Thumbnail Preloader
The routine you know
Insert the card, copy, open the folder. Then wait, because only now does Windows start taking an interest in your RAW files. The first rows appear, you scroll, it catches up. At a few hundred frames that stops being a detail and becomes a fixed loss of time after every job.
What changes
- Previews are generated in the background while you do something else.
- Newly copied files are handled first, not last.
- Your old archive becomes visible over time without you doing anything.
- External drives are covered, in every plan.
Which cameras
All of them. Canon CR3 and CR2, Nikon NEF and NRW, Sony ARW, Fujifilm RAF, Olympus ORF, Panasonic RW2, Pentax PEF, Phase One IIQ, Sigma X3F, and DNG from converters, drones and phones. Plus the video from that same card and the Photoshop files from editing.
Culling in Explorer instead of a catalogue
The preloader replaces neither a catalogue nor a RAW converter. It makes the step before them work: looking into a folder to see what is actually there. Exactly the step you do not want to start a program for.
What to set up first
- Add your import folderThe place your cards are copied to. That alone makes culling fast.
- Add the running jobThe project folder you are currently working in.
- Bring in the archiveOnce culling feels right, add your older material.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Lightroom or Bridge for this?
No. The previews are generated independently and appear directly in Windows Explorer.
Is the free plan enough for a photographer?
For trying it out, yes, since every format is included. In daily work it usually gets tight, because Free keeps only one folder and one subfolder level warm. Anyone sorting by year and shoot needs the depth of Pro.