cPicture

The distribution channels for cPicture have been expanded. Alongside the direct file download from this server, the application is now available in the Microsoft Store as an MSIX package.

Background on Code Signing

Windows operating systems check independently distributed Win32 applications for digital signatures. Without a commercial code-signing certificate, the system displays a default "Unknown Publisher" notification during installation. To provide an alternative installation path without recurring certificate overhead, the application was submitted to the Microsoft Partner Center.

Technical Implementation (MSIX Architecture)

The desktop application was packaged into an MSIX container using the MSIX Packaging Tool.

• Capabilities: The package deklariert the runFullTrust capability. This is required for cPicture to function as a local file manager, read directory structures, and execute file operations directly on local storage.
• Integrity: The digital signature is applied directly by Microsoft during the ingestion process, which prevents local operating system notifications during installation.

Functionality and Deployment Differences

The Store edition features identical core functionality to the standalone binary.

However, deployment and updates differ based on the channel chosen:

• Standalone Version: Includes the native update engine for immediate access to new versions directly from this server.
• Store Version: Runs within the isolated MSIX container. Updates are tied to Microsoft's pipeline, which introduces external review delays.

The application remains strictly local. No telemetry, data tracking, or external communication is performed unless explicitly initiated by the user (such as map-based GPS queries). The model for subsequent advanced feature upgrades remains unchanged.

Get cPicture from the Microsoft Store

cPicture is updated to version 4.15

Changes:

• Added app themes:
  
  for example
  
  
  
  Set the experimental flag "ExperimentalAppThemeSelectionMode": true in config.json to enable an alternative theme‑selection method. For example:

  {
    "app": "cPicture4",
    "version": "4.15",
    "settings": {
        ".ExperimentalAppThemeSelectionMode": true,
        "AVIVolume": 46,
        "AnaglyphMode": 3,
        "AppTheme": 1,
        "ArtEffectsBlockSize": "32",
        :

  
  
  

• Minor improvements and general maintenance

cPicture is a portable application consisting of a single executable file with optional plugins.

Use the MSI installer to install or update the application, or use the Check for updates option in the Other category in the cPicture App.

Download German 64bit Installer MSI
Download English 64bit Installer MSI

Additional languages are available on the cPicture website. An alternative download is available on GitHub.
See the Download Instructions for details. For questions or feedback, please mail to cpicture.

AVIF Format

This format plugin extends cPicture with support for the AVIF picture format. AVIF pictures can be opened and saved.

This plugin is built on libavif.

GitHub: libavif

Note: AVIF takes its time when loading and can feel glacial when saving.

GIF Format

This format plugin extends cPicture with support for GIF pictures, including animated GIF playback.

This plugin is built on the Windows GDI+ library.

GIF files are opened read-only.

WebP Format

This format plugin extends cPicture with support for the WebP picture format. WebP pictures can be opened and saved.

This plugin is built on libwebp.

GitHub: libwebp

Download the plugin from Function plug-ins menu and select Manage in cPicture.
See the plugin overview

cPicture is updated to version 4.14

This update introduces a breaking change that affects how cPicture handles optional license files: Please check whether the folder %AppData%\cPicture exists and copy the license file into it.
(Enter %AppData%\cPicture into Windows File Explorer; it will automatically resolve to your user directory.)

In Settings (press F9), under Other, a new button is available that handles this automatically.

Changes:

• Added RAW Structure Views, example for Nikon NEF:
  
  
• Updated the function to create a Webpage from the picture selection
  
  
  
  
  
• Add Search/Replace for the HexView to modify any picture data
  
  
• Support for JPEG Lossless Sequential Huffman encoding (this is different from the lossless JPEG10)
• New format plugin interface version 1.2 with animated image support, enabling playback of animated AVIF, WebP, and GIF files when the corresponding plugins are installed
• Minor improvements and general maintenance

cPicture is a portable application consisting of a single executable file with optional plugins.

Use the MSI installer to install or update the application, or use the Check for updates option in the Other category in the cPicture App.

Download German 64bit Installer MSI
Download English 64bit Installer MSI

Additional languages are available on the cPicture website. An alternative download is available on GitHub.
See the Download Instructions for details. For questions or feedback, please mail to cpicture.

FilmReel

This function plugin creates a FilmReel animation (.webp) from the selected images.

Settings:

• Frame delay (ms): Display duration of each frame in milliseconds
• Loop count (0 = infinite): How many times the animation repeats
• Quality (0–100): Compression level for lossy encoding
• Lossless: Lossless mode for maximum quality (larger file size)

The output file is saved next to the first selected image (_filmreel.webp).

Example FilmReel created from 9 pictures with 400ms delay:

Download the plugin from Function plug-ins menu and select Manage in cPicture.
See the plugin overview