How to Add a Drop Shadow Effect for Image Thumbnail Previews in Windows Vista

When you open a folder containing image files in Windows Vista, the thumbnail images have a photo border by default. You can remove the photo border and add a drop shadow effect using a registry edit.

Add Drop Shadow Effect for Thumbnails

1. Click Start, type Regedit.exe and press ENTER

2. Navigate to the following branch:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT SystemFileAssociations image

3. Double-click the value named Treatment

4. Set its Value data accordingly. See table below for possible data.

Value Data Meaning
0 No Adornment
1 Drop Shadow
2 Photo Border
3 Video Sprockets

(REF MSDN – Thumbnail Providers)

5. Exit the Registry Editor.



Screenshots


Fig 1: No Adornment


Fig 2: Drop Shadow


Fig 3: Photo Border


Fig 4: Video Sprockets


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

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