macOS image preview options

Last updated on Oct 27, 2025

Learn about preview options in Adobe Photoshop that help you keep file sizes small and make images easier to recognize in file browsers.

When saving files in Photoshop on macOS, select Photoshop > Preferences > File Handling > Image Previews to set various preview options. This helps your images display correctly across different systems.

Preview option

Purpose

Icon

Use the preview as a file icon on the desktop.

Full Size

Save a 72ppi file version for applications that only support low-resolution Photoshop images. This preview uses the PICT format for non-EPS files.

Macintosh Thumbnail

Display a preview in the File > Open dialog box.

Windows Thumbnail

Save a preview that can be displayed on Windows systems.

Note

Select only the preview types you need for your workflow to reduce file size and speed up saving.