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06/18/2004 10:44:25 AM · #1 |
I was wondering what everyone uses to organize their digital files. I normally backup my digital files to cds, so many of the normal software packages to keyword, and organize, files won't work. I suppose I am going to have to go with a straight database design, with a link to the cd number... I was just curious how you all keep tabs on your photos, while they are still on your hard drive, and after you back them up. Also, how do you back them up? Thanks for any info that you can give me!
-Danielle
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06/18/2004 10:46:00 AM · #2 |
Those digital images add up fast, don't they!?
What platform (Mac/Win) are you using, Daniel? |
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06/18/2004 10:54:25 AM · #3 |
I use Apple's iPhoto to store up to 25.000 images by titles, keywords, roll and rating. I keep them organized in the main library and in individual albums (folders).
I back up everything, labelled and sorted, to DVD from within the interface of iPhoto.
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06/18/2004 11:08:36 AM · #4 |
Windows XP.
-Danielle
Originally posted by digistoune:
Those digital images add up fast, don't they!?
What platform (Mac/Win) are you using, Daniel? |
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06/18/2004 12:04:30 PM · #5 |
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06/18/2004 02:08:41 PM · #6 |
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06/18/2004 02:12:10 PM · #7 |
| Microsoft Digital Image Library, comes in the Digital Image Pro 9 Suite package. Actually it is pretty good for cataloging, rating, tagging and searching images. |
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06/18/2004 02:13:09 PM · #8 |
I've started using Extensis' Portfolio 7.
EDIT: I didn't notice until just now that you seem to want some kind of workflow.
I move all the frames I capture over to a folder based on dates (the Canon software handles that. I use a memory card reader with a USB 2.0 connection for faster access. I then burn those images to DVD (sometimes I'll wait a week so that I'll have a significant number of images to burn). I'll then catalog the DVD into Portfolio Client 7 (see link above) so that the thumbnails refer to the DVD that contains the images. Once I've added the images to the catalog (which contains all the images) I'll move through those images associating them with galleries and keywords to make searching or grouping faster and easier. Edits to images whether those images have been burned to DVD or not are all saved to a single folder during the process ("Working") and upon completion of the edits the final copies, both Photoshop PSD and JPG versions, are saved to a "Finals" folder. The "Working" folder is cleaned out every few months to same room and reduce clutter. Its just a way to quickly go back to a particular step in the process and branch my editing to make different versions. The "Finals" folder is burned in its entirity to DVD occasionally for backup purposes.
Kev
Message edited by author 2004-06-18 14:32:32.
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06/18/2004 02:13:54 PM · #9 |
I was hoping to see the other responses! I use a very primitive method right now. I structure my folders in a sensible way through ACDSee, use a few category tags, copy the whole My Pictures folder to CD-RW once a week or so, and delete those pictures I think I can live without now. I rearrange things too much to do an incremental back-up; and the true "back up" software doesn't paly nice with my system.
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06/18/2004 02:40:43 PM · #10 |
Sadly, my way is also primitive and I need to change it.
I convert everything to the title I want using the Bulk Rename Utility (Great software).
040618-01-ocean.jpg or something like that with the date first, photo # (in that shooting), then subject last.
I then put the photos away by subject (dividing up the albums into what I'd search for them by in the future:
People (Subcats: Friends & Family)
Places (Subcats: Locations & Cities)
Objects (Subcats: Jewelry, Food/Drink, Products, Plants & Trees, etc)
Transportation (photos of planes, trains, boats, cars, motorcycles, etc)
Events (Subcats: parties, weddings, get-togethers, concerts, etc)
So, after I rename the files, I drag them a few at a time to the right folders on my harddrive. I rarely back up the harddrive, but I should. It's huge, and getting full. I'd hate to lose it all!
I have a DVD burner, so I should back up my photos onto DVD. They hold 4.7 gigs or so! |
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06/18/2004 02:52:30 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by mirdonamy:
Sadly, my way is also primitive and I need to change it.
I convert everything to the title I want using the Bulk Rename Utility (Great software).
040618-01-ocean.jpg or something like that with the date first, photo # (in that shooting), then subject last.
I then put the photos away by subject (dividing up the albums into what I'd search for them by in the future:
People (Subcats: Friends & Family)
Places (Subcats: Locations & Cities)
Objects (Subcats: Jewelry, Food/Drink, Products, Plants & Trees, etc)
Transportation (photos of planes, trains, boats, cars, motorcycles, etc)
Events (Subcats: parties, weddings, get-togethers, concerts, etc)
So, after I rename the files, I drag them a few at a time to the right folders on my harddrive. I rarely back up the harddrive, but I should. It's huge, and getting full. I'd hate to lose it all!
I have a DVD burner, so I should back up my photos onto DVD. They hold 4.7 gigs or so! |
You have some good folder "types". I keep refining mine, but I have a hard time with some of them not being clearly in a category. I was using tagging, but it became a huge time investment every time I added a few new pictures. I use batch rename in ACDSee like you do (in your software) and it is wonderful.
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06/18/2004 03:01:04 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Kylie:
You have some good folder "types". I keep refining mine, but I have a hard time with some of them not being clearly in a category. I was using tagging, but it became a huge time investment every time I added a few new pictures. I use batch rename in ACDSee like you do (in your software) and it is wonderful. |
Yep, this is where I had problems. I started with categories Like Architecture... Downtown... etc but what happened when I had a Cool Building downtown? It just got weird on me. With digital image library I just leave the pictures in their dated (download from the camera) folder under my photos, and add keywords, mark as favorites and give them personal ratings. DI Library then searches, sorts and/or filters on the keywords, Ratings that I choose.
Still some work, but I don't have to worry where they are on the disk. |
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06/18/2004 03:06:58 PM · #13 |
I blew it when I bought my DIP9 and didn't get the "suite" that had the library software bundled with it. At least I can see that other people struggle with this, too. I did do one thing right lately; I made a DP Challenge folder with sub-folders for each challenge's work. The original, the edits, the re-sized one, etc. That has really kept that clean and organized.
There have been some database issues with ACDSee and people have lost their data. Is the MS library pretty stable and fast?
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06/18/2004 03:55:25 PM · #14 |
I'm very impressed with IMatch. I'm currently using the evaluation version but I will be buying it shortly. Handles RAW files, reads EXIF info, and it's cheap. As a bonus it works under Linux using Crossover Office : )
//www.photools.com
Apart from that I name all my folders with the date & location/subject for quick referencing.
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06/18/2004 04:10:39 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by Kylie:
...
Is the MS library pretty stable and fast? |
Fisrt Time wasn't so fast gathering the info for me. I had it sift through and gather info on about 4G of photos so it took around 10-15 minutes. Once gathered, it is pretty quick doing searchs and filters.
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06/18/2004 04:26:59 PM · #16 |
I sort my photos by date taken, and i use Photoshop Album on my PC to be able to search through them, categorize them etc etc... it's not the most robust thing in the world, but it's got all the features i need at this point. you can download a fully functional trial version. i'd recommend you take a look.
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06/18/2004 04:27:18 PM · #17 |
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06/18/2004 07:34:09 PM · #18 |
Thanks for all of your replies! I am using a primative method involving dates, and folders (as some of you stated), and it just isn't cutting it anymore. I need to get organized! Thanks, again!
-Danielle
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06/18/2004 07:50:09 PM · #19 |
I have server that has 2x200GB hardisk space that keeps all my images (use 60GB now). Every night the server takes a backup of disk #1 on to disk #2.
I still haven't put up the third backup that will be placed in next house so I have a backup of all the images there in case of fire or something like that.
I'm programming my own webphotoalbum to organize the photos. Can put the image to multi-albums, (ex. people, , family) and still just have one copy of the photo not 3. I add keywords to albums and photos.
The system keeps three files of the image, thumbnail, websize and orginal file.
I can publish the album to every one by one click and I can also locke the album just for special users/groups ....
hehe ok I could talk about it all night :P |
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06/18/2004 07:54:04 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by birgir:
I have server that has 2x200GB hardisk space that keeps all my images (use 60GB now). Every night the server takes a backup of disk #1 on to disk #2.
I still haven't put up the third backup that will be placed in next house so I have a backup of all the images there in case of fire or something like that.
I'm programming my own webphotoalbum to organize the photos. Can put the image to multi-albums, (ex. people, , family) and still just have one copy of the photo not 3. I add keywords to albums and photos.
The system keeps three files of the image, thumbnail, websize and orginal file.
I can publish the album to every one by one click and I can also locke the album just for special users/groups ....
hehe ok I could talk about it all night :P |
WOW! A little different than my system! lol
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06/19/2004 12:48:05 AM · #21 |
Anyone have any recommendations for something where I can keep my original NEF files from my D70, and catalog, and possibly embed metadata back into the NEF files? Or, am I asking the impossible?
-Danielle
I tried playing with Extensis Portfolio, and it will not allow me to embed metadata into the NEF files...
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06/19/2004 01:34:38 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by dccloss:
Anyone have any recommendations for something where I can keep my original NEF files from my D70, and catalog, and possibly embed metadata back into the NEF files? Or, am I asking the impossible?
-Danielle
I tried playing with Extensis Portfolio, and it will not allow me to embed metadata into the NEF files... |
Try picture perfect. not bad for cataloging, and it comes with the camera. Its reasonably slow and lacks some features, so it's not as perfect as the title suggests.
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06/19/2004 08:09:41 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by KevinRiggs:
I move all the frames I capture over to a folder based on dates (the Canon software handles that. I use a memory card reader with a USB 2.0 connection for faster access. I then burn those images to DVD (sometimes I'll wait a week so that I'll have a significant number of images to burn). I'll then catalog the DVD into Portfolio Client 7 (see link above) so that the thumbnails refer to the DVD that contains the images. Once I've added the images to the catalog (which contains all the images) I'll move through those images associating them with galleries and keywords to make searching or grouping faster and easier. Edits to images whether those images have been burned to DVD or not are all saved to a single folder during the process ("Working") and upon completion of the edits the final copies, both Photoshop PSD and JPG versions, are saved to a "Finals" folder. The "Working" folder is cleaned out every few months to same room and reduce clutter. Its just a way to quickly go back to a particular step in the process and branch my editing to make different versions. The "Finals" folder is burned in its entirity to DVD occasionally for backup purposes.
Kev |
My method is similiar enough to this.
EDIT: to be more specific -
My files are organized by date:
I have WinXP. The files are captured from the camera with the software that came with my camera or with a USB card reader.
I use the date first, and then sometimes a keyword.
Example:
05-30-2004 memorial day
06-04-2004 windows doors
This way it is always sorted by date. Inside these folders are the original files with EXIF intact.
When I work on a file, ex. P987564.jpg, I make a duplicate copy of it to work on, do my edits and then save it as P987564_1.jpg. To upload to DPC or to my pbase galleries, I resize, sharpen and then save it as P987564_1a.jpg.
Alternate edit styles (like b&w, sepia etc.) may be given subsequent numbers like P987564_2.jpg, P987564_3.jpg, etc.
This way they stay in numerical order so that I know which original they came from. If I have several shots of the same composition, but maybe the focus or dof is a bit different, then there is no room for mistakes, and no time wasted figuring out which one I liked best and edited.
After making the print file for sale, it becomes, for example P987564_1p.jpg.
I guess it works for me because I remember things more by date. "Was that pre-baby Karl? Oh. No, he was with us, so it was the summer of 1997". That kind of thing! LOL
God forbid I get alzheimer's!!!
Message edited by author 2004-06-19 08:37:27.
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06/19/2004 09:00:08 AM · #24 |
Said it before and I will say it again...iView.
And it available for Windows now!!
keywords, categories, people, places, things, folders, RAW compatible, etc. Makes contact sheets, customizable webpages, backup.....JJUST AWESOME!!
I use the script to name everything by date and then add keywords and set up the different catalogs within it.
Message edited by author 2004-06-19 09:02:21.
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06/19/2004 10:44:24 AM · #25 |
I've been using Adobe Photoshop Album, which works fairly well for organization. It can catalog files on CD or DVD, keeping a low resolution version for display and prompting you for the disc when you want to edit or print an off-line photo. But only if you either burn the photos to CD before you import them or burn the CD using Album. I've been eying IMatch, which seems to let you handle off-line photos more flexibly, but haven't tried it yet.
What I really want is a photo organizer that allows me to keep different versions of a photo (e.g., RAW from the camera, edit version including all editing layers, print-resolution TIFF, and web-display JPEG) under one thumbnail in the tool. But I haven't seen anything that does this. Has anyone else?
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