QuickLookASE

QuickLookASE adds macOS Quick Look support for Adobe Swatch Exchange (ASE) files, allowing users to preview color palettes directly in Finder without opening Photoshop, Illustrator, or other design tools. When an ASE file is selected, the generator renders a visual representation of the contained swatches, showing each color as a swatch tile with its name and value. This preview is produced using Apple’s Quick Look framework and follows the ASE format specification.

The tool is intended for designers, developers, and anyone who works with color libraries exported from Adobe applications, Adobe Color CC, Spectrum, COLOURlovers, Prisma, or similar sources. By installing the QuickLookASE.qlgenerator bundle into the user’s ~/Library/QuickLook/ directory—or via Homebrew Cask—macOS automatically invokes the preview when the file is highlighted, streamlining workflow and reducing the need to open separate programs.

Installation is straightforward: download the latest release, copy the generator bundle to the QuickLook folder, and optionally use the command‑line `mdls` tool to verify the file’s UTI. The resulting preview displays the palette as a grid of colored squares, as illustrated in the project’s screenshots.