Media Purveyor: Powerful Image Viewer/Media Player - Lossless Editor - Media Organizer

[jsuder]

I am the author of Media Purveyor (http://www.mediapurveyor.com), a
freeware image viewer/media player with the ability to organize files
using descriptive content.

==Conventional Features==
*Browser, Full Screen, and Slideshow viewing modes
*Search using EXIF information, JPEG comment, and PNG Key/Values
*Image Editor
*Image Histogram
*Batch Image Conversion
*Batch File Renaming
*Thumbnail Generation/Image Resizing
*Contact Sheet Generation
*TWAIN Support
*Print Images or Attach them to an e-mail
*Background music player
*Collections (albums) provide a virtual folder organization technique.
*Media Search Wizard will optionally search for files

==Support==
Image Support: 50 formats including JPEG, JPEG2000, Camera RAW, PNG,
TIFF, TGA, GIF, PCX, and more.

Support for many audio/video formats including: MPEG, WMV, MP3, WMA and
more.

==Novel Features==
1) Portable Descriptions for ALL file formats. Media Purveyor can store
information inside files such as JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, TGA, BMP, MPG,
MP3, and WMV. For other files it stores descriptive information in an
XML file that can be shared in the community.
2) Descriptive techniques include Keywords, Custom Entry Screens
(decide exactly what you and your peers wish to store), and Description
Templates.
3) Lossless Image Editing for ALL file formats. 30 different lossless
editing effects can be layered together to produce some nice results.
This feature will be vastly improved in the very next version to
feature a stencil system.
4) In addition to using its own proprietary technology, MP will also
read and allow you to search using EXIF information, JPEG Comments, PNG
Key/Values, File Information (from OS), and Image Metrics.

==System Requirements==
Windows ME/XP/2K/NT
128MB or more
800x600x16bit display or better

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Visit:
http://www.mediapurveyor.com

 

[Barry Pearson]

Image Support: 50 formats including JPEG, JPEG2000, Camera RAW, PNG,
TIFF, TGA, GIF, PCX, and more.

[snip]

What about DNG? Many people hold their raws only as DNG, perhaps
converting straight from the memory card, and therefore won't use
products that don't support it.

(Being a variant of TIFF, I suspect it wouldn't be hard to add it).

 

[jsuder]

What about DNG? Many people hold their raws only as DNG, perhaps

converting straight from the memory card, and therefore won't use
products that don't support it.

Version 2.0 does not. Version 2.1 will support DNG. Expect 2.1 to
release by November 16th with:
*Expanded Camera RAW Support
*DNG Support
*Stencils in the lossles and conventional image editor.
*Quicktime Support (Windows Media Player formats already support ex.
MPG, WMV, WMA, MP3, etc)
*3 additional editing effects
*Tooltips and more User Inteface improvements

Thank you so much for calling my attention to this gross oversight!

 

[jsuder]

Media Purveyor v2.1 features the following:
* Feature Gallery - Quicktime support added; Quicktime 4 or better
required.
* Feature File Support - Extended Camera RAW support including DNG
* Feature File Support - Save images as PCX, PPM, and TGA files.
* Feature Media Browser - Customize Tasks panel by clicking tools icon.
* Feature Media Browser - Thumbnail Report mode.
* Feature File Renaming - Description based renaming.
* Feature Image Editing - Effect Stencil Engine
* Feature Image Editing - Rectangle Stencil
* Feature Image Editing - Rounded Rectangle Stencil
* Feature Image Editing - Ellipse Stencil
* Feature Image Editing - Star Stencil
* Feature JPEG - JPEG Specific Lossless Rotation and Flipping.
* Feature Video - Single frame extraction using Views.
* Feature Metadata - Count Keywords; displays count of each keyword.
* Feature Media Browser - Large Image Preview (F6 to show/hide).
* Feature Media Browser - Copy/Paste View - Clone edits with single
click.
* Feature Window Capture - Capture any single visible window.
* Feature Set As Wallpaper - Set an image to be the Desktop background.
* Feature Many Wizards now feature Quick Preview to speed process.
* Feature Image Conversion Wizard for ease of use.
* Feature Check For Updates - Check for, download and install updates.
* Feature Help - Added Startup Tooltips (option to disable).
* Enhancement Media Browser - Drag/Drop Thumbnails to re-order.
* Enhancement Media Browser - Drag/Drop Thumbnails to Folders.
* Enhancement Media Browser - Image Previews support Views.
* Enhancement Gallery - Many Media Browser features now available from
Gallery.
* Enhancement Gallery Slideshow - Movie controls auto-hide after five
seconds.
* Enhancement Mail - Option to resize images directly from Mail dialog.
* Many bug fixes and user interface improvements!

 

[Terry Pinnell]

I am the author of Media Purveyor (http://www.mediapurveyor.com), a
freeware image viewer/media player with the ability to organize files
using descriptive content.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Visit:
http://www.mediapurveyor.com

Just installed and setting it up now. Looks very promising. An
alternative to Picassa? Of course, much will depend on how easy it is
to use, especially to add the initial 'keywords'.

BTW, one initial minor gripe: I tried to go use another application
while Media Browser setup wizard was searching for metadata. But your
progress bar came with me! And it's not movable either, because
clicking on it immediately re-opens your program's main window. Just
a matter of ensuring it doesn't 'remain on top'.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Just installed and setting it up now. Looks very promising.

<snip>

That positive first impression was a bit hasty I'm afraid. On actually
trying to use it, I'm floundering around in that highly complex main
screen. IMO, 9 or 10 separate types of default window is OTT. Too
baffling for my impatient temperament. I appreciate there is Help, but
a Getting Started tutorial (movie or interactive) would be great. That
would get me over the initial hurdle of unfamiliarity, and I'd be able
to appreciate the program's undoubtedly wide range of features.

On a detail point: how can I remove/change that dominant blue colour
please?

 

[jsuder]

I am so sorry for the incredible delay as I check my support e-mail
(offered from the website) regularly but only check these boards from
time to time.

You have likely already deleted Media Purveyor from your computer at
this point... however I will respond in case you have not.

That positive first impression was a bit hasty I'm afraid. On actually
trying to use it, I'm floundering around in that highly complex main
screen. IMO, 9 or 10 separate types of default window is OTT.

Your help here would be of tremendous value to me! Please help me to
understand. The main screen features:
1) Thumbnail Area - This is found in every image viewer I have ever
seen.
2) Preview Area - This is found in almost every image viewer I have
ever seen. It just shows a larger representation of the currently
selected thumbnail.
3) Navigation Area - Once again... every image viewer I have seen.
There are additional tabs for Bookmarks and Collections. Is the mere
presence of those tabs confusing? If so I may consider removing them.
4) Tasks Area - If you browse into a folder in Windows Explorer you
will see a list of tasks or actions that can be performed on the
left... this window uses the exact same concept. It is there to show
you many of the things you can do with MP.

5) Detailed Search - As the name indicates this is where you enter
search parameters. This is the only area not found in other programs
and it is there because Media Purveyor provides search capabilities FAR
beyond Picassa or any other program I have encountered.

All of that said, version 2.3, which will publish December 31st, will
remove some of the complexity of that main screen.

Media Purveyor offers two large pieces of functionality that I have not
seen in other applications:
1) Extremely powerful description and search abilities. This feature is
even more unique because the descriptions used by Media Purveyor are
portable and can be moved from computer to computer.
2) Portable and Lossless Image Editing for any file format... not just
JPEG. You can use Media Purveyor to layer 33 effects with stencils and
you never lose the original.

There is some additional complexity that goes along with that
additional functionality. However, I do believe that a user interface
can always be improved. If you can tell me, specifically, where the
program fails you I will not only try to fix it but I will owe you (I
am always grateful for helpful suggestions and repay my users any way
that I can).

On a detail point: how can I remove/change that dominant blue colour
please?

Under the File menu select Configuration. Go to the User Interface tab
and change the Highlight color. Where would you think to look for that
ability? I thought that configuration was always either under File or
Tools. I also thought that if a user wanted to change a setting they
would know to go to Configuration. Would it help if it were named
"Preferences" instead?

a Getting Started tutorial (movie or interactive) would be great. That
would get me over the initial hurdle of unfamiliarity, and I'd be able
to appreciate the program's undoubtedly wide range of features.

I will provide something like this from the website as soon as I can.
However, it will never be offered with the program as it will
significantly increase the download size beyond my comfort level.

Once again, I apologize for the delay.

Regards,
John Suder