Thumbs Plus

~terry Wed, Jul 24, 1996 (11:36) seed

Conference Categories | Apps Conference | Graphics Viewers Topics http://www.cerious.com support@cerious.com ftp://ftp.cerious.com/pub/cerious/thmpls32.exe Thumbs Plus -- Thumbs Plus may well be the Consummate client for serious graphics users. No other program makes decoding and viewing a large number of images so easy. Thumbnail management, slide show, wallpaper, quick view, and batch conversion capabilities combine to create an invaluable toolset for working with graphics. There are literally more features available than can be reviewed in this space, so I will try to focus on the best. First, Thumbs Plus, available in both 16 and 32-bit versions, offers excellent thumbnail management features. Integrating a file manageresque layout on the left side of the screen, Thumbs Plus gives users easy access to the contents of a drive. A double click on any directory automatically lists all graphics files in that directory, from which one additional button click produces high-quality thumbnail pictures of all the images. These thumbnails can be decoded and expanded using a quick image viewer, or they can be viewed with the slide show and wall paper options. Slide shows can be customized to list only certain types of files, to select an interval for pausing between images, or to randomize the order in which images are shown. A wallpaper option gives users the capability to center or tile an image in the background; there is another option that removes the image from the background if you decide not to keep the wallpaper. Finally, batch conversion capabilities give users a quick and automatic way to convert a group of similar files into a different image type. Thumbs Plus supports an extensive array of graphic filetypes, including Windows Bitmap (BMP), icon (ICO), JPEG (JPG - with support for progressive JPEGs), Mandlebrot (MND), Kodak Photo CD (PCD), Photoshop (PSD), Targa True Vision (TGA), Tagged Image Format (TIF), GIF (GIF - with support for transparent GIFs), Corel Draw (CDP), Corel Vector (CMX), and PiNG (PNG) images. Thumbs Plus also offers support for several non-graphic filetypes like Microsoft Video for Windows (AVI), Quick Time for Windows (MOV), audio (WAV), and UUEncoded files (UUE) to name a few. To complement the amazing set of features offered by Thumbs Plus, Cerious Software offers solid configurability settings, a customizable toolbar, and extensive online help documentation for making the most of the client. In addition, Cerious Software has shown how important its customers' needs are by continually revising Thumbs Plus with the new features most requested by users. For example, check out the new features included with the 3.0 release. While Thumbs Plus may lack a solid selection of image manipulation tools and may be slightly more expensive than many users would like ($50+), it is by far one of the best graphics tools to hit the 'net and definitely merits considerable attention. Pros: Amazing array of features, extensive on-line help and configurability options Cons: Relatively expensive, lacks a solid selection of image manipulation tools New: Added support for transparent GIFs and progressive JPEGs, database changes, much more Version Reviewed: 16-bit - 2.0e1. 32-bit - 3.0b1 Date of Review: 5/17/96 Reviewer: Forrest Stroud

~Neptune Fri, Aug 9, 1996 (12:27) #1

Well since the Olympics is still in my mind... I give this program... a 9.875 out of 10! A MUST have for anyone serious about their graphics. I have tried many but I have never seen any better. These people from Cerious are serious about their customer support as well.

~terry Fri, Aug 9, 1996 (22:37) #2

What are some of the features folks like about this program? Glad you got that in, this is the last day before the moratorium on Olympics discussion (just joking).

~Neptune Sat, Aug 10, 1996 (04:54) #3

Features that I like? Too NUMEROUS to list... but I'll list the first few that come to mind; The thumbnail database even keeps tracks of off-line files (disks, CDs, etc). The thumbnail viewing is very configurable to the users taste. The program offers numerous shortcuts keys. It is FAST in viewing, thumnail creation, catalog creation, and printing. The Toolbar and many other options are user-configurable. It can easily handle multiple databases. It has its own built-in Screen Capture utility. I only recently found out about the screen capture option from the manual (I've only read 25% of it yet. That option alone is timely... I was about to register my HyperSnap).

~terry Sat, Aug 10, 1996 (09:49) #4

Is their screen capture on a level with HyperSnap's?

~uNiBrOw Sat, Aug 10, 1996 (13:04) #5

I personally dislike this program. It does have some great features, but.. the look and feel just do not sit well with me. So..I am picky :) What I wish someone would do is create a graphics app that can span subdirectories while doing a slide show. I put all my graphics on Zip Disks(Iomega) and sort them into directories based on name. It would be nice if I could get to them all easily without having to traverse the directory tree. I thought Thumbs could do this, but so far (just got it last night) I have not found the way if there is one. Maybe Thumbs will grow on me as I continue to use it..

~Neptune Sun, Aug 11, 1996 (07:17) #6

First, Paul. The Screen Capture gives you the option of capturing the Screen or the Window. Not a region. They do have a AutoClip Save feature that AUTOMATICALLY saves and enumerates ANY change to the Clipboard contents. Of course the program has its own editor and imaging tools. Second, Don, I know of a program that does what you want. Multi-Directory Screen shows. It is a DOS Program, been around awhile, but it still is great. I still have it and use it on occasion. GIF-REED. If you can't find it let me know. They make a share version which is in the public domain still. The version I have is Pro Gif-Reed ver 5.01. Your right, it would be neat for more programs to support that feature. It makes it easy to check out duplicate files too. Thumbs WILL let you view from multiple directories, just not a slide show.

~Milo Thu, Aug 29, 1996 (05:14) #7

I'm tired of getting TWO windows whenever I just want to view a graphics file. I downloaded the TPREGUT.EXE file, but the three files of that collection haven't solved the problem yet. Am I using them improperly? How do I simply view a file without getting the unnecessary ThumbsPlus main window as well?

~Cerious Thu, Aug 29, 1996 (10:38) #8

The ThumbsPlus main window always starts up, regardless of whether or not you use the registry utilities. What the registration utilities do is avoid *multiple* main windows. However, the main window should not be showing -- it should be minimized. It doesn't become "active" until you restore it from the icon (or taskbar). The main window continues running when you close a viewing window -- this makes subsequent view windows come up faster. IF the main window is displaying when you double-click a file from Explorer, make sure you run TPREG and specify the extensions of all the files you want ThumbsPlus to display. This associates the files with TPVIEW rather than THUMBS. TPVIEW then sends the appropriate DDE commands to THUMBS to display the picture. This avoids a Windows 95 "feature" that always restores an application's main window when it is passed files from Explorer.

~Neptune Fri, Aug 30, 1996 (01:23) #9

I'd also add, that if you do decide to use Thumbs as your main "viewer" and still want only one window displayed, you have the option under "Preferences|View" to have the main program minimized when viewing graphics. Personally though, I don't use Thumbs primarily as a single file viewer. I use ACDSee for that, and it does a fine job at it too.

~sducey Tue, Jan 14, 1997 (21:30) #10

Has anyone used Pixfolio32? If so do you know how it comopares to Thumbs Plus 32. I have been using it for awhile, but it is a little buggie. I think I may go ahead and try Thumbs Plus, but I would like to have some conparison imput.

~terry Wed, Jan 15, 1997 (07:38) #11

Do you have a url or ftp address for this?

~sducey Wed, Jan 15, 1997 (19:59) #12

Sure do...try: http://www.iglou.com/acksoft/

~sprin5 Sun, Jan 28, 2001 (21:11) #13

A great piece that tells you what the Thumbs Plus won't. This site tells you how to actually use the program. I found it while downloading the Thumbs Plus program today. Stay tuned for some web pages that I plan to crate using Thumbs Plus.

~sprin5 Tue, Jan 30, 2001 (08:50) #14

The Thumbs Plus web page wizard really rocks, why don't they at least brag about this on the Thumbs Plus page, when it comes to promoting their own product, the Thumbs Plus folks have their thumb up ... I better not say. Here's a page I put together with Thumbs plus: http://www.wholetech.com (the bottom of the page has links to pictures of our house remodeling and building).

~terry Mon, Apr 30, 2001 (02:07) #15

The web wizard has become an indispensible tool Got a whole bunch of pix and want a web page with thumbnails, takes about 2 minutes max.