Applies to Windows 7

View and print picture thumbnails

A thumbnail is a tiny preview version of a picture. Viewing your pictures as thumbnails makes it easier to scan your collection at a glance.

You can also select a bunch of picture thumbnails and print them on a single page. Photographers call this a contact sheet. Even in the digital age, contact sheets offer a handy visual reference to photos archived on disc or within specific folders.

Watch this video to learn how to view and print picture thumbnails (1:42)
Show all

To view thumbnails of your pictures

  1. Open the Pictures library by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then clicking Pictures.

  2. In the left pane, click the folder that contains the pictures you want to view.

  3. Click the arrow next to the Views button, and then move the slider to change the size of the thumbnails.

    Picture of the Views menuSizes of the thumbnails

To print a contact sheet of your pictures

  1. Open the Pictures library by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then clicking Pictures.

  2. Click the pictures you want to print as thumbnails.

    (To select more than one, hold down the Ctrl key as you click.)

  3. On the toolbar, click Print.

  4. In the Print Pictures dialog box, select the printer, paper size and type, and the number of copies you want to print, and then click Contact sheet in the list of print sizes.

    Picture of print size optionsContact sheet print option

  5. Click Print to start printing.

For more information, see Picture printing: frequently asked questions and Print a picture.