DjVu is a file format designed primarily for storing scanned documents, especially those containing a combination of text, line drawings, indexed color images, and photographs. It uses an advanced compression technique that can produce very compact files that can be quickly transmitted over the web and don’t require a lot of processing power to display.
However, since DjVu is not as widely adopted as PDF, you’ll need a specialized viewer to open and read DjVu files. Here are some options for viewing DjVu documents on various platforms:
Table of Contents
Viewing DjVu Files on Windows
WinDjView is a fast, free DjVu viewer for Windows that offers continuous scrolling, a tabbed interface, and advanced printing options. Key features include:
- Supports Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, and Server versions
- Tabbed interface or open each document in separate windows
- Continuous or single page layout
- Thumbnail sidebar for easy navigation
- Zoom, rotate, adjust brightness/contrast
- Export pages or selections to image formats like JPG, PNG, GIF
Free DjVu Reader is another good option for Windows. It provides basic viewing capabilities along with the ability to export DjVu files to formats like PDF, JPG, GIF, and more.
Viewing DjVu Files on Mac
DjVu Viewer + DjVu to PDF is a simple DjVu reader for Mac that offers essential viewing features plus DjVu to PDF conversion capabilities. To open a DjVu file:
- Download from the App Store
- Go to File > Open and select your DjVu file
Evince is an open-source document viewer for Linux, Mac, and Windows that handles DjVu files. It’s included by default on many Linux distros.
Viewing DjVu Files on Linux
Evince (mentioned above) is a great option since it’s already included on most Linux distributions like Ubuntu.
Okular is another open-source document viewer for Linux that supports DjVu files. It offers tabbed browsing, thumbnail views, and more.
Viewing DjVu Files Online
There are a few good options for viewing DjVu files directly in your web browser without needing to install any additional software:
These online viewers allow you to quickly view DjVu files from any device just by uploading or providing the file URL.
Other Viewing Options
- Browser plugins like DjVu Browser Plugin allow viewing DjVu files directly in web browsers.
- Mobile apps like DjVu Reader offer DjVu viewing capabilities on Android devices.
- Conversion tools like DjVuLibre allow converting DjVu files to PDFs so you can view them in any PDF reader.
Tips for Viewing DjVu Files
Here are some helpful tips when working with DjVu files:
- Use the thumbnail sidebar in your DjVu viewer to quickly navigate documents
- Adjust zoom level and rotation as needed to improve readability
- Export or convert DjVu files to more widely supported formats like PDF if needed for sharing or printing
- Try different DjVu viewers to find one with features and interface you like
- View DjVu files online if you don’t want to install desktop software
- Consider converting large collections of DjVu files to PDF for easier access down the road
The DjVu format provides excellent compression and fast loading for scanned documents. With the right viewer software, you can quickly open, view, and navigate DjVu files on your desktop, mobile devices, and over the web. The options listed above should help you find a good solution for your specific needs and platform.
