Pixelated pictures in Finder and Preview - Latest 15" Retina

Question

Pixelated pictures in Finder and Preview - Latest 15" Retina

I just got a 15" Macbook Pro Retina (The latest model). When viewing pictures in Finder (When you press CMD+Y or Space) or Preview they are really low quality. They are pixelated, and MUCH lower quality compared to viewing in Photoshop or Lightroom. These are jpg-files. I cannot say I experienced this at all on my iMac 27" Retina (Latest model). I am out travelling atm, so I am unable to compare side by side.

What's interesting is that when I open the photo in Photoshop it is displayed so much smaller, at least 50% the size of what Preview or Finder is displaying it. Why is this? I have uploaded screenshots here - This is in PS: http://cl.ly/image/3u0F2L2q2s1u and this is in Finder: http://cl.ly/image/2K143Y3z2u41 .

Now what is going on here? This is *kinda* frustrating as a photographer, working with pictures all the time. The *whole* point of getting a Retina-model was so I could ensure the photos being 100% sharp. (Yes, I know I can do that in PS and LR, but when they turn out so incredibly pixelated after exporting, I second guess myself and have to check again. And also, are they REALLY being displayed sharp on other peoples screens? So frustrating)

So is this just Mavericks being super bugged out atm? Anyone else experiencing the same?

My resolution is set to "Best for Display", and Mavericks is up to date (Software OS X 10.9 (13A3017)). Btw, in addition, it seems like web images are also softer on this 15" retina compared to my iMac. I can't say for sure though without comparing, but after I got this 15" I easily noticed the softness - Something I have not noticed before on my other high resolution and retina displays.

Thanks in advance!

- Andreas

MACBOOK PRO (RETINA, 15-INCH, LATE 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9), 16gb, 2ghz i7

Posted on Nov 29, 2013 9:48 PM

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Answer 1

mende1

Level 10

93,612 points

Nov 29, 2013 10:19 PM in response to andreaswinter

Welcome to Apple Support Communities

Simple: the picture is too small for Retina display, and it's forced to appear in a bigger resolution when you use QuickLook, being this the reason why you see it pixelated and why Photoshop and Lightroom opens the picture smaller. To fix this, you can choose a smaller resolution in System Preferences > Displays

You don't see this problem on the iMac because it has not got a Retina display and the resolution is smaller

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Answer 2

Nov 29, 2013 10:26 PM in response to mende1

Ah, I was SO sure the iMac had a retina display. Thank you for the reply. So is this really how it is supposed to be? I mean, why don't they just show the preview smaller so it is sharp? And especially when opened in the program Preview - Why upscale it?

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Answer 3

mende1

Level 10

93,612 points

Nov 29, 2013 10:31 PM in response to andreaswinter

It is how it is supposed to be. Respecting to Finder and Preview, it is a strange behaviour I have not seen before, at least with Preview, because it should show correctly

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Answer 4

Nov 29, 2013 10:43 PM in response to mende1

Alright, well thank you, sir! Good clearing that up. Still confusing how this resolution is "Best for Display". Also, under the "Scaled" options in "System prefs -> Display" this resolution is marked as "Best (Retina)". Funny then how it is, in several regards, not actually the best.

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Answer 5

Nov 30, 2013 1:36 AM in response to mende1

Alright, how can I remove the "This solved my question" tag? Because I tested it now, and this problem stays the same no matter what. There simply *must* be a bug somewhere. It cannot be meant to be like this.

I tested on all the "Scaled" options, and the same thing happens. The image is sharp in Photoshop, and is displayed MUCH smaller than what Quicklook and Preview displays it at. And it is pixelated and unsharp in all resolutions in Preview and Quicklook - I tested the whole range, and even did restarts. Made no difference.

Here is a screenshot: http://cl.ly/image/3c2j2Z1F3j0C . So I still *really* do not get it. What is the point of Retina when it displays the picture so HUGE and pixelated? Why upscale it?! It must be a bug. There are also icons and things around the web that are pixelated. Like all the icons related to the small chat boxes that appear when chatting with people on facebook.

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Answer 6

gheb88

Level 1

0 points

Dec 1, 2013 9:17 AM in response to andreaswinter

I am having the EXACT same problem. My photos look crisp and beautiful in Lightroom 5 before exporting. Once I export them however, they appear pixelated and overall really bad looking in preview. I have no idea how this can be fixed seeing how all my display settings are set to optimize for retina and my export settings in LR5 are no different than what I've been using for years.

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Answer 7

Dec 1, 2013 11:39 AM in response to gheb88

Been talking to Apple Support twice, but the problem is still there. Tried deleting the preferences plist-files, finder.plist ect, but it did nothing. Also tried a PRAM reset. The second Support-guy had the images show up in just the same way on his Retina - Upscaled. So I guess this is how it works, but I do not get why. It is so simple - Just show the photo as it is without upscaling or anything.

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Answer 8

x3n0n-

Level 1

0 points

Mar 24, 2014 9:17 AM in response to andreaswinter

Yeah, i really find this disturbing. I can't quick-check my images, which i exported from Lightroom... I have to open them in Photoshop.

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Answer 9

C6C3

Level 1

0 points

Sep 1, 2015 11:37 PM in response to andreaswinter

I also have the same problem and I'm super OCD about it.. Has anyone found a solution or has Apple even noticed this mistake?

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Answer 10

nivshon

Level 1

0 points

Nov 6, 2015 3:52 PM in response to andreaswinter

I Have the same problem and this is so frustrating! I've talked with apple support and they seem to ignore the problem... 😟

It is not possible to work like that as a professional photographer.

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Answer 11

dm67

Level 1

0 points

Nov 10, 2015 4:22 PM in response to andreaswinter

I had the same issue when viewing the images at Real size in In Preview. It turns out that there is a setting that controls how images are displayed at 100%: In Previous, go to Preferences, then select the Images tab. Select the 2nd option, exit Preview. Next time you look at imaged in preview they should look at in PS or LR.

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