Windows Picture and Fax Viewer is an image viewer that is a part of the Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems. It is based on GDI+ and is capable of viewing images format supported by GDI+, namely, JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIFs), ICO, WMF, EMF and TIFF format files. If you open any of the image format mentioned above in Windows XP, it will by default opened in Windows Picture and Fax Viewer.
Apart from its rudimentary image rotating tool and its TIFF annotation feature, the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer only views, and does not edit images. The viewer program starts up if any of the picture format files is double clicked. You won’t find a shortcut in Windows Start Menu and there is no executable (.exe) file for it. It is implemented as a dynamic-link library file called shimgvw.dll. This program is normally located at “%systemroot%\system32\shimgvw.dll”, and can be run from the command prompt or through a shortcut pointing to “rundll32.exe %systemroot%\system32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen”
Although this program superseded part of the functions of Imaging for Windows in previous versions of Windows, it can still be improved by adding 200+ image support.
ImageXtender is a unique free application that teaches your Windows XP image viewer to understand more than 200 image formats which includes such long forgotten formats as *.msp, *.gem. together with really rare ones, such as *.cals and *.dpx. When you install ImageXtender, it builds itself into your operating system (Windows XP), and registers all known extensions pf graphics files so that they can be viewed with Windows XP standard viewer. So, the process of viewing any images won’t differ from viewing image formats available before.
Once ImageXtender is installed, you can run ImageXtender from Windows Start Menu to select the file types which you would like to see in Windows Explorer. All image types are selected by default. Then you can view images in 3 different modes: Preview, Thumbnails and Filmstrip.
Just launch Windows Explorer and open a folder containing image files, and you’ll be able to view files of available formats in preview mode. Besides, the “Details” section located in the left pane of Windows Explorer will display all file info – its type, size and date of creation.
To view graphics files in Thumbnails mode, just launch Windows Explorer and open a folder containing image files, then go to Windows Explorer menu and select View-Thumbnails.
To view images in Filmstrip mode, launch Windows Explorer and open a folder containing image files, then go to Windows Explorer menu and select Filmstrip. Click the image file to view it in Windows Picture and Fax Viewer modes.
ImageXtender can be installed on Windows XP only and doesn’t support Vista. The picture viewer in Windows Vista, renamed Windows Photo Gallery Viewer, is completely rewritten and is based on Windows Photo Gallery which uses the Windows Imaging Component (WIC). The underlying graphics engine pipeline has been overhauled with support for large and high bit depth HDR images. ImageXtender is truly a nice free add-on which allows you view practically any kind of image file without installing/opening a separate program which is very convenient.
Related posts:
ImageXtender file is removed from their web.
I agree, I have the same issues. Tried to view .clp, (win clip-art), using this tool, but can’t see any changes! Could it be due to SP3 installed? I know there are other programs gettung into trouble with SP3 installed, for instance 3rd party desktop themes! Just a guess though…
Little late on commenting, but I can’t get this to work. Installs fine, no errors or virus warnings. I add all image format support (checked everything), and there’s no change. I still can’t view TGA or PSD files in Explorer or Picture and Fax Viewer. I’m on XP, no software is conflicting. Can’t find a support section on the ImageXtender site; any ideas?
Wow, this is great! Just what I needed, thank you :D
Thank u for another very useful tip. Your efforts are very much appreciated.
Thank you for all you do ! Wishing you & yours a happy & healthy New Year!
agree eset dont like it! :)
Thanks Raymond.
Title: C:\Program Files\ImageXtender\ixshell.exe
An error occurred while trying to rename a file in the destination directory:
MoveFile failed; code 2.
The system cannot find the file specified.
Click Retry to try again, Ignore to skip this file (not rec
Class name: Static
Window handle: 262516 (0×00040174)
Parent window: 786662 (0x000C00E6)
Owner window: 0 (0×00000000)
Window ID: 65535 (0x0000FFFF)
Window proc: 0×00000000
Client coords: x: 62 y: 11 w: 452 h: 93
Window coords: x: 445 y: 359 w: 452 h: 93
Why is that then it asks to rename it but it not even there?
hey raymond!
thanks!
BTW, when will the results for the giveaway be posted?
Hey raymond, from the time of posting this comment, I think the website is currently down. I have just pinged it from \”just-ping.com/index.php?vh=imagextender.com&c=&s=ping!\” and they all say unknown host.
if ur antivirus is running on heuristic realtime scanning, maybe just exclude it
its safe
Thank you Sir.
Hi Raymond,
Thank you very much for this priceless gift.
IrfanView is certainly my preferred image viewer, but ImageXtender is definitely the perfect if hitherto unheard-of complementary software I’ve been looking for to open even long-forgotten as well as unusual formats … in one single, convenient package!
I sincerely wish you a happy Christmas, plus a joyful and prosperous New Year ahead.
Trust that your tireless efforts at sharing so much body of knowledge and invaluable wisdom will always be well-thought of and accordingly rewarded in countless ways.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 detects no threats!
Mate
Very Very nice. People need not to use 3rd party software for only viewing images.
But is there anything which can extend my Vista’s image support? I want to see formats like PSD with the built-in viewer with a application like this one.
threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=dd6e9d5a1f422bd26df49849db27d057
According to ThreatExpert, I can see that because it modifies Windows Picture and Fax Viewer memory, usually antivirus would “heuristic” would flag it as a threat. I have installed on my computer for a few weeks and no problems.
If you’re in doubt, please don’t install it. I’d never force you to do it. I am just sharing what I found and is currently using.
Conflict w ESET Smart Security!!! (NewHeur_PE virus)
thank you Raymond
Does not work in Vista
—————————
Error
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This program cannot be installed on Windows NT version 5.02 or later.
—————————
OK
—————————
Hi
In XP The viewer can also view GIF images, but cannot show animated GIFs.
To insert animated gif. on your desktop
metacafe.com/watch/373276/insert_animated_gif_on_your_desktop_cleaned/
IrfanView is trying to create new and/or interesting features in its own way, unlike some other graphic viewers, whose whole \”creativity\” is based on feature cloning, stealing of ideas and whole dialogs from ACDSee and/or IrfanView! (for example: XnView has been stealing/cloning features and whole dialogs from IrfanView, for 8+ years).
IrfanView was the first Windows graphic viewer WORLDWIDE with Multiple (animated) GIF support.
One of the first graphic viewers WORLDWIDE with Multipage TIF support.
The first graphic viewer WORLDWIDE with Multiple ICO support.
hey..is this a false positive?
Heur.Invader by Kaspersky Internet Security 2009..
mayb cuz i didn update it fr a few dayz nw..
virustotal : virustotal.com/analisis/ad720c15d63b89f3bf90c7324ead3cd2
trojan.agent by clam av..
hope its false.. :D..cuz the soft is too useful..!
useful and important info, though ealier i used faststone and irfan view but i returned to windows fax viewer and one in windows power toys unbale to rememeber that name and that is also use ful and this article will be useful for me thanks
thanks a lot man
Use revo uninstaller to remove a soft and will work to the end!!!
I am working a lot of hours today and will only start picking the winners when I get back.
Thanks for the tip mate. Am using Irfanview as my default image viewer, a viewer a hell lot better than the default windows viewer.
Wishing you and the rest of the folks a merry Christmas and a bright and prosper new year!
hi ray , when will you give your luck y draw result s ?
Tnx Ray,great tip!!!!
Is it possible virus ?
Engine : Clamav
Virus : Trojan.Agent-65337
URL :
Thank you Raymond, is this program only to add more image format to Windows Image Viewer? so that it will able to open more picture format?
Thanks Raymond .. but it creat a file ” Nod32 ” detected it as a virus and the installation did not complete
Thank Ray! I think IrfanView is the best!
thank you Raymond, but i didn’t really understand your explanation, is this program only add other image format so that Windows image viewer able to open more image format?
hi, thks…
Hi with imagextender i keep getting i cant install to imagextender coz ixshell.exe isnt there
what do i do now
very useful! thnx raymond
thanks ray i’ll definitely try
Thankyou
where are the results ray :o
I TRUSTED YOU D: YOU SAID MONDAY !
I WISHED YOU A HAPPY CHRISTMAS SOMEMORE >:O
anyway merry christmas again o.O
Normally I use FastStone Image Viewer, but ImageXtender would definitely come in handy for the rare format. Thanks, I will bookmark this one.
why i cannot view animated gif using windows photo gallery
thanks raymond :)
Thanks for sharing it.
Hey thx looks cool….
No need for other viewers then :-)
Hi Raymond, u said the results of the christmas giveaway will be announced today. Where is it?
Thanks from Greece Ray!