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From a preview to the next step

Share a photo on Mac—or copy just the part you need

Sometimes you want to send the original file. Sometimes you need to paste an image into a message, or tell a colleague the exact filename. Clean View keeps these actions close to the preview, with a separate control for each job.

By Clean View team3 min read
Clean View displaying its app artwork with a Share button below Copy in the viewer toolbar
The Clean View viewer displaying the app’s artwork. The Share button is the lowest icon in the right-hand toolbar.

Share directly from the image viewer

Open a file in Clean View and choose the Share button beneath Copy on the right. It opens the native macOS Share menu anchored beside that button. Choose a destination offered by your Mac, then complete that service’s own steps. Merely opening this menu does not send the file.

Apple’s Share menu guide describes destinations such as AirDrop, Mail and Messages. The actual list depends on the selected item and installed sharing extensions. Clean View supplies the file to that menu rather than uploading it to a Clean View sharing server.

Know which file is being shared

Sharing from the viewer uses the current file’s URL. It does not replace the original with the optimized image used for on-screen viewing. A destination may apply its own format handling or attachment limits, so check the service’s final dialog when format or quality matters.

The viewer also supports the Share action for local videos and PDFs. A cloud image must be downloaded to the local cache before it can be shared as a file. If the Share button is unavailable, wait for that file to finish loading and check whether it can be opened on your Mac.

Share several selected files from the library

Open the library with the four-square button. Choose Select, mark the files you want, then use Share beside Copy and Move to Trash. Check the selection count before choosing a destination. You can review files across the current grid without opening a separate sharing dialog for each one.

Selection does not mean deletion. Copy and Share pass the selected files to the clipboard or a sharing service; Move to Trash is a separate action with its own confirmation. If you are reviewing a large export batch, narrow the library by format or search first so the intended set is easier to see.

Copy the image when you want to paste pixels

The Copy button in the viewer is for pasting an image into another app. It prepares image data for the clipboard and shows a small Copied confirmation near the button. You can also use Command-C while the preview has focus. Larger source files may need more time to prepare.

The library’s Copy action copies file references for the selected assets. These two clipboard workflows serve different destinations: an image editor may accept the image pixels, while Finder can paste copied files. What happens on paste depends on the receiving app. Keep that distinction in mind when sharing a video or a document.

Copy only the exact filename

Choose Information in the viewer. Beside the filename, use the small copy icon. This copies the displayed name as text, including its extension, spaces and other characters. A checkmark confirms the action in place. It does not copy the containing folder’s full path or the image itself.

This is useful when reporting a problem with an export or asking someone to locate a particular version. A name such as Project review final.png is easier to communicate accurately when you copy it instead of typing it. You can still select text in the Information panel when you need another detail.

Choose the next step that matches your task

For a nearby Apple device, AirDrop may be an available destination. For a conversation, your Mac may offer a messaging or mail extension. Apple documents the basics in Share content between devices. Choose the service you already use and check the recipient in that service before sending.

For cleanup instead of sending, return to Large files or Duplicates. You can preview, share a file you want to keep, and separately review unwanted copies. Each action leaves you in control of what moves and what stays.

Sources & further reading

Primary references checked for this guide. App-specific details describe Clean View 1.10.3.

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