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Mac alternative to Faststone Image Viewer?

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calson

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I have been using Faststoneviewer on a Windows computer to sort through thousands of images quickly. It is unique among Windows applications in that I can have 4 images diplayed on the screen in each quadrant at the full size allowed by the display. Much easier when I have a series of shots of the same subject to see which should be culled. Every other application I have used will allow at most 2 images to be displayed at the same time and not in a very elegant fashion.

Worst case I can use Boot Camp and boot into Windows 7 and then do my image culling with FastStone Image Viewer but it will not be a smooth workflow as I now have with my Windows computers.
 
one that you should consider is

https://www.xnview.com/en/xnviewmp/

But there are quite a few and I'm sure others will pipe in with their favorite.

Also, instead of Bootcamp, you could use VirtualBox/Win10 and NOT have to reboot.

--
Online civility: Before you press 'Post', ask yourself if you'd say that to someone face to face.
 
Last edited:
Graphic Converter has a full screen mode that can show multiple images but it's slow and not that useful IMHO.

Bridge is much quicker, and can show any number, but they don't completely tile the screen; IOW there are margins around each image. It's command-B (can't remember the name). You can winnow down from a group then make the remaining ones a collection. Has a loupe too.
 
Don’t forget good olde bridge and Lightroom.
 
Don’t forget good olde Bridge and Lightroom.
 
Consider PhotoMechanic ( https://home.camerabits.com )

it is designed to import and edit raw and/or jpg images at lightning speed. It has been the go-to of most editorial photographers I’ve worked with since the early 2000’s

it also allows you to tag, rate images with stars or colors, caption and keyword,and records those changes in the sidecar file so they are recognized by Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, etc.

It also has built in ftp so you can send your final selects after working on them.

I couldn’t imagine working without it.
 
Have you looked at FastRawViewer ?

it is fast and inexpensive.

--
-JF
 
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For those who have not used Faststone Image Viewer it is in a class by itself for use reviewing and converting images. I can have 4 images taking up a quadrant on the screen and compare them and quickly delete ones that are inferior in some way and it is super fast even with 45MB Raw files.

I will look into Photomechanic as I had used it many years ago when I had a great Mac Pro quad station. Unfortunately the later Apple workstation designs have been sadly lacking and the new one is $4,000 more than a Windows machine with the same components.

Photoshop and Bridge do not provide functionality for fast reviewing of hundreds or thousands of images where one needs to compare multiple shots of a subject or scene and select the best one. That is why on the Mac I used Photomechanic instead.

Thanks for the other suggestions.
 
If you're adventurous, you might try ApolloOne, available in the App Store. Seems to be written from the ground up for Mac.

https://www.apollooneapp.com

I’ve been using the trial to browse old image folders, and while it’s a work in progress, it’s slick and fast.

I’d need to purchase to give it a full go, but I’ve yet to pull the trigger.
 
Last edited:
calson said:
For those who have not used Faststone Image Viewer it is in a class by itself for use reviewing and converting images. I can have 4 images taking up a quadrant on the screen and compare them and quickly delete ones that are inferior in some way and it is super fast even with 45MB Raw files.
Click to expand...
That must be very convenient, indeed.
 
calson said:
For those who have not used Faststone Image Viewer it is in a class by itself for use reviewing and converting images. I can have 4 images taking up a quadrant on the screen and compare them and quickly delete ones that are inferior in some way and it is super fast even with 45MB Raw files.
Click to expand...
Indeed, a nice piece of work.
calson said:
I will look into Photomechanic as I had used it many years ago when I had a great Mac Pro quad station. Unfortunately the later Apple workstation designs have been sadly lacking and the new one is $4,000 more than a Windows machine with the same components.
Click to expand...
It's review isn't as good as others. It can do a preview mode but I believe it's limited to two images. But it is super fast, and is the best out there for entering metatdata bar none. Not as great at finding stuff though; sort of one way.
calson said:
Photoshop and Bridge do not provide functionality for fast reviewing of hundreds or thousands of images where one needs to compare multiple shots of a subject or scene and select the best one. That is why on the Mac I used Photomechanic instead.

Thanks for the other suggestions.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you haven't used Bridge lately, but it's as fast as Fastsone. It also does x-up numbers of previews in a sort of carousel mode. You can move at hyperspeed among say seven candidates, progressively eliminating duds with one down arrow keystroke. When you've got what you want you save those to a collection. Could obviously do 4 (or any number basically).
 
KrisAK said:
If you're adventurous, you might try ApolloOne, available in the App Store. Seems to be written from the ground up for Mac.

https://www.apollooneapp.com

I’ve been using the trial to browse old image folders, and while it’s a work in progress, it’s slick and fast.

I’d need to purchase to give it a full go, but I’ve yet to pull the trigger.
Click to expand...
I've bought it. It's really good.
 
robgendreau said:
calson said:
For those who have not used Faststone Image Viewer it is in a class by itself for use reviewing and converting images. I can have 4 images taking up a quadrant on the screen and compare them and quickly delete ones that are inferior in some way and it is super fast even with 45MB Raw files.
Click to expand...
Indeed, a nice piece of work.
robgendreau said:
I will look into Photomechanic as I had used it many years ago when I had a great Mac Pro quad station. Unfortunately the later Apple workstation designs have been sadly lacking and the new one is $4,000 more than a Windows machine with the same components.
Click to expand...
It's review isn't as good as others. It can do a preview mode but I believe it's limited to two images. But it is super fast, and is the best out there for entering metatdata bar none. Not as great at finding stuff though; sort of one way.
robgendreau said:
Photoshop and Bridge do not provide functionality for fast reviewing of hundreds or thousands of images where one needs to compare multiple shots of a subject or scene and select the best one. That is why on the Mac I used Photomechanic instead.

Thanks for the other suggestions.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you haven't used Bridge lately, but it's as fast as Fastsone. It also does x-up numbers of previews in a sort of carousel mode. You can move at hyperspeed among say seven candidates, progressively eliminating duds with one down arrow keystroke. When you've got what you want you save those to a collection. Could obviously do 4 (or any number basically).
Click to expand...
is Bridge in subscription mode only ?
 
jf_tea said:
robgendreau said:
calson said:
For those who have not used Faststone Image Viewer it is in a class by itself for use reviewing and converting images. I can have 4 images taking up a quadrant on the screen and compare them and quickly delete ones that are inferior in some way and it is super fast even with 45MB Raw files.
Click to expand...
Indeed, a nice piece of work.
jf_tea said:
I will look into Photomechanic as I had used it many years ago when I had a great Mac Pro quad station. Unfortunately the later Apple workstation designs have been sadly lacking and the new one is $4,000 more than a Windows machine with the same components.
Click to expand...
It's review isn't as good as others. It can do a preview mode but I believe it's limited to two images. But it is super fast, and is the best out there for entering metatdata bar none. Not as great at finding stuff though; sort of one way.
jf_tea said:
Photoshop and Bridge do not provide functionality for fast reviewing of hundreds or thousands of images where one needs to compare multiple shots of a subject or scene and select the best one. That is why on the Mac I used Photomechanic instead.

Thanks for the other suggestions.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you haven't used Bridge lately, but it's as fast as Fastsone. It also does x-up numbers of previews in a sort of carousel mode. You can move at hyperspeed among say seven candidates, progressively eliminating duds with one down arrow keystroke. When you've got what you want you save those to a collection. Could obviously do 4 (or any number basically).
Click to expand...
is Bridge in subscription mode only ?
Click to expand...
I believe so. I get it for $9.99 a month with ps, lr and bridge included. Ive come to believe that this is a bargain.
 
LarryRC said:
jf_tea said:
robgendreau said:
calson said:
For those who have not used Faststone Image Viewer it is in a class by itself for use reviewing and converting images. I can have 4 images taking up a quadrant on the screen and compare them and quickly delete ones that are inferior in some way and it is super fast even with 45MB Raw files.
Click to expand...
Indeed, a nice piece of work.
LarryRC said:
I will look into Photomechanic as I had used it many years ago when I had a great Mac Pro quad station. Unfortunately the later Apple workstation designs have been sadly lacking and the new one is $4,000 more than a Windows machine with the same components.
Click to expand...
It's review isn't as good as others. It can do a preview mode but I believe it's limited to two images. But it is super fast, and is the best out there for entering metatdata bar none. Not as great at finding stuff though; sort of one way.
LarryRC said:
Photoshop and Bridge do not provide functionality for fast reviewing of hundreds or thousands of images where one needs to compare multiple shots of a subject or scene and select the best one. That is why on the Mac I used Photomechanic instead.

Thanks for the other suggestions.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you haven't used Bridge lately, but it's as fast as Fastsone. It also does x-up numbers of previews in a sort of carousel mode. You can move at hyperspeed among say seven candidates, progressively eliminating duds with one down arrow keystroke. When you've got what you want you save those to a collection. Could obviously do 4 (or any number basically).
Click to expand...
is Bridge in subscription mode only ?
Click to expand...
I believe so. I get it for $9.99 a month with ps, lr and bridge included. Ive come to believe that this is a bargain.
Click to expand...
Adobe Bridge CC is currently free but I think you need an Adobe CC account to download it. However, it's not the fastest app for viewing images specially high-res raw file.
 
A-Frame said:
LarryRC said:
A-Frame said:
is Bridge in subscription mode only ?
Click to expand...
I believe so. I get it for $9.99 a month with ps, lr and bridge included. Ive come to believe that this is a bargain.
Click to expand...
Adobe Bridge CC is currently free but I think you need an Adobe CC account to download it. However, it's not the fastest app for viewing images specially high-res raw file.
Click to expand...
Here's the download link for Bridge: https://www.adobe.com/products/bridge.html

And I disagree about its speed. At least on my Macs. It's fast enough with all raws I have (up to 40MB) that I can't time it vs other applications like Fast Raw Viewer.
 
I like Bridge also. When I signed on, you could have a Creative Cloud account with Bridge Only as free.
 
robgendreau said:
A-Frame said:
LarryRC said:
robgendreau said:
is Bridge in subscription mode only ?
Click to expand...
I believe so. I get it for $9.99 a month with ps, lr and bridge included. Ive come to believe that this is a bargain.
Click to expand...
Adobe Bridge CC is currently free but I think you need an Adobe CC account to download it. However, it's not the fastest app for viewing images specially high-res raw file.
Click to expand...
Here's the download link for Bridge: https://www.adobe.com/products/bridge.html

And I disagree about its speed. At least on my Macs. It's fast enough with all raws I have (up to 40MB) that I can't time it vs other applications like Fast Raw Viewer.
Click to expand...
NIt is slow until it has built all its previews the it is fast.
 
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