PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Ask for help and post your question on how to use XnView MP.

Moderators: XnTriq, helmut, xnview

Foxyrick
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:32 am

PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by Foxyrick »

I've never noticed this before and I don't know if it's always been this way or if it is a new change. I have the latest 1.02 XNViewMP installed.

Some of my PSD files show correct thumbnails, but do not display in the preview pane. I just get a white rectangle of the appropriate size. Other PSD files do display in Preview as they show in the thumbnail.

I created a simple test file, a new photoshop picture with one text layer and a circle drawn around it on the background. XnViewMP shows the proper thumbnail but nothing in Preview. Screenshot attached with that thumbnail selected.

Then I flattened the image in Photoshop and saved as another PSD. XNViewMP did show that in the Preview. I copied a few existing PSD files into the folder too.

In the screenshot, the first two images in the thumbnail pane do display in Preview. The next two thumbnails give a blank Preview. The last thumbnail is the flattened image mentioned above and does show in Preview. In other folders it seems there are more that do not display in Preview, than those that do.

Note that all the files were saved with a picture visible in Photoshop itself; I don't have all the layers hidden or anything like that.

Is this expected behaviour?

xnv01.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
XnTriq
Moderator & Librarian
Posts: 6257
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:00 am
Location: Ref Desk

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by XnTriq »


For reference: Display of all layers in Photoshop files (XnView Classic)
Foxyrick
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:32 am

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by Foxyrick »

Photoshop 2020, version 21.0.3*, but I have PSD files saved with many previous versions. Maximize compatibility is disabled, but I will enable it and try testing again later today.

On the two test files (one that does not show in preview, one that does) Use Alpha Channel is greyed out and cannot be selected or deselected. Makes sense as there is no alpha channel in the image.

*Probably should update, but they always seem to break something and this version does what I need.
User avatar
XnTriq
Moderator & Librarian
Posts: 6257
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:00 am
Location: Ref Desk

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by XnTriq »

Foxyrick wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 12:55 pmOn the two test files (one that does not show in preview, one that does) Use Alpha Channel is greyed out and cannot be selected or deselected. Makes sense as there is no alpha channel in the image.
Could you provide samples for the developer? PSDs can be attached to posts as ZIP archive (2 MB max).
Foxyrick
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:32 am

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by Foxyrick »

Here are the two test files. Test1 does not display in Preview, Test3 does.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
XnTriq
Moderator & Librarian
Posts: 6257
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:00 am
Location: Ref Desk

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by XnTriq »

Thank you, Foxyrick :bugconfirmed: I've moved the topic to bug reports.
User avatar
xnview
Author of XnView
Posts: 42515
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2003 7:31 am
Location: France

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by xnview »

Test1 has multiple layers, you can view all of them
Pierre.
Foxyrick
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:32 am

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by Foxyrick »

Ahh... I did not know about that. Took me a minute to find where (page next/previous).

So it's working as expected and I'm just a bit slow on the uptake :? lol!

That does make perfect sense, compared to having to process all the layers and states and work out what Photoshop would show (practically impossible I would think, without being photoshop).

Thank you and apologies for wasting your time.

Edit: I didn't think about it because of that file showing a blank in the Preview, because there isn't a blank layer in the file. Just the background layer with the red circle, and then the text layer. I guess it's how photoshop saves it though.
User avatar
XnTriq
Moderator & Librarian
Posts: 6257
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:00 am
Location: Ref Desk

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by XnTriq »

Moved back to “General Support” :mrgreen:

Related: Allow to view "Layer Comps" for .psd files
crazydaz
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2019 2:09 pm

Re: PSD files don't always display in Preview?

Post by crazydaz »

Any update on this?

Update:

For me both XnConvert 1.96 and XNViewMP would not show Previews on PSDs with Smart Object Layers. Installing XnShell seems to have fixed it. All my previews are back!