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Preview messing up images

P

pasha72

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 6, 2013
5
0
Moscow, Russia
For a little while now, I've noticed that images aren't showing properly in preview, both in the actual "Preview" app and also the preview window in Finder.

Recently I upgraded to Mavericks, but the problem didn't go away. The weird thing is that images show up fine in Chrome, Safari, Gimp, etc. It seems to be directly connected to the Preview rendering algorithm (at least, that's my guess). I'll attach a sample image, with screenshots from Preview and Chrome. And also a screenshot of the notifications area, there's some funky background thing going on there too.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Some system info
(please let me know if there's any other section I should include)

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 8 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP71.0039.B0E
SMC Version (system): 1.62f7

NVIDIA GeForce 320M:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 320M
Type: GPU
Bus: PCI
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x08a0
Revision ID: 0x00a2
ROM Revision: 3533
Displays:
Color LCD:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes
SyncMaster:
Resolution: 1600 x 900 @ 60 Hz
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Display Serial Number: HLJZ201030
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported
Adapter Type: Apple Mini DisplayPort To VGA Adapter
Adapter Firmware Version: 1.03
 

Attachments

  • MountainLakeWallpaper.jpg
    MountainLakeWallpaper.jpg
    500.9 KB · Views: 8,689
  • pic from Preview.jpg
    pic from Preview.jpg
    201.3 KB · Views: 213
  • pic from Chrome.jpg
    pic from Chrome.jpg
    151.3 KB · Views: 253
  • pic from preview window.png
    pic from preview window.png
    57 KB · Views: 643
  • Screen Shot 2013-11-06 at 09.48.41 .png
    Screen Shot 2013-11-06 at 09.48.41 .png
    299.7 KB · Views: 224
That is pretty bad but...

Preview does one thing and does it well. It shows me what stuff looks like without having to go launch some huge app like Photoshop, iPhoto or Pixelmator. I never use a screen shot of what Preview is showing in a way where I would care if something looks slightly "distorted". When I look at your pictures, I see that Preview has introduced some cyan-colored "noise" across the sky. It would bother me if this happened on my Mac but I would quickly forgive Preview because Preview is so darned fast. While I've never noticed this problem on any of my Macs, I probably wouldn't let it bother me. As long as I can recognize the image or pdf file or whatever it's good enough for me as long as the preview is near-instantaneous.
 
I understand what you say, but the thing is, this messing up images is new. Preview never used to do this. And this issue started before I upgraded to Mavericks, so that's not the source.
 
Can anyone else offer some help? This issue is really causing me worry, I'm afraid the system is starting to get messed up and the problem will only get worse.
 
XEE does work, and I think I'll probably buy it. But it doesn't solve my problem. As I said, one worry is that the issue will spread. And it really is bothersome that the image preview in finder is so messed up.
 
Is this happening with all image files, or certain ones? Is there there something in common with the image files Preview has problems with? For example they all came from the same camera or the same website or you've edited them with the same program?

Are they all the same file type or different types... i.e. JPGs and TIFFs etc etc

The first thing that needs to be determined is whether it is in fact Preview that is broken or image files themselves. Solving a problem like this is not so much trying to find the specific problem... it is about eliminating every other possibility.

Another thing to try is to set up a different user account and see the problem also exists there.

Also, if you have added any little OS enhancers... anything that makes the OS not a standard Apple installation, then you have eliminate those as possible culprits. The only sure way is to do a clean install... but perhaps that can wait until other easier things have been tried.

Have you been changing preferences through the command line? Any preferences? If so, try to remember which ones and reverse those.

Good Luck, eh?
 
Well I think something is messed up hardware or software interfacing with video card. My 2008 Mac Pro with and ATI 5770 video card and in 10.9.0 Preview doesn't do that. Have you tried to look at pictures in Preview in other test accounts? I think way you can either determine if its hardware or software.
 
So I just tried setting up a new test account, and the same problem occurs there. To answer a previous question, it occurs across all types of images that I have (jpg, png, tiff).

As you can see from my specs, I have an external monitor, running off an Apple Mini DisplayPort To VGA Adapter. But the problem also is there when using the MacBook screen alone.
 
pasha72 said:
So I just tried setting up a new test account, and the same problem occurs there. To answer a previous question, it occurs across all types of images that I have (jpg, png, tiff).

As you can see from my specs, I have an external monitor, running off an Apple Mini DisplayPort To VGA Adapter. But the problem also is there when using the MacBook screen alone.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking it's hardware as the most likely culprit.

A bit more work... but .... you could try creating a bootable external HDD copy of your system disk, and then use that ext HDD to boot someone else's system. If the problem follows the ext HDD, then it's very likely SW. Conversely if you can boot your system using a bootable ext HDD copy of someone else's system you can then use their SW to see if your system still has the problem.

I would also post this in the Apple support forums. As much as I like the MR family atmosphere ... the Apple support forums is where I go for really thorny technical support. Less social, but more focussed support there.
 
Hi Pasha, any update on this? I've noticed when previewing photos in Finder, the photos has an extreme green hue, even occurs when I open the photo in the Preview program. But as soon as I open the photo into CS5, the photo appears as it should.

One thing I have noticed... Raw files preview incorrectly, however, edited pictures saved as .jpg appear correct in Finder preview. Error did not begin until I updated to Mavericks.

Example of Finder preview


Exampled of exact same photo opened into CS5
 
Same problem with my 2011 Early 15...

I have the same issue on my Macbook. For me it is the Olympus ORF files that do not work. Seems like a Mavericks bug, as this worked fine before the update.

Paul.
 
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