I got it..
ok..
from the finder..
if I have a directory of images.
I would select all..
then click on the (quick look) the little eye ball..
then click on thumbnail view.. and it would give my a semi-transpant screen.. with a lot of my thumbs.. ( i couldn't delete anything there.)
and I thought that was the same as preview..
HOWEVER.. it is not..
if I go to the same folder, select all.. then open with Preview..
I get this
it is not the greatest.. but it works..