InDesign & Photoshop "Viewer"(?)

[dmichelstx]

Background:  retailers

·         I’m a field sales rep for a large print distributor; my official title is Retail Solutions Specialist.

·         My clients are exclusively national retail companies, and most of what I do at work involves helping retailers make money.

·         Sorry, but yes – while I sincerely appreciate all things Apple®, I personally prefer the PC platform.

o   Talented individuals proficient with Macs essentially enable my industry.

o   I use my wife’s Mac often and it’s undoubtedly the best tool for specific applications.

o   My reality is the majority of what Macs do best is wasted on my overall computing needs.

Situation:

·         As resources become scarcer I am more often the first point of contact for client’s art files.

o   Clients used to send art directly to Mac operators on our pre-media team, who would pre-flight, and help me confirm inks, construction, size, versions, etc.

o   Now that we’ve many less of those valuable individuals, I’m often the one who ends up transferring client’s files.

Issue:

·      I’ve resisted investing in Windows versions of graphics programs – primarily because the investment is obviously significant, but also because I know I won’t use most capabilities of such software.

·         However…

o   While it’s unlikely I would use creative software to actually create; more than ever I do need to be able to view native InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop files.

o   Confirming accuracy of info upon which I’m basing proposals, setting delivery expectations, and sending production instructions is basically impossible - if you can’t visually review to make sure what they actually sent matches what they say they sent.

Question:

·         Is there a “viewer” that I can use for nothing more than viewing native Adobe files on my PC?

o   I’m willing to spend a reasonable amount of money relative to the limited capabilities I need, and I did purchase Acrobat 9 Standard.

o   But to my knowledge Acrobat alone won’t view .ai, .indd, and .psd files.

·      If anyone knows of PC-compatible software I can use to simply view these native Adobe files – that doesn’t cost $700-$999, I would very much appreciate you letting me know product name and developing company, as well as the best place to purchase.

Thanks,

Dan

[Phillip_M_Jones]

Have you typed in typed in Photshop viewer in Google.

I know on Mac side Graphic Converter can read psd files. New is roughly $70.00.

It can do some editing. and it can convert from one graphic type to another.

On PC side of Things I've heard good reviews from users about Paintshop Pro.

[dmichelstx]

Thanks! I appreciate you sending what looks like good info in a legitimate response. Some knucklehead just sent me a link to luxury Nile river cruises.

I'll check these ideas out.

Thanks again!

Dan

[Phillip_M_Jones]

I noticeced. I filed a abuse report on the knuclehead.

[dmichelstx]

Thanks!

[John T Smith]

Also Google Irfanview for a free (I think) viewer for Windows

[dmichelstx]

Thanks!

[Claudio González]

This forum is only for discussions on the forums themselves. However, on reading your question I couldn't avoid thinking about PDF file, which seem to me like your best bet. I would suggest taking a look at the Adobe Acrobat pages in adobe.com.

[dmichelstx]

Thank you!

[pwillener]

dmichelstx wrote:

But to my knowledge Acrobat alone won’t view .ai, .indd, and .psd files.

Adobe Reader (free) can view at least some of the files mentioned; have you tried it?

I know that this specific forum is not the right place to discuss Adobe product issues, but as there is no "general" product forum, here is as good as anywhere.

[dmichelstx]

Acrobat 9 Standard will view all things PDF of course, as well as the common image files I'm aware of (tif, gif, jpeg, png). It will also view and convert eps files, but to my knowledge it won't launch InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop files.

[pwillener]

Again - how about Adobe Reader?  I know for sure that it can view Illustrator files; have you tried what other files it can open?  (Of course by opening it from Adobe Reader, not by double-clicking on the actual files.)