CocoViewX - Mac image browsing editing - ****

ruttrutt Registered Users Posts: 6,511 Major grins
edited May 2, 2005 in Finishing School
This is an OS X freeware program for browsing and editing image files. Among other things, it can perform a full screen slide show of the files in a folder, allowing one to mark/unmark each file and control the slide show (forward/back) either with the mouse or one touch keyborard shortcuts. At the end of the slide show, one can either delete all the marked images or select them, after which it is easy to move them into a different folder (or make a folder to move them into.)

I've only had this program for a few hours, but have tested it quite a bit in that time. I love it. It's very fast, beating the previous champs xv and Preview by noticeable amounts. I never have to take my fingers off the keyboard while editing, which I like very much.

Here is how this fits into my workflow. After a shoot I have a flash card full of images. I shoot jpeg+raw. I use the jpegs for large high quality previews. The high level view is this:
  1. Copy the jpegs off the card into a hd folder.
  2. Automatically rotate the jpegs using the EXIF info
  3. Look at each one as large as possible, marking the ones to keep/delete.
  4. Delete the bad ones.
  5. Fetch the raw files for the good ones.

I have some command line utilities to help with steps 1, 2, and 5. I'll provide more information about this on request. I've been using a customized version of an old unix program, xv, to do 3, but it's slow compared to CocoViewX and also no longer supported. My primary requirement for this tool is that it be fast. I want to be able to burn through up to a thousand shots (from a baseball game, say) deleting the bad ones with a keystroke and not waiting for the next image. I don't want to have to touch the mouse. I want full sized previews so I can tell how good the focus is and detect other issues. CocoVewX wins on all these fronts.

Here is web site: http://www.stalkingwolf.net/software/cocoviewx/
If not now, when?

Comments

  • ruttrutt Registered Users Posts: 6,511 Major grins
    edited April 28, 2005
    The developer of CocoViewX wants me to make sure everyone understands that it isn't Tiger compatible, yet, but that he will release a new version this weekend that will be. So anyone who is riding the cutting edge into 10.4 will have to wait a little for CocoViewX.

    Oh, I so love applications where the developer answers email withing minutes!
    If not now, when?
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited April 28, 2005
    I'll have to try this
    rutt wrote:
    This is an OS X freeware program for browsing and editing image files. Among other things, it can perform a full screen slide show of the files in a folder, allowing one to mark/unmark each file and control the slide show (forward/back) either with the mouse or one touch keyborard shortcuts. At the end of the slide show, one can either delete all the marked images or select them, after which it is easy to move them into a different folder (or make a folder to move them into.)

    I've only had this program for a few hours, but have tested it quite a bit in that time. I love it. It's very fast, beating the previous champs xv and Preview by noticeable amounts. I never have to take my fingers off the keyboard while editing, which I like very much.

    Here is how this fits into my workflow. After a shoot I have a flash card full of images. I shoot jpeg+raw. I use the jpegs for large high quality previews. The high level view is this:
    1. Copy the jpegs off the card into a hd folder.
    2. Automatically rotate the jpegs using the EXIF info
    3. Look at each one as large as possible, marking the ones to keep/delete.
    4. Delete the bad ones.
    5. Fetch the raw files for the good ones.

    I have some command line utilities to help with steps 1, 2, and 5. I'll provide more information about this on request. I've been using a customized version of an old unix program, xv, to do 3, but it's slow compared to CocoViewX and also no longer supported. My primary requirement for this tool is that it be fast. I want to be able to burn through up to a thousand shots (from a baseball game, say) deleting the bad ones with a keystroke and not waiting for the next image. I don't want to have to touch the mouse. I want full sized previews so I can tell how good the focus is and detect other issues. CocoVewX wins on all these fronts.

    Here is web site: http://www.stalkingwolf.net/software/cocoviewx/

    Certainly the price is right, and I won't be rushing out to update to the latest animal version of my OS anytime soon. (Unless I can get friends and family discount :):

    I use iViewMultimedia right now, but I like the idea of being able to mark the bad ones in the large slide view.

    Heck, if I don't like it at least it didn't cost $$! Sounds like a deal.
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 28, 2005
    Rutt,

    Check out Shomi. It's a simple little app that will display multiple images on a gray background. Leave it in your dock, drag the files on the icon, and it does the rest. Great for comparing shots side by side.
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  • ruttrutt Registered Users Posts: 6,511 Major grins
    edited April 28, 2005
    DavidTO wrote:
    Rutt,

    Check out Shomi. It's a simple little app that will display multiple images on a gray background. Leave it in your dock, drag the files on the icon, and it does the rest. Great for comparing shots side by side.

    I gave Shomi a spin, but it doesn't begin to solve the same problems that CocoViewX does. Nice for side by side comparisons, though.
    If not now, when?
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited April 28, 2005
    rutt wrote:
    I gave Shomi a spin, but it doesn't begin to solve the same problems that CocoViewX does. Nice for side by side comparisons, though.
    They are different apps for different purposes. But when I need Shomi, nothing else fills the bill.
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  • ruttrutt Registered Users Posts: 6,511 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2005
    I helped beta test a new version. The main new features:
    1. Believed to work on Tiger (but having a tester would be great!)
    2. Autorotated jpegs from exif data.

    There are other features, but for me the main new thing is that people who don't like the command line can now use CocoViewX to replace a whole big part of the workflow:
    1. Copy images from attached media
    2. Autorotate
    3. Quickly preview at full screen size, marking for deletion
    4. Revise decisions about deletion
    5. Finalize deletion of marked images.

    People wanting to use in this mode will want to use the preferences to turn off thumbnail creation as it slows down both importing and finalizing deletions.
    If not now, when?
  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2005
    rutt wrote:
    I helped beta test a new version. The main new features:
    1. Believed to work on Tiger (but having a tester would be great!)


    I'm on Tiger. 1ghz Titanium Powerbook, 1 gig ram...

    Haven't installed it on my G5's, since they're work related, and I have to wait for IT approval.
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