![In 2024, Expert Tips on Mastering the Preview Application on Mac](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/5IjHqiM5yA902IdzuY4UM057tAU=/400x300/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/setting-Apple-tv-restrictions-4685513-ba61049ae9f145d5965c6ccd013e4cd0.jpeg)
In 2024, Expert Tips on Mastering the Preview Application on Mac
![](/images/site-logo.png)
Expert Tips on Mastering the Preview Application on Mac
How to Use Preview App on Mac
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The Preview app is a built-in program in macOS, and works as a default viewer for the image and PDF files that your Mac computer has. Because Preview is also an editing software, you don’t need to look for any other third-party tool for basic photo and PDF manipulations.
That said, the sections below explain how to use Preview on Mac for elementary picture editing like rotating, cropping, adding annotations, etc.
Part 1: How to Use Preview to Edit Images [Complete Guide]
Being the default image editor for Mac, Apple tried to make the Preview app as simple as possible. Therefore, modifying the photos in the program isn’t much complicated as compared to its competitors from different vendors.
The instructions given in the following sections explain how to edit pictures with the Preview app for Mac:
How to View and Edit Photos in Preview on Mac
As mentioned earlier, the Preview app is a default photo viewer on Mac that also has many editing tools. Therefore:
To view an image in Preview
- Double-click the photo, or
- Right-click the photo, go to Open With on the context menu, and click Preview (default) from the submenu that appears
To edit an image in Preview
- Use the tools present on the standard toolbar at the top of the interface
- Alternatively, click Tools from the top, and choose your preferred editing option from the menu
How to Show Markup Tools in Preview on Mac
Markup Tools gives easy access to the editing tools the Preview app has. By default, Markup Tools is kept hidden, but automatically becomes visible when you make some changes to the image. However, you can follow the process given below to manually show Markup Tools in Preview:
Step 1: Show Markup Tools
Click the Show Markup Toolbar icon present at the upper-right area to reveal the editing tools right under the standard toolbar.
Step 2: Hide Markup Tools
Click the Hide Markup Tools icon from the upper-right area to hide Markup Toolbar.
Note: Throughout this demonstration, the Markup Toolbar is kept visible to access the editing tools easily.
How to Crop in Preview
In order to crop a photo in the Preview app:
Step 1: Open the Image
Use the method explained earlier to open the photo you want to edit in Preview.
Step 2: Select the Area of Interest
Drag the mouse pointer over the area of the photo you want to keep. If need be, click anywhere between the marked region and drag to reposition the selection. In addition, you can use any of the available side handles to adjust the area of interest on the image.
Step 3: Crop the Photo
Keeping the area of interest on the photo selected, click Crop from the Markup Toolbar at the top to crop the image.
How to Rotate Image in Preview
Rotating an image in the Preview app is fairly simple. To do so:
Step 1: Open the Target Image
Use the method explained above to open the photo in Preview.
Step 2: Rotate the Image
Click the Rotate Left icon from the upper-right area of the standard toolbar to rotate the image anticlockwise. Alternatively, you can also click Tools from the top, and choose your preferred rotation direction or flipping orientation from the menu that comes down next.
How to Add Text to Image in Preview
The Preview app even lets you annotate the images with ease. To add text to a photo:
Step1: Insert Text Frame
Click the Text icon from the Markup Toolbar, drag the side handles to adjust the width of the text frame, and use the mouse to drag and reposition the entire frame to your preferred location on the photo.
Step 2: Add Text
Click inside the frame, delete the existing placeholder text, and type a new caption/annotation for the picture.
Step 3: Format the Text
Select the text, click the Text Style icon from the Markup Toolbar, and change font, size, color, etc. using the available options.
How to Remove Background in Preview
As it is with some of the advanced image manipulation programs, even the Preview app allows you to remove background from a photo, and that too pretty easily. To get this done:
Step 1: Select Unwanted Parts of the Image
Click the Instant Alpha icon from the left area of the Markup Toolbar, click anywhere on the unwanted background on the image, and slowly drag the mouse. Notice the red colored coating that the image starts getting covered with. This is the portion that Preview will consider background and will remove. While dragging the mouse, if any section of the image that you want to keep gets red, drag the pointer to the opposite direction to deselect the area.
Step 2: Remove the Background
Once the background portion of the image gets selected (colored in red), without releasing the mouse button, press Delete on the keyboard.
Note: Removing background requires the image to be in PNG format. If the photo you are working on is JPG, Preview prompts with a confirmation box asking your permission to convert the photo from JPG to PNG. You must allow this conversion in order to proceed with the background removal process.
Note: Usually, not entire background could be selected in a single go, especially when there are multiple objects in the photo. In such a situation, you must repeat the process multiple times to get rid of all the unwanted objects/areas.
How to Combine Images into One
This process is generally used to place an object present in one image over the background of the other photo. A good example could be to place a picture of a fish on to a second photo that has a sea or river. The Preview app lets you do this easily using the following steps:
Step 1: Open Both the Images
Drag mouse over both the images you want to participate in the process, right-click any one of the selected photos, go to Open With, and click Preview (default) from the submenu.
Step 2: Remove Background from the First Image
Ensure that Preview opens with both the images listed in the sidebar in the left. From the sidebar, select first image, and use the Instant Alpha tool as explained earlier to remove the background.
Step 3: Combine the Images
After removing the background, press Command + A to select all the remaining elements, and then press Command + C to copy them. Next, select the second photo from the sidebar, and press Command + V to paste the object to combine the pictures. Additionally, you can drag the pasted object or move its side handles to reposition or resize it respectively.
How to Save Images in Different Formats
The Preview app has a built-in image converter as well. To convert an image to a different format with Preview, you must:
Step 1: Get to the Export Box
After opening an image, click File from the menu bar at the top, and click Export from the menu that appears next.
Step 2: Choose Output Format and Export
Choose a destination folder in the Where field, select your preferred format from the Format drop-down list, and click Save to convert the image.
Part 2: FAQs About Preview App on Mac
What is the Preview App?
- Preview is a built-in program in macOS that works as a default image and PDF viewer, and is also equipped with some elementary editing tools.
Where to find the Preview App on Mac?
- Usually, when you double-click an image or a PDF document, the Preview app is automatically initialized displaying the contents of the file. If you want to manually open the program, you can find it in the Applications folder on your Mac.
What formats does Preview support?
- At the time of this writing, the Preview app supports HEIC, JPEG, JPEG-2000, OpenEXR, PDF, PNG, and TIFF
Can you convert images in Preview?
- Yes, you can. In addition to the process explained in Section 8 of Part 1, the Preview app for Mac also supports batch conversion. To do so, you must:
- Select all the images you want to convert
- Drag the selected photos to the Preview icon on the Dock
- Confirm that all the images you selected are present in the sidebar of the Preview app. You can drag and drop more images from your Mac to this sidebar to add them to the list
- Press Command + A on the keyboard to select all the images in the sidebar
- Click File from the menu bar at the top
- Click Export Selected Images from the menu that comes down
Note: Make sure that all the images you selected are of the same format. Preview doesn’t allow batch conversion of varied photo types.
- Pick a destination folder from the navigation bar in the left
- Click Options from the bottom
- Select your preferred output format for all the images from the Format drop-down list
- Click Choose to convert all the images in a single go
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The Preview app is a built-in program in macOS, and works as a default viewer for the image and PDF files that your Mac computer has. Because Preview is also an editing software, you don’t need to look for any other third-party tool for basic photo and PDF manipulations.
That said, the sections below explain how to use Preview on Mac for elementary picture editing like rotating, cropping, adding annotations, etc.
Part 1: How to Use Preview to Edit Images [Complete Guide]
Being the default image editor for Mac, Apple tried to make the Preview app as simple as possible. Therefore, modifying the photos in the program isn’t much complicated as compared to its competitors from different vendors.
The instructions given in the following sections explain how to edit pictures with the Preview app for Mac:
How to View and Edit Photos in Preview on Mac
As mentioned earlier, the Preview app is a default photo viewer on Mac that also has many editing tools. Therefore:
To view an image in Preview
- Double-click the photo, or
- Right-click the photo, go to Open With on the context menu, and click Preview (default) from the submenu that appears
To edit an image in Preview
- Use the tools present on the standard toolbar at the top of the interface
- Alternatively, click Tools from the top, and choose your preferred editing option from the menu
How to Show Markup Tools in Preview on Mac
Markup Tools gives easy access to the editing tools the Preview app has. By default, Markup Tools is kept hidden, but automatically becomes visible when you make some changes to the image. However, you can follow the process given below to manually show Markup Tools in Preview:
Step 1: Show Markup Tools
Click the Show Markup Toolbar icon present at the upper-right area to reveal the editing tools right under the standard toolbar.
Step 2: Hide Markup Tools
Click the Hide Markup Tools icon from the upper-right area to hide Markup Toolbar.
Note: Throughout this demonstration, the Markup Toolbar is kept visible to access the editing tools easily.
How to Crop in Preview
In order to crop a photo in the Preview app:
Step 1: Open the Image
Use the method explained earlier to open the photo you want to edit in Preview.
Step 2: Select the Area of Interest
Drag the mouse pointer over the area of the photo you want to keep. If need be, click anywhere between the marked region and drag to reposition the selection. In addition, you can use any of the available side handles to adjust the area of interest on the image.
Step 3: Crop the Photo
Keeping the area of interest on the photo selected, click Crop from the Markup Toolbar at the top to crop the image.
How to Rotate Image in Preview
Rotating an image in the Preview app is fairly simple. To do so:
Step 1: Open the Target Image
Use the method explained above to open the photo in Preview.
Step 2: Rotate the Image
Click the Rotate Left icon from the upper-right area of the standard toolbar to rotate the image anticlockwise. Alternatively, you can also click Tools from the top, and choose your preferred rotation direction or flipping orientation from the menu that comes down next.
How to Add Text to Image in Preview
The Preview app even lets you annotate the images with ease. To add text to a photo:
Step1: Insert Text Frame
Click the Text icon from the Markup Toolbar, drag the side handles to adjust the width of the text frame, and use the mouse to drag and reposition the entire frame to your preferred location on the photo.
Step 2: Add Text
Click inside the frame, delete the existing placeholder text, and type a new caption/annotation for the picture.
Step 3: Format the Text
Select the text, click the Text Style icon from the Markup Toolbar, and change font, size, color, etc. using the available options.
How to Remove Background in Preview
As it is with some of the advanced image manipulation programs, even the Preview app allows you to remove background from a photo, and that too pretty easily. To get this done:
Step 1: Select Unwanted Parts of the Image
Click the Instant Alpha icon from the left area of the Markup Toolbar, click anywhere on the unwanted background on the image, and slowly drag the mouse. Notice the red colored coating that the image starts getting covered with. This is the portion that Preview will consider background and will remove. While dragging the mouse, if any section of the image that you want to keep gets red, drag the pointer to the opposite direction to deselect the area.
Step 2: Remove the Background
Once the background portion of the image gets selected (colored in red), without releasing the mouse button, press Delete on the keyboard.
Note: Removing background requires the image to be in PNG format. If the photo you are working on is JPG, Preview prompts with a confirmation box asking your permission to convert the photo from JPG to PNG. You must allow this conversion in order to proceed with the background removal process.
Note: Usually, not entire background could be selected in a single go, especially when there are multiple objects in the photo. In such a situation, you must repeat the process multiple times to get rid of all the unwanted objects/areas.
How to Combine Images into One
This process is generally used to place an object present in one image over the background of the other photo. A good example could be to place a picture of a fish on to a second photo that has a sea or river. The Preview app lets you do this easily using the following steps:
Step 1: Open Both the Images
Drag mouse over both the images you want to participate in the process, right-click any one of the selected photos, go to Open With, and click Preview (default) from the submenu.
Step 2: Remove Background from the First Image
Ensure that Preview opens with both the images listed in the sidebar in the left. From the sidebar, select first image, and use the Instant Alpha tool as explained earlier to remove the background.
Step 3: Combine the Images
After removing the background, press Command + A to select all the remaining elements, and then press Command + C to copy them. Next, select the second photo from the sidebar, and press Command + V to paste the object to combine the pictures. Additionally, you can drag the pasted object or move its side handles to reposition or resize it respectively.
How to Save Images in Different Formats
The Preview app has a built-in image converter as well. To convert an image to a different format with Preview, you must:
Step 1: Get to the Export Box
After opening an image, click File from the menu bar at the top, and click Export from the menu that appears next.
Step 2: Choose Output Format and Export
Choose a destination folder in the Where field, select your preferred format from the Format drop-down list, and click Save to convert the image.
Part 2: FAQs About Preview App on Mac
What is the Preview App?
- Preview is a built-in program in macOS that works as a default image and PDF viewer, and is also equipped with some elementary editing tools.
Where to find the Preview App on Mac?
- Usually, when you double-click an image or a PDF document, the Preview app is automatically initialized displaying the contents of the file. If you want to manually open the program, you can find it in the Applications folder on your Mac.
What formats does Preview support?
- At the time of this writing, the Preview app supports HEIC, JPEG, JPEG-2000, OpenEXR, PDF, PNG, and TIFF
Can you convert images in Preview?
- Yes, you can. In addition to the process explained in Section 8 of Part 1, the Preview app for Mac also supports batch conversion. To do so, you must:
- Select all the images you want to convert
- Drag the selected photos to the Preview icon on the Dock
- Confirm that all the images you selected are present in the sidebar of the Preview app. You can drag and drop more images from your Mac to this sidebar to add them to the list
- Press Command + A on the keyboard to select all the images in the sidebar
- Click File from the menu bar at the top
- Click Export Selected Images from the menu that comes down
Note: Make sure that all the images you selected are of the same format. Preview doesn’t allow batch conversion of varied photo types.
- Pick a destination folder from the navigation bar in the left
- Click Options from the bottom
- Select your preferred output format for all the images from the Format drop-down list
- Click Choose to convert all the images in a single go
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The Preview app is a built-in program in macOS, and works as a default viewer for the image and PDF files that your Mac computer has. Because Preview is also an editing software, you don’t need to look for any other third-party tool for basic photo and PDF manipulations.
That said, the sections below explain how to use Preview on Mac for elementary picture editing like rotating, cropping, adding annotations, etc.
Part 1: How to Use Preview to Edit Images [Complete Guide]
Being the default image editor for Mac, Apple tried to make the Preview app as simple as possible. Therefore, modifying the photos in the program isn’t much complicated as compared to its competitors from different vendors.
The instructions given in the following sections explain how to edit pictures with the Preview app for Mac:
How to View and Edit Photos in Preview on Mac
As mentioned earlier, the Preview app is a default photo viewer on Mac that also has many editing tools. Therefore:
To view an image in Preview
- Double-click the photo, or
- Right-click the photo, go to Open With on the context menu, and click Preview (default) from the submenu that appears
To edit an image in Preview
- Use the tools present on the standard toolbar at the top of the interface
- Alternatively, click Tools from the top, and choose your preferred editing option from the menu
How to Show Markup Tools in Preview on Mac
Markup Tools gives easy access to the editing tools the Preview app has. By default, Markup Tools is kept hidden, but automatically becomes visible when you make some changes to the image. However, you can follow the process given below to manually show Markup Tools in Preview:
Step 1: Show Markup Tools
Click the Show Markup Toolbar icon present at the upper-right area to reveal the editing tools right under the standard toolbar.
Step 2: Hide Markup Tools
Click the Hide Markup Tools icon from the upper-right area to hide Markup Toolbar.
Note: Throughout this demonstration, the Markup Toolbar is kept visible to access the editing tools easily.
How to Crop in Preview
In order to crop a photo in the Preview app:
Step 1: Open the Image
Use the method explained earlier to open the photo you want to edit in Preview.
Step 2: Select the Area of Interest
Drag the mouse pointer over the area of the photo you want to keep. If need be, click anywhere between the marked region and drag to reposition the selection. In addition, you can use any of the available side handles to adjust the area of interest on the image.
Step 3: Crop the Photo
Keeping the area of interest on the photo selected, click Crop from the Markup Toolbar at the top to crop the image.
How to Rotate Image in Preview
Rotating an image in the Preview app is fairly simple. To do so:
Step 1: Open the Target Image
Use the method explained above to open the photo in Preview.
Step 2: Rotate the Image
Click the Rotate Left icon from the upper-right area of the standard toolbar to rotate the image anticlockwise. Alternatively, you can also click Tools from the top, and choose your preferred rotation direction or flipping orientation from the menu that comes down next.
How to Add Text to Image in Preview
The Preview app even lets you annotate the images with ease. To add text to a photo:
Step1: Insert Text Frame
Click the Text icon from the Markup Toolbar, drag the side handles to adjust the width of the text frame, and use the mouse to drag and reposition the entire frame to your preferred location on the photo.
Step 2: Add Text
Click inside the frame, delete the existing placeholder text, and type a new caption/annotation for the picture.
Step 3: Format the Text
Select the text, click the Text Style icon from the Markup Toolbar, and change font, size, color, etc. using the available options.
How to Remove Background in Preview
As it is with some of the advanced image manipulation programs, even the Preview app allows you to remove background from a photo, and that too pretty easily. To get this done:
Step 1: Select Unwanted Parts of the Image
Click the Instant Alpha icon from the left area of the Markup Toolbar, click anywhere on the unwanted background on the image, and slowly drag the mouse. Notice the red colored coating that the image starts getting covered with. This is the portion that Preview will consider background and will remove. While dragging the mouse, if any section of the image that you want to keep gets red, drag the pointer to the opposite direction to deselect the area.
Step 2: Remove the Background
Once the background portion of the image gets selected (colored in red), without releasing the mouse button, press Delete on the keyboard.
Note: Removing background requires the image to be in PNG format. If the photo you are working on is JPG, Preview prompts with a confirmation box asking your permission to convert the photo from JPG to PNG. You must allow this conversion in order to proceed with the background removal process.
Note: Usually, not entire background could be selected in a single go, especially when there are multiple objects in the photo. In such a situation, you must repeat the process multiple times to get rid of all the unwanted objects/areas.
How to Combine Images into One
This process is generally used to place an object present in one image over the background of the other photo. A good example could be to place a picture of a fish on to a second photo that has a sea or river. The Preview app lets you do this easily using the following steps:
Step 1: Open Both the Images
Drag mouse over both the images you want to participate in the process, right-click any one of the selected photos, go to Open With, and click Preview (default) from the submenu.
Step 2: Remove Background from the First Image
Ensure that Preview opens with both the images listed in the sidebar in the left. From the sidebar, select first image, and use the Instant Alpha tool as explained earlier to remove the background.
Step 3: Combine the Images
After removing the background, press Command + A to select all the remaining elements, and then press Command + C to copy them. Next, select the second photo from the sidebar, and press Command + V to paste the object to combine the pictures. Additionally, you can drag the pasted object or move its side handles to reposition or resize it respectively.
How to Save Images in Different Formats
The Preview app has a built-in image converter as well. To convert an image to a different format with Preview, you must:
Step 1: Get to the Export Box
After opening an image, click File from the menu bar at the top, and click Export from the menu that appears next.
Step 2: Choose Output Format and Export
Choose a destination folder in the Where field, select your preferred format from the Format drop-down list, and click Save to convert the image.
Part 2: FAQs About Preview App on Mac
What is the Preview App?
- Preview is a built-in program in macOS that works as a default image and PDF viewer, and is also equipped with some elementary editing tools.
Where to find the Preview App on Mac?
- Usually, when you double-click an image or a PDF document, the Preview app is automatically initialized displaying the contents of the file. If you want to manually open the program, you can find it in the Applications folder on your Mac.
What formats does Preview support?
- At the time of this writing, the Preview app supports HEIC, JPEG, JPEG-2000, OpenEXR, PDF, PNG, and TIFF
Can you convert images in Preview?
- Yes, you can. In addition to the process explained in Section 8 of Part 1, the Preview app for Mac also supports batch conversion. To do so, you must:
- Select all the images you want to convert
- Drag the selected photos to the Preview icon on the Dock
- Confirm that all the images you selected are present in the sidebar of the Preview app. You can drag and drop more images from your Mac to this sidebar to add them to the list
- Press Command + A on the keyboard to select all the images in the sidebar
- Click File from the menu bar at the top
- Click Export Selected Images from the menu that comes down
Note: Make sure that all the images you selected are of the same format. Preview doesn’t allow batch conversion of varied photo types.
- Pick a destination folder from the navigation bar in the left
- Click Options from the bottom
- Select your preferred output format for all the images from the Format drop-down list
- Click Choose to convert all the images in a single go
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The Preview app is a built-in program in macOS, and works as a default viewer for the image and PDF files that your Mac computer has. Because Preview is also an editing software, you don’t need to look for any other third-party tool for basic photo and PDF manipulations.
That said, the sections below explain how to use Preview on Mac for elementary picture editing like rotating, cropping, adding annotations, etc.
Part 1: How to Use Preview to Edit Images [Complete Guide]
Being the default image editor for Mac, Apple tried to make the Preview app as simple as possible. Therefore, modifying the photos in the program isn’t much complicated as compared to its competitors from different vendors.
The instructions given in the following sections explain how to edit pictures with the Preview app for Mac:
How to View and Edit Photos in Preview on Mac
As mentioned earlier, the Preview app is a default photo viewer on Mac that also has many editing tools. Therefore:
To view an image in Preview
- Double-click the photo, or
- Right-click the photo, go to Open With on the context menu, and click Preview (default) from the submenu that appears
To edit an image in Preview
- Use the tools present on the standard toolbar at the top of the interface
- Alternatively, click Tools from the top, and choose your preferred editing option from the menu
How to Show Markup Tools in Preview on Mac
Markup Tools gives easy access to the editing tools the Preview app has. By default, Markup Tools is kept hidden, but automatically becomes visible when you make some changes to the image. However, you can follow the process given below to manually show Markup Tools in Preview:
Step 1: Show Markup Tools
Click the Show Markup Toolbar icon present at the upper-right area to reveal the editing tools right under the standard toolbar.
Step 2: Hide Markup Tools
Click the Hide Markup Tools icon from the upper-right area to hide Markup Toolbar.
Note: Throughout this demonstration, the Markup Toolbar is kept visible to access the editing tools easily.
How to Crop in Preview
In order to crop a photo in the Preview app:
Step 1: Open the Image
Use the method explained earlier to open the photo you want to edit in Preview.
Step 2: Select the Area of Interest
Drag the mouse pointer over the area of the photo you want to keep. If need be, click anywhere between the marked region and drag to reposition the selection. In addition, you can use any of the available side handles to adjust the area of interest on the image.
Step 3: Crop the Photo
Keeping the area of interest on the photo selected, click Crop from the Markup Toolbar at the top to crop the image.
How to Rotate Image in Preview
Rotating an image in the Preview app is fairly simple. To do so:
Step 1: Open the Target Image
Use the method explained above to open the photo in Preview.
Step 2: Rotate the Image
Click the Rotate Left icon from the upper-right area of the standard toolbar to rotate the image anticlockwise. Alternatively, you can also click Tools from the top, and choose your preferred rotation direction or flipping orientation from the menu that comes down next.
How to Add Text to Image in Preview
The Preview app even lets you annotate the images with ease. To add text to a photo:
Step1: Insert Text Frame
Click the Text icon from the Markup Toolbar, drag the side handles to adjust the width of the text frame, and use the mouse to drag and reposition the entire frame to your preferred location on the photo.
Step 2: Add Text
Click inside the frame, delete the existing placeholder text, and type a new caption/annotation for the picture.
Step 3: Format the Text
Select the text, click the Text Style icon from the Markup Toolbar, and change font, size, color, etc. using the available options.
How to Remove Background in Preview
As it is with some of the advanced image manipulation programs, even the Preview app allows you to remove background from a photo, and that too pretty easily. To get this done:
Step 1: Select Unwanted Parts of the Image
Click the Instant Alpha icon from the left area of the Markup Toolbar, click anywhere on the unwanted background on the image, and slowly drag the mouse. Notice the red colored coating that the image starts getting covered with. This is the portion that Preview will consider background and will remove. While dragging the mouse, if any section of the image that you want to keep gets red, drag the pointer to the opposite direction to deselect the area.
Step 2: Remove the Background
Once the background portion of the image gets selected (colored in red), without releasing the mouse button, press Delete on the keyboard.
Note: Removing background requires the image to be in PNG format. If the photo you are working on is JPG, Preview prompts with a confirmation box asking your permission to convert the photo from JPG to PNG. You must allow this conversion in order to proceed with the background removal process.
Note: Usually, not entire background could be selected in a single go, especially when there are multiple objects in the photo. In such a situation, you must repeat the process multiple times to get rid of all the unwanted objects/areas.
How to Combine Images into One
This process is generally used to place an object present in one image over the background of the other photo. A good example could be to place a picture of a fish on to a second photo that has a sea or river. The Preview app lets you do this easily using the following steps:
Step 1: Open Both the Images
Drag mouse over both the images you want to participate in the process, right-click any one of the selected photos, go to Open With, and click Preview (default) from the submenu.
Step 2: Remove Background from the First Image
Ensure that Preview opens with both the images listed in the sidebar in the left. From the sidebar, select first image, and use the Instant Alpha tool as explained earlier to remove the background.
Step 3: Combine the Images
After removing the background, press Command + A to select all the remaining elements, and then press Command + C to copy them. Next, select the second photo from the sidebar, and press Command + V to paste the object to combine the pictures. Additionally, you can drag the pasted object or move its side handles to reposition or resize it respectively.
How to Save Images in Different Formats
The Preview app has a built-in image converter as well. To convert an image to a different format with Preview, you must:
Step 1: Get to the Export Box
After opening an image, click File from the menu bar at the top, and click Export from the menu that appears next.
Step 2: Choose Output Format and Export
Choose a destination folder in the Where field, select your preferred format from the Format drop-down list, and click Save to convert the image.
Part 2: FAQs About Preview App on Mac
What is the Preview App?
- Preview is a built-in program in macOS that works as a default image and PDF viewer, and is also equipped with some elementary editing tools.
Where to find the Preview App on Mac?
- Usually, when you double-click an image or a PDF document, the Preview app is automatically initialized displaying the contents of the file. If you want to manually open the program, you can find it in the Applications folder on your Mac.
What formats does Preview support?
- At the time of this writing, the Preview app supports HEIC, JPEG, JPEG-2000, OpenEXR, PDF, PNG, and TIFF
Can you convert images in Preview?
- Yes, you can. In addition to the process explained in Section 8 of Part 1, the Preview app for Mac also supports batch conversion. To do so, you must:
- Select all the images you want to convert
- Drag the selected photos to the Preview icon on the Dock
- Confirm that all the images you selected are present in the sidebar of the Preview app. You can drag and drop more images from your Mac to this sidebar to add them to the list
- Press Command + A on the keyboard to select all the images in the sidebar
- Click File from the menu bar at the top
- Click Export Selected Images from the menu that comes down
Note: Make sure that all the images you selected are of the same format. Preview doesn’t allow batch conversion of varied photo types.
- Pick a destination folder from the navigation bar in the left
- Click Options from the bottom
- Select your preferred output format for all the images from the Format drop-down list
- Click Choose to convert all the images in a single go
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Also read:
- 2024 Approved Iconic VHS Visuals to Transform Video Projects
- In 2024, Funimate for Android Gamers - Unlocking the APK Secret
- In 2024, How to Seamlessly Add Pictures to YouTube Videos
- In-Depth Exploration of Final Cut Pro’s Powerful Tools and Features for 2024
- Exploring Sky Vistas Yuneec Breeze's High-Def Adventure for 2024
- 2024 Approved Guide to Optimal Audio Changer Tools for VTubers
- In 2024, Impressive Scrutiny & Comparable Proposals
- 2024 Approved Exploring Action Capture ProHero Against Nikkor KM-170
- [New] From Silence to Sounds Windows 10 Recorder Use
- [New] Extensive Review GoPro Hero4 SLR4 Black Edition
- In 2024, Incandescent Ideas Innovations for Stellar Cinematography
- 2024 Approved HDR Software Showdown SNS vs Others
- How Burst Mode Enhances GoPro Videos for 2024
- [New] Immersive Simulations in Medical Schools
- In 2024, Highest Quality Costless Clocks
- 2024 Approved Ideal Cams for Animation with Clay
- [Updated] Incorporate Tunes Into PPT Slides
- [New] Harnessing LUTs for Precision-Controlled Image Editing
- [New] Expert Guide to Cutting-Edge Online Streaming via VLC Media Player
- [New] Harmonizing Chapters The Secrets to Seamless Inshot Edits
- 2024 Approved How to Use Free Text Animations [Online and Offline Solutions]
- [Updated] Innovative Screenshot & Video Tools – Top 8 Smartphone Essentials
- 2024 Approved Increasing Onscreen Detail in Virtual Spaces
- Foremost Top 5 Lightweight Video Capturers Guide for 2024
- In 2024, Extensive Analysis The Complete Gear 360 Camera Experience
- [Updated] Free & Purchased Color Tools for the Discerning Canon User
- Future in Your Hands Choosing a Premium 360 Camera Today for 2024
- 2024 Approved Implement XP's Video Editing Suite Instantly
- From Standard Pixels to Dynamic Range Extremes A Transformation Journey for 2024
- 2024 Approved Illustrate Like a Pro Selecting Superior Vector Image Creators
- In 2024, Flip Through Twitch Feeds Without Pause
- [New] Full Guide to the Enhanced 2024 Video Show App
- 2024 Approved Five Easy Steps to Enhance Photo Hues
- HexaDrones Aviation's Top Ten for 2024
- [New] First Steps in Camera Selection A 2023 Starter's Packet
- [New] From Basics to Advanced The Hand Tracker's Playbook
- Expert Review Ricoh Theta S Unveiled in Detail for 2024
- [Updated] In-Depth Motion Assessment 2023
- [Updated] Fresh Perspectives on Digital Health Promotion
- Unlock Your Xiaomi 14s Potential The Top 20 Lock Screen Apps You Need to Try
- In 2024, Turbocharge Your Instagram Videos Online Tactics
- Fix the Error of Unfortunately the Process.com.android.phone Has Stopped on Oppo Find X7 Ultra | Dr.fone
- 2024 Approved 18 Tips for Free Online Event Streaming Techniques
- 4 Solutions to Fix Unfortunately Your App Has Stopped Error on Vivo V27 Pro | Dr.fone
- [New] Elite Software Selection Top Editors for Webcams for 2024
- In 2024, 9 Mind-Blowing Tricks to Hatch Eggs in Pokemon Go Without Walking On Apple iPhone 14 Plus | Dr.fone
- In 2024, Elite TikTok Videotaker Tools No Watermark Edition
- [Updated] 2024 Approved Best Windows Video Communicators List #1-8
- 4 Feasible Ways to Fake Location on Facebook For your Honor Magic 5 Lite | Dr.fone
- Epic Retrospect Swiftly Undoing iPhone Videos
- Everlasting Capture, No Limit Savings Available for 2024
- Fixed Cannot Insert Object Error in Excel 2019 | Step-by-Step Guide
- Standing Out on TikTok Masterful PFP Techniques and Concepts for 2024
- 7 Solutions to Fix Error Code 963 on Google Play Of Samsung Galaxy S23+ | Dr.fone
- In 2024, Reel It In Proven Approaches to Record Sporting Events Live
- New In 2024, Free Invitation Video Software Our Top Recommendations
- Top Facebook Audio Downloaders for MP3 Conversion
- In 2024, Forgotten The Voicemail Password Of ZTE Nubia Flip 5G? Try These Fixes
- Top 7 Skype Hacker to Hack Any Skype Account On your Realme GT 5 | Dr.fone
- In 2024, How To Fix OEM Unlock Missing on Realme 12 5G?
- How to Fix Pokemon Go Route Not Working On Oppo Reno 11F 5G? | Dr.fone
- [New] In 2024, How to Change Voice on TikTok? [Step by Step Tutorial]
- Title: In 2024, Expert Tips on Mastering the Preview Application on Mac
- Author: Frank
- Created at : 2024-05-26 18:38:21
- Updated at : 2024-05-27 18:38:21
- Link: https://some-techniques.techidaily.com/in-2024-expert-tips-on-mastering-the-preview-application-on-mac/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.