the major alternatives to XnView with superior features
IrfanView
A tool to present photos/ images in a slide show or individually with a facility to alter sizes, mix the right colors, add background effect, slice and dice the images. Its’ easy and simple features make it a benchmark tool for others to copy and incorporate into their products.
Advantages
- The operation is very simple with easy interfaces. Adding effects to the picture with colors and filters is a child’s play.
- Slideshow is created and shared with others as an executable file.
- It supports many formats of Images, Videos, and movies. Conversion from one format to another is achieved easily and it is automated through Batch processing.
- Images are Watermarked to secure the images from being pirated
- Special features are supported through Plugins.
The only downside of this tool it is a custom old look and a little out of fashion. This simple to use and feature-rich tool scores over many other image management tools.
Nomacs
It is capable of handling multiple viewers in the same machine in a synchronized manner to compare images and do simultaneous operations on a single image. It supports almost all formats of images including raw images. This lightweight software has easier operation steps, simpler interfaces, provision to take printouts and its performance is fast when compared to other tools.
Updates release is not frequent is the only complaint in this tool and its two years the last update was released.
ACDSee
Over and above image management functionality, this tool has expanded into niche areas like manipulation of images, online editing, video facility, handing raw images, Using layers in photo editing, and many more. It has footprints in smartphones and has Android and IOS versions. Prices of this tool and digital asset management tool are the other attractive features of this tool.
Too many options and limited editing options for video and movie files are the limitations of this tool.
Adobe Photoshop
Initially created as an editor for the rectangular grid of graphics (raster) it was horizontally deployed in all digital image applications later. It has become the industrial standard for raster as well as other graphics. It is considered to be the best among the best image editing tool.
Powerful editing features of this tool empower users to convert an ordinary photo into great art. This photoshop tool has innumerable features like 3D drawings, cropping, mixing photos/colors, combining and remixing in them and it is possible to convert one’s imagination into arts and crafts. The performance of this tool is superior as compared to other tools. This tool supports IOS and Andriod OS also and it plays an important role in mobile applications development.
It is a magical, creative, innovative photoshop tool and it is available only in subscription models which may pinch the purses of many.
Shotwell
A web-like image editor with a simple and elegant look attracts many users to this tool. It automatically imports pictures placed in its home directory and enables painless sharing of image albums created in it with others using renowned sharing services. It allows tagging/ rating, flipping, rotating, and manipulation of images while creating a slideshow. Photos from any digital camera with any format can be processed using this tool.
It is still evolving and many more user-friendly features are under the pipeline.
Faststone image viewer
All graphical formats and digital camera file formats are supported by this image editing tool and it is easy to download and has a user-friendly portable version. The auto-enhanced feature improves picture resolution and quality. The compression quality and dimension of the image can be specified while they are exported.
Interfacing the slide show with shared services is not available in the current version and it is expected in the next release along with the facility to insert musical notes during the transition of slides.
Pixlr
It is a photoshopping application for the manipulation of images. But the important feature of this tool is that it is offered as Software as a service (SaaS) model and the applications are hosted in the cloud. Since the application is hosted from the cloud, the user does not require a high processing power laptop or desktop and just a browser is sufficient to access the application. Unlike other tools, the data can be kept in a local machine and the processing will take place from the cloud.
It has got a preliminary version for beginners and a professional version for regular users. Due to cloud implementation, users can work on this application from wherever they are while they are on the move and the cost can be controlled.
Conclusion
There are more alternatives than what was discussed here. Users can select that tool that fits their requirements and budgets.
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