Getting started
PhotoKiller is a fast culling app for photographers. Open a folder of JPGs (and optional RAW), rate picks and rejects, then copy the keepers.
Typical flow
1. Choose a Workflow in Settings (one card, two cards, camera USB, folder on disk, JPG-only, or RAW-only).
2. In the sidebar, open a folder under Folders, Recent, or Pinned.
3. Click a thumbnail to preview. Rate with P / R (or your hotkeys), stars 0–5, then copy picks.
Two monitors
Use Window preview mode and put the Preview window on a TV or second display. Keep the grid on your Mac; arrow keys still change photos while the TV stays fullscreen.
Folders & Recent
The sidebar lists Volumes & cards, Cameras (MTP), Folders tree, Recent, and Pinned shoots.
Folders tree
Click a folder to open its photos. Use the disclosure chevron to expand without opening. Grant access when macOS asks — network volumes and some disks need an explicit unlock.
Recent & Pinned
Recent shows folders you opened lately. Labels include the volume name and enough path to tell years apart (for example Multimedia/2018/09/23). Pin important shoots for one-click reopen. Missing folders are pruned when the volume is gone.
RAW link
If JPG and RAW live in different places, PhotoKiller tries to pair them. Use Link RAW… or follow the RAW banner when a second card appears.
Preview layout
Split
Preview sits on the right in the same window. Esc closes the cull session and returns focus to the grid.
Window
Preview opens in a separate window — ideal for a second display. Click a thumbnail to select it; double-click (or Show Preview) to open the Preview window. If you close it, reopen via Show Preview in the toolbar or photo context menu, Window → Preview, or by double-clicking a thumbnail. Esc exits fullscreen/player without closing the cull session. Drag the Preview window to the TV, then press F for immersive fullscreen.
JPG / RAW / Both
When both formats are available, switch media mode in the preview toolbar. Both shows side-by-side panes with optional synced zoom.
Rating & cull
Ratings are stored in the session and optionally written as XMP sidecars (Settings → Export / XMP).
Flags & stars
Pick and Reject are toggles (default keys P and R — change in Settings). Digits 0–5 set star rating. Filters above the grid show All, Picks, Starred, Rejected, and unrated.
Export
Copy picks & starred copies keepers to folders you choose (JPG, RAW, or both). Delete rejected removes reject-flagged files after confirmation — JPEG and paired RAW with the same base name, plus XMP.
Rotate
⌘[ and ⌘] rotate the preview orientation (also in the toolbar and context menu).
Fullscreen & Player
Fullscreen (F)
Immersive photo-only view — no chrome. Best on a TV in Window mode. Esc exits fullscreen. You can still change folders on the main monitor without leaving TV fullscreen.
Player (L)
Fullscreen auto-advance slideshow. Slide duration is in Settings → Browser. Space pauses (stays fullscreen); Esc stops the player and leaves fullscreen. Arrow keys nudge to the next/previous photo.
Quality
Settings → Fullscreen quality controls decode size for fit (preview ~1K up to Maximum ~8K). Zooming in loads more detail (up to ~16K).
A/B compare
Press A to enter A/B compare for near-duplicates. Pane A is locked; clicking another thumbnail sets B. Sync zoom links pan/zoom on both panes.
Decide
[ keeps A (rejects B). ] takes B (rejects A and promotes B). \ rejects both. Esc exits A/B. Arrow keys move the B candidate.
Workflows
One memory card
Card in the Mac or a single-slot reader. PhotoKiller looks for RAW nearby on the same volume.
Two memory cards
JPG on one card, RAW on the other. Open the JPG folder; link the RAW card when prompted, or use Link RAW…
Camera over USB
Prefer USB Mass Storage so the camera appears under Volumes like a card. MTP under Cameras also works. Do not use PC Remote / tether modes — PhotoKiller will not see the camera.
Folder on disk / JPG only / RAW only
Use a folder already on disk or network. JPG only skips RAW pairing. RAW only browses and rates RAW files directly (preview from embedded JPEG when possible).
Keyboard shortcuts
| Keys | Action |
|---|
← → | Previous / next photo |
↑ ↓ | Move by grid row |
Space | Next photo (or pause Player) |
Esc | Exit fullscreen, Player, A/B, or close Split preview |
P / R | Pick / Reject (customizable in Settings) |
0 … 5 | Star rating |
F | Toggle immersive fullscreen |
L | Toggle Player (auto-advance) |
I | Toggle EXIF overlay |
A | Toggle A/B compare |
⌘[ ⌘] | Rotate left / right |
⌘E | Clear cache |
[ ] \ | A/B: keep A / take B / reject both |
Settings & cache
Language
Override the app language independently of macOS System Settings — useful when the Mac is English but you prefer another language.
Cache
Thumbnails, cull previews, and MTP downloads live under the Cache folder (default ~/Pictures/PhotoKiller Cache). Clear anytime with ⌘E or PhotoKiller → Clear Cache; thumbs rebuild as you browse.
Data
Session ratings and bookmarks live in the Data folder (default ~/Pictures/PhotoKiller) — not your photo library.
Disks & watch
Refresh Folders when a disk mounts, and optionally watch the open folder for new files while copying from a card.
EXIF
Press I in preview (not fullscreen) to toggle the EXIF overlay. Choose which fields appear in Settings.