It’s quite simple to use. When displaying an image it shows how much it has been reduced to fit the screen and the resizing options are very simple and good, always showing the % the file size the size in pixels width  x height. Cropping is simple, again all sizes etc displayed.

It also has colour controls and I found them very good to use, I easily enhanced the colours on some ducks and made it really good. There’s a sharpness feature but that should be used carefully because  it’s range is too big and it’s easy to oversharpen.  I normally only sharpen with the unsharp mask and use 1 out of a possible 100.

It launches with a 2 panel window, so you can select your photo. Double clicking the photo launches a full screen window with NO TOOLBARS!! When you hover near the sides of the screen the toolbars pop out, this is really good.

Download Fastone Image Viewer from here –

http://www.download.com/FastStone-Image-Viewer/3000-2192-10324485.html?part=dl-FastStone&subj=dl&tag=button

If asked to ‘Save’- click yes. If given a choice, save to your downloads folder.

When the file has finished downloading, either double ckick it in the download browser, or go to your downloads folder and double click it there.

Follow the prompts.

After it has finished installing you will be taken to a page asking for donations. The program is free. I suggest you use it for a while and if you find it useful go – http://www.faststone.org/ThankYou.htm  here and make a donation. Many things are free on the Internet, but when I find a valuable application, I make a donation, to honour the programmers hard work. If everyone sends the successful programmers $5 or $10 it can only do good.

Open FastStone Image Viewer via the Start Button list of programs.

Fastone opens up with 3 panels, Navigate to your picture folder in the Left Hand panel and click on it.

The photos in that folder display as thumbnails in the Right Hand Panel

Click on a photo to select it and it will display in the bottom Left Hand Panel

Double click on the photo and it will launch in full screen mode.

At the top will be displayed the information on the photo size and at what percentage it has been shrunk to fit the screen.

By moving the cursor to the borders of the screen, different toolbars appear and you can work on the photo.

Information on how that works is in a video Tutorial by Leo Notenboom here –

http://ask-leo.com/video.php?vid=webinar8-1-photo-too-large&f=phototoolarge/1280&w=1280&v=1&l=1&s=100M

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -An In Depth PDF on Using Fastone for Difital Imaging is here – http://www.faststonesoft.net/DN/FSIV_Tutorial.pdf

iPad, Kindle and Zip versions also available here- http://www.faststone.org/FSIVTutorial.htm

Remember to always crop before you resize !!

ABC Radio’s ‘Fishtalk’ host, Jason Hagen’s Adventure Company at Lake Tinaroo, Atherton Tablelands. We used the colours of the outback as a background theme, with plenty of Jason’s own photo’s to show the beauty of the region and the HUGE Barramundi being caught. It made us want to go fishing again!

This site was Awarded a Silver medal by the Australian Web Designers Network.

This Corporate Website was awarded a Gold medal by the Australian Web Designers Network. Image was very important to this client who wanted an existing logo and colour scheme to be incorporated into the design.

The tall buildings and colour scheme suggest high achievement in the corporate world, horizontal scrolling added an unusual dimension.

We converted an existing website to a Content Management System for this client, who is now able to quickly edit pricing and display special offers. He is also building an Image Gallery of happy customers.

Continual updating and site activity influences the Search Engines and contributes to better page rank.

This is an example of our CMS websites where the owner has full control of the content and the major Search Engines are AUTOMATICALLY notifed of every update.

Comments are enabled and visors also use the contact form to connect.

This company uses their Website to display their quality work and design.

The website has large slideshows to display interior and exterior photo’s for prospective clients to view.

There’s a time to be serious and a time to have fun!

This website brings a smile to most viewers and the young UK owner has full control of the Content Management System that runs the site.

A Real Estate Success Story.

This website was fundemental in selling the property with just one small advert in the local newspaper. The advert displayed the web address and interested buyers were able to view many photo’s and videos which created great interest.

A cost effective solution with a great result.

LIBERAL PARTY CAIRNS:

This web design was awarded a Silver medal by the Australian Web Designers Network, judged on Graphics, Artwork, Layout, Navigability, Functionality and Originality.

Created very quickly due to the surprise call of an early election, we liaised closely with the publicity agent, photographer and local newspapers to co-ordinate this website with the overall campaign, which sometimes meant late night adjustments and uploads, to keep the site up to date.

Our CMS websites AUTOMATICALLY notify the major Search Engines after every update.
This Search Engine Optimisation gives your website huge potential to attract more visitors, your website will quickly achieve best page rank and visitors can find your website more easily.