Differences between the Web Proofing Viewer and the Desktop Proofing Viewer overview

Last update: 2023-11-07
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Adobe Workfront provides two different proofing viewers:

  • Web Proofing Viewer: Designed primarily for proofing static and video files. Runs in Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

  • Desktop Proofing Viewer: Designed for proofing interactive files as well as video and static files. Runs as a standalone application on your workstation. For more information, see Understand the Desktop Proofing Viewer

  • If your organization cannot use the Desktop Proofing Viewer app for security reasons, your Workfront administrator can configure your system so that you can review interactive content, bundled in a ZIP archive file, in the Web Proofing Viewer. For more information, see  Set up interactive content proofing in Web Proofing Viewer.

The following list can help you understand what Proofing Viewer you can use to proof certain types of content:

  • Interactive web content - URL: If you create a proof for web content using a URL and you want to proof the content interactively, you must use the Desktop Proofing Viewer.

  • Interactive web content - ZIP file: If you create a proof for web content using a ZIP file, you can use either the Web Proofing Viewer (with some limitations) or the Desktop Proofing Viewer. For information about the limitations involved in using the Web Proofing Viewer for interactive content, see Set up interactive content proofing in Web Proofing Viewer.

  • Static and video content: If you create a proof containing static content, you can use either the Web Proofing Viewer or the Desktop Proofing Viewer.

Static proofs

Feature Web Proofing Viewer Desktop Proofing Viewer
Open static proofs ✓*
Single, magazine, and continuous views ✓*
Panning ✓*
Zooming ✓*
Rotate ✓*
Measurement tool ✓ (set a custom-sized area) ✓*
Thumbnail view ✓*
Static proof navigator ✓*
Document search ✓*
Post comment on multiple pages ✓ (available on all views) ✓* (available on all views)
Advanced static proof shortcuts ✓ (for more information, see Keyboard shortcuts in the proofing viewer) ✓*(for more information, see Keyboard shortcuts in the proofing viewer)

* This functionality works only if your Workfront administrator has configured the Desktop Proofing Viewer as the default viewer for all proofs.

Video proofs

Feature  Web Proofing Viewer Desktop Proofing Viewer
Open video proofs ✓*
Buffering ✓*
Review using time ✓*
Review using frames or timecode ✓*
Review faster or slower ✓*
Volume regulation ✓* 
full-screen mode ✓* 
Range comments ✓* 
Loop video proofs (videos finish and start automatically) ✓* 
Advanced video shortcuts ✓ (for more information, see Keyboard shortcuts in the proofing viewer) ✓* 

* This functionality works only if the Desktop Proofing Viewer is configured as the default viewer for all proofs.

Interactive proofs

Feature  Web Proofing Viewer Desktop Proofing Viewer
Open interactive proofs created from content bundled in a ZIP file ✓ (recommended)
Open an interactive proof created from a URL Not supported
View interactive proofs (created from content bundled in a ZIP file) in various screen sizes
View interactive proofs (created from content bundled in a ZIP file) for various devices Not supported
Review unsecured (HTTP) sites Not supported
Review iFrame-protected sites (sites that are protected from being viewed within an iFrame) Not supported

Comments

Feature Web Proofing Viewer Desktop Proofing Viewer

Add, delete, and edit comments

Add and delete replies

Rectangle, arrow, line, freehand, and highlight markup tools

Polyline tool

Crop mask markup tools

Not supported Not supported

Text selection markup tool

✓ Static proofs only ✓ Static proofs only

Change markup color

✓ (32 colors available)  ✓ (32 colors available) 

Change markup opacity

✓ 

Change markup thickness

✓ 

Cut, copy, and paste markups

Not supported Not supported

Undo and redo last operation

✓ 

Duplicate markups

Not supported Not supported
Set actions to comments ✓ (Actions are visible on comments immediately after the action is set)

Set markup color as default

 ✓

Resolve comments

 ✓

Lock comments

Not supported Not supported

Tag users

Resume comments

View the comment list in a compact view

✓ 

View the comment list in a standard, full, or single view

Planned for the future Planned for the future

Search comments

Filter comments by user

Filter comments and replies by user

Sort comments

Comment auto-updates

Decisions

Feature Web Proofing Viewer Desktop Proofing Viewer
Make decisions
Customize decisions

Compare proofs

Feature Web Proofing Viewer Desktop Proofing Viewer
Compare different versions of proofs
Compare separate proofs  ✓

Proof operations

Feature Web Proofing Viewer Desktop Proofing Viewer
Change the proof version   ✓
Create a new version

Available only in Workfront Proof(planned for the future when proofing within Workfront)

Available only in Workfront Proof(planned for the future when proofing within Workfront)
Review proof details 
Review proof workflows
Edit workflow stages Not supported Not supported
Share proofs
Get team URL
Change email notifications
Download original file
Lock and unlock proofs and stages
Print proof summary
Delete proofs
Manage proofs from the same folder Available only in Workfront Proof Available only in Workfront Proof
Branding (custom logos)  ✓
(Workfront Logo on launch page)
Custom links (Workfront Proof only) Not supported Not supported 
Basecamp integrations (Workfront Proof only)  Planned for future Planned for future
Presence indicator 
Proof auto-updates (permission changes and new versions) ✓ 

Miniviewer

Feature  Web Proofing Viewer  Desktop Proofing Viewer
Embedded code Planned for future for static and native video proofs Not supported 

Translations

Feature  Web Proofing Viewer Desktop Proofing Viewer
Support languages other than English

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