JPEG's in CoverFlow are extremely pixelated

The problem is usually whether or not the items already have a custom icon. If they do the icon is a mere 128x128 pixels and if you make the Cover Flow section a pretty fair size they will look pixelated. Graphics that don't have an icon will be drawn by the Finder and look good at all sizes (up to 512x512). If a file has a custom icon "built-in" Finder assumes that's what you want to use, so that is what it displays. The advantage is that in Icon view such files display instantly, since Finder only displays what is there, while those without the custom icon take a bit of time for Finder to draw the icon. If you prefer the higher resolutions possible with Cover Flow the only solution is to strip the custom icons. You can do this yourself with Automator, or you can use a third party application such as CocoThumbX.
Francine


Francine
Schwieder

I used CocothumbX to batch strip image files from Tiger created icons. It's a great little app. Just select "remove Thumbnail" and drop a folder full of images onto CocothumbX.

It can also add thumbnails which don't look pixelated in leopard.

here is the link:
http://www.stalkingwolf.net/software/cocothumbx/

You can also select all the files that are having this problem and press Command-Control-I to open a Summary Info Window. Click on the icon in the upper left corner of the window. A little keyboard focus hallow will appear around it. Press the Delete key. Pooof... All the custom icons are gone.

OMG - that is BRILLIANT!
I was having the same problem and it was that easy! Bless you Petrock. You indeed rock.
Now if there was only a way to remove these blasted thumbnails files everywhere.

And I wonder if a similar approach can help me fix a similar problem I'm having with my iPhoto thumbnails which keep showing up with the wrong photo.