PLD format support

[beiti]

It would be nice if future versions of XnView supported the PLD graphic format (read-only support would be enough).

PLD ist the native format used by PhotoLine, an increasingly popular image editing software for Windows and Macintosh computers.
Here is a description of PhotoLine on the Apple website, and here is a review in English language.

Similar to PSD (Photoshop) or XCF (Gimp) formats, PLD is very complex and can contain lots of layers, bitmap and vector graphic elements. But according to the PhotoLine developers, all PLD documents also contain a preview image, either in JPEG or in PNG format.

Maybe XnView could recognize PLD as a graphic format and show the preview JPEGs/PNGs.

Here are two small pld files for testing purposes:
PLD file containing text and bitmap grahics
PLD file containing text and vector graphics only

[xnview]

Ok, i'll try to add PLD support

[beiti]

Ok, i'll try to add PLD support

Thank you!

Yesterday I received some additional information from the PhotoLine developers:
When saving in PLD format, the software first renders two different preview images: one in PNG format and one in JPEG format. Only the smaller one is being embedded.
That's the reason why some PLD files contain JPEG previews and others contain PNG previews.

[beiti]

Thank you, Pierre, for adding PLD support. Most PLD files, no matter if they contain JPEG or PNG preview images, are displayed correctly in XnView now.

Unfortunately, there are still some PLD files causing problems: XnView can display them in the preview window - but not as thumbnails.
I have no idea what is different about them.

Here is an example of such a "different" PLD:
PLD file making problems with thumbnail view

[xnview]

Please try XnView 1.98 beta 1

[beiti]

Sorry I didn't answer earlier.

Just for the record: All PLD files are shown correctly in the regular version of XnView now.