Use these features to get the most out of the Preview app.
Application Overview offers a host of features that users of macOS can leverage to improve their productivity and operating system performance for mac.
It is possible that many Mac users do not pay much attention to the Preview app, this is logical and understandable considering that it is an app designed to offer preview of images, videos and PDF documents. But it has a series of tools, functions and features that can make life much easier.
And speaking of ease, in this article, we’ll provide you with a list of Preview features and tricks to boost your Mac productivity.
What is Preview?
Before we start listing all the cheats available in the Preview app, let’s briefly explain how it works.
Preview is a macOS application designed to preview all kinds of files in the Mac system. It can preview photos, videos and PDF documents.
The application is divided into two utilities:
- Open a file with a double click.
- Open a file preview using the spacebar.
When you access an image, the Preview application is the application that takes care of the opening by default, the operating system automatically starts the application to display the images.
On the other hand, if you browse your documents in the Finder and you press the spacebar after selecting a file, the system offers you a preview of it.
But, as we mentioned earlier, the Mac Preview app is more than just an app to preview images and other files. It has a host of features that allow macOS users to crop, compress, bookmark, rotate, zoom, resize images and more.
Preview Tips Index
1. Resize images
Resize to photo size
In the event that you need to resize or change the size of an image, know that Preview can be your great ally. The app will allow you to resize an image in seconds, a great feature for uploading images to the internet or simply reducing their size to save storage space.
Not:
1. Open an image with Preview.
2. Select the markup toolbar.
3. Then click on the “Resize” button
4. Choose height and width in pixels, inches, centimeters, etc.
2. Edit photos
Filters to edit a photo
You may want to quickly retouch an image to increase or decrease its saturation, contrast, highlights, invert its colors or adjust its sharpness, temperature, hue… If you don’t want to open an editing application photo and want to edit an image on the fly, use Preview.
Not:
1. Open a photo with Preview.
2. Select the markup toolbar.
3. Press the “Adjust Color” button in the form of filters.
4. Change the settings by moving the level sliders.
3. Sign documents
The Preview app is an essential tool for managing your documents as it has built-in functionality to add signatures. You can create a signature from scratch or just save multiple signatures to add in just a few clicks.
Not:
1. Open a document with Preview.
2. Select the markup toolbar.
3. Click on the “Sign” button.
4. Use your Mac’s trackpad to create a signature or select one of your saved signatures.
4. Crop images
Crop an image in Preview
Another of the most interesting functions of the Preview application is image cropping, a function that will save you a lot of time. Especially if your work is related to photo editing, art and creativity.
Not:
1. Open an image in the macOS Preview app.
2. Select the markup toolbar.
3. Select an image frame while holding down the mouse or trackpad.
4. With the area you want to crop selected, click
5. Change the format of a file
Format a file in Preview
Do you want to convert an image from .JPEG format to .PNG format? Easy, with Preview you can change the format of your files in the blink of an eye.
Not:
1. Open a file in the Preview app on your Mac.
2. Displays the markup toolbar.
3. Then click “File > Export…”.
4. Select the format you want to modify and the destination folder.
Moreover, from this floating window, you can also reduce the quality of an image to significantly reduce its size.
6. Remove background from an image
Selecting an area for Instant Alpha
How many times have we had to open Photoshop or any other photo editing application to remove the background from an image, right? Well, from now on, that won’t be necessary, take advantage of your precious time and do it directly from Preview, unless you want to make more technical photo editing adjustments later, of course.
Not:
1. Open an image in the Preview app on your Mac.
2. Displays the markup toolbar.
3. Click on the “Instant Alpha” button in the shape of a magic wand.
4. Keep your finger pressed on the trackpad or mouse and move it gently over the area you want to remove.
5. The area will be marked in red, release your finger from the trackpad or mouse when you have selected the desired area.
6. Finally, press the “Delete” key on the keyboard to delete the background you have selected.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that if you regularly use these tricks, you might want to remember to memorize dialer toolbar activation. This is possible thanks to the preview display settings, you just need to open the application, select “View” and “Show markup toolbar” or by using the key combination “Shift + command + A”. It’s easy! If you have any questions, ask us in the comments section and on social media.
Related Topics: mac
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