AOL .art Image Files
Computer How To's
AOL uses a graphic format called .art. This is a type of compressed file that is intended to load faster. When a picture is sent to a non-AOL user, and you don't have a program capable of viewing this type of picture file, you just cannot see the picture. You can read more about this on by Clicking Here
The part about sending to non-AOL users is about the middle of the page.
To correct this, you can download and install a program that is capable of viewing the .art format. This is a link to a shareware program (free to try, $40 to keep)
Associate .art Images to Internet Explorer
Here is a simpler (and cheaper) way to open the .art image files using the web browser program, Internet Explorer. I'm using the latest version (at this writing), I.E. version 5.5 SP1. I don't know if earlier I.E. versions will work or not. If you should decide you need to download/install the new version, Click Here
Note: The version of Internet Explorer, 6.0, will not open .ART image files.If you have not already downloaded this, I would advice you do not download version 6.0.
Anyway, what I did was re-associate the file type (.art) to run in Iexplorer.
I have written a web page explaining how to associate file types at This location - Click Here To Read the Full Article
The following is specific to re-associating the .art image file to Internet Explorer:
These are the steps necessary to change a file association. Select your file (any file with the .art extension will do) by left clicking on it once. When it is highlighted, press and hold the Shift Key and right click on the file. This will open a right click menu. Select the menu option "Open With".
This action will open the Window, "Open With". Then select the Program (Iexplore, in this case) that you wish to use to view the file. Check the option: "Always use this program to open this type of file". When you're satisfied with the settings, click the "OK" button.
Now, whenever you double click on a .art file, the Internet Explorer web browser will will open with the picture displayed.Here is a .art picture you can use to do this: Click Here for the .art picture
Right click on the picture, click the "Save picture As" option, and save it to your computer. Then you can go through the association procedure as discussed above.
Click here for help with how to save files on your computer
I hope this will prove to be helpful!
DwightDo you find this information helpful? I would like to hear from you with any comments or suggestions you have about improving this site. Also, let me know if there is a Windows procedure or problem you would like to see discussed here.