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Josh.biz Technical Note 6 - updated May 2009

View thumbnail images for Photoshop PSD files in Windows

One great feature of Photoshop 7 was the fact that thumbnails of the PSD files were displayed when browsing Windows folders. This feature is essential is you have hundreds of PSD files in a single folder, as I often do.

Unfortunately, Adobe removed this ability due to issues with the DLL file conflicting with Windows. So what are our options?

Well, we can either use the Adobe Browser that’s included with Photoshop, additionally you could use a third party tool like IrfanView to browse the thumbnails. Personally, I just want to continue utilizing Windows and Photoshop the way that have for the last few years. If that sounds like you, then read on.

Keywords

adobe photoshop, thumbnail, icon, psd, windows, explorer

Solution

The solution is very simple and takes less than a minute to implement. You don't need to even reboot Windows. The change is immediate.

1. Download the file, photoshop_thumbnails.zip (62kb)
2. Copy psicon.dll to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Shell - if this folder doesn't exist create it
3. Run Adobe.reg
4. You now can view PSD files in Thumbnails view within Windows Explorer.

If any of the links above fail consistently please .

User Feedback

This process has been successfully implemented for most versions of Windows and and Adobe Photoshop. However, I have received occasional unsuccessful feedback. Unfortunately, should this solution not be successful for you, we are unable to provide further support.Your (whether successful or not) would be appreciated.

• Feedback reports that this technique can (but not always) be successful with Windows Vista running Adobe Photoshop CS3 and CS4. Thanks to Leanne, who reported that it worked with Vista and CS3 but only after rebooting. So try rebooting...
• It has been reported that this technique does not function for Photoshop CS3 with Windows Vista 64.
• 20 March 2009 - Lars from Sweden reported that he was able to make the technique work, but had to change the path to fit match his Swedish version of Windows (C:\\Program\\Delade filer\\Adobe\\Shell) in the Adobe.reg file. He also had to create the Shell-folder.
• 30 March 2009 - Thanks to Lynne who popinted out that 'you might note for other users that the top layer in the file must be a viewable layer. If it is an adjustment layer the PSD icon still shows up. I can get around this by always insuring a viewable layer is on top by combining the layers in a group and creating a single composite layer on top (Shift/Ctrl/Alt + E)'

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