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Paradax

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 4, 2022
3
0
ireland
My new macbook air runs on Montery OS. For some ungodly reason when I open an image, it has a grey bar either side. Means I can't butt images up against each other. Anyone know how to get rid of them?
 

HDFan

Contributor
Jun 30, 2007
7,270
3,327
When you open an image where, with what app?

What kind of image?

Screenshot helps.
 
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Alpha Centauri

macrumors 65816
Oct 13, 2020
1,438
1,138
I'm on Catalina but I think I know what you mean.

Borderless when initially opening the image but then resizing the window places them to the side, or above/below. Just drag the corner on the diagonal slightly off axis until the grey bars disappear.

Edit: you can place multiple images w/out borders together once the windows are resized.

Edit (part 2): if comparing two images for example, you can open each in full screen, then merge both windows.
 
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Paradax

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 4, 2022
3
0
ireland
Hi there, thanks for responding.
When I was on mojave, just the image would open if I clicked on it as a jpeg on my desktop or from a folder.
Since I'm now usuing Montery, I get these grey side bars.
The image usually opens full screen, so I can't lose the side bars when I shrink it, they just get bigger.
Is there a settings solution I'm missing?
 

arw

macrumors 65816
Aug 31, 2010
1,227
974
As mentioned a screenshot helps.
But I guess you mean, if an image has a different aspect ratio than the Previews window, the window doesn't resize itself to the image but fills the "empty" space with grey? Like vertical "letterboxing" of a 4:3 movie on a 16:9 screen.
I can only recommend Xee as an alternative viewer which always resizes its window to the images aspect ratio.
Works with multiple windows at the same time, no bars.

EDIT: If you resize the preview window to an aspect ratio with a greater height than the image and press "cmd+9" you have no bars left and right, but on top and bottom.
And maybe the following setting helps to open each file without letterbox (if available in Monterey):
Preview > Preferences > Images > Open each file in a separate window
 
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Paradax

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 4, 2022
3
0
ireland
Hi ARW, Thanks for the reply.
I've attached a screenshot, I opened an artwork jpeg.
I will look into XEE.
Your previews> idea didn't work. Appreciate the suggestion.
Should have stayed on Mojave - everything worked properly!
 

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  • Screenshot 2022-11-05 at 22.55.10.png
    Screenshot 2022-11-05 at 22.55.10.png
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HDFan

Contributor
Jun 30, 2007
7,270
3,327
It looks as if it is a mismatch between the Canvas and the photo sizes. For some reason the Preview app (as opposed to a Finder file preview) doesn't match the 2 sizes when opening. The only workaround I see is to increase the size of the image so it fills the canvas..

Screen Shot 2022-11-06 at 5.27.31 AM.png

Screen Shot 2022-11-06 at 5.26.06 AM.png
 
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Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
6,237
7,271
Seattle
As HDfan mentioned the preview window is ending up larger than the image. I've seen that happen sometimes when the image is small. Larger images, it usually scales to fit the image in the window. If the window is wider than the image then you'll see the window background behind it.

If you use View/Zoom to Fit (shortcut key is ⌘ 9) it should make the image fit again.

Using fullscreen for the window will make this much more likely as the window is less likely to fit the aspect ratio of the image. Try to avoid fullscreen.
 

ignatius345

macrumors 604
Aug 20, 2015
7,581
12,947
Yeah, not much to do about this besides resizing the window the match the image or vice versa. For what it's worth, the canvas turns black in full-screen if you find that less offensive. You can also change the canvas color in Preview's preferences:

Screenshot 2022-11-10 at 4.08.47 PM.png
 
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richard13

macrumors 6502a
Aug 1, 2008
923
481
Odessa, FL
This is one of the most irritating "features" of the Preview app. There is absolutely no reason for it to have a border on the sides of images like that. Hiding the toolbar and markup bar doesn't fix it and neither does ⌘-9.
 

Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
6,237
7,271
Seattle
This is one of the most irritating "features" of the Preview app. There is absolutely no reason for it to have a border on the sides of images like that. Hiding the toolbar and markup bar doesn't fix it and neither does ⌘-9.
It just happens when the preview window is larger than the image inside. What else should happen?
 

arw

macrumors 65816
Aug 31, 2010
1,227
974
It just happens when the preview window is larger than the image inside. What else should happen?
The Preview window should adjust accordingly (to the images aspect ratio).
Like Xee does and according to OP, like it was on some previous version of Preview.
On the other hand I understand the behaviour/motivation, as I use Preview mainly for pdfs and there it would be annoying.
xee.png
 
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Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
6,237
7,271
Seattle
The Preview window should adjust accordingly (to the images aspect ratio).
Like Xee does and according to OP, like it was on some previous version of Preview.
On the other hand I understand the behaviour/motivation, as I use Preview mainly for pdfs and there it would be annoying.
View attachment 2111764
Normally. It does fit to the image but if the image is small, it may be smaller than the minimum size of the window. Are the bars really so offensive? Seems like a pretty small annoyance.
 

arw

macrumors 65816
Aug 31, 2010
1,227
974
Are the bars really so offensive? Seems like a pretty small annoyance.
Let‘s just say I can understand/accept OPs annoyance when s/he‘s used to placing images side by side gaplessly.
Thankfully alternative apps exist.
 
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