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04/05/2006 06:27:00 PM · #1 |
Just curious, what do you guys use as a folder structure for your massive libraries of photographs?
And do you use an archive management software if any?
Also, what software do you use to manage your prints, profile, etc? |
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04/12/2006 08:50:24 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by k4ffy:
Just curious, what do you guys use as a folder structure for your massive libraries of photographs?
And do you use an archive management software if any?
Also, what software do you use to manage your prints, profile, etc? |
This might be a little late in coming here, but this is what I do.
As soon as I get home from shooting, I download each RAW file into a folder structure. This folder structure is organized in a way to support my DVD burning, but you can adapt if you burn to CD.
C:\
-->Photography
-->-->Inbox
-->-->-->20D
-->-->-->-->20D_2006_0001 *THIS IS DVD #1 of the year 2006 for 20D
-->-->-->-->-->20D_20060410_PARK *CAMERA DATE STAMP AND NAME OF SHOOT
-->-->-->-->20D_2006_0002
-->-->-->-->-->20D_20060411_ROSIE
-->-->-->-->-->20D_20060411_BARBIE
-->-->-->-->20D_2006_0003
-->-->-->-->-->20D_20060412_STUDIO_STILLS
-->-->Publish
-->-->-->WORKING_TIFFS
-->-->-->-->20D_2006_0001
-->-->-->-->-->FILES TO CORRESPOND TO DVD #1
-->-->-->FINISHED_TIFFS
-->-->-->-->20D_2006_0001
-->-->-->-->-->FILES TO CORRESPOND TO DVD #1
-->-->-->FINISHED_JPEGS
-->-->-->-->20D_2006_0001
-->-->-->-->-->FILES TO CORRESPOND TO DVD #1
Now the sub folders under inbox contains all the digital negatives. When I get done with a shoot, I place files here, rename them and then immediately addto a multisession DVD (20D_2006_000x) Once the DVD is full with virgin digital negatives, I store it away and start a new one.
Before I go to further let me explain the file naming, it has the camera model, full date, and camera assigned number. My 20D names it's files _MG_XXXX.CR2, I rename this file to 20D_20060412_XXXX.CR@, removing the _MG appending the camera and date, and leaving the index number.
Now, once the files are safely on a DVD I start up Adobe Bridge, navigate to the folder I want, and start going through the negatives. Note, I have ACR auto exposure correction turned OFF. I don't want any help at this point, as if it's under exposured and ACR brings up the exposure, it'll have a noise problem. And if it's over exposed ACR brings it down, it'll have blown highlights, possibly. So I view the negatives still untouched. I assign 'stars' to it, 1-5 or none or delete. none is undecided, but probably a no go, 1is bad and 5 is best.
Once that is finished I go through the 5s load into ACR and play around with the WB or exposure if needed, nothing much and 75% of the time I will load into Photoshop without any changes.
While I am working on the file in PS, I will save it to the WORKING_TIFFS folder, under the associated DVD index folder. These working files are huge, ranging from about 80 MB to about 250 MB, because they contain all the layers I used for adjustments.
When I am satisfied with the results, I save to the working folder one last time and then I save a totally flattened copy to the finished tiffs folder. If I need a copy for the web, I save for web from this finished tiff and save that to the finished jpegs.
I periodically save the working folder to a single DVD (or break it up if too large for 1, but I don't make a single working tiff DVD for each digital negative index DVD)
Also, to a lesser degree I will save the finished tiffs and jpegs folders to CD or DVD.
The reasoning behind this folder structure and file naming is so I can easily find all associated files. File names at every stage and location always contain the camera, date and photo index number. This I can trace back and forth to and from the DVD's or folder structures. (I also have a simple paper index of the dvd contents, which I make as the digital negative DVDs are finished and I cant put anything else on them. Using the command prompt I will type the command dir d: *.* /s > cd_index.txt and it will make a text file i can print containing the complete DVD contents )
Presenting I still have most all the digital negatives I have ever taken, 8 DVD's total about 4500 RAW files. That plus my real job is taxing my 120 GB hard drive, as I only have about 330 MB left. What I will do tonight, is delete some of the older digital negative folders, probably 1 through 4, thats a months worth. If I decide I want to work on something there, I can load the DVD in the drive and 'lightbox' it in Bridge. Then open in PS and save to working tiffs. Not a biggy.
I don't use any photo management software, as the one I like, Photoshop Album is too under powered to use, as it can only maintain 8 MB or less files I think it is.
Will I ever use management software? Not until something comes out that will manage them from DVD or removable storage - something that may have a thumbnail and knows the real negative is on DVD #20D_2006_0004 and the finished file is on DVD XYZ. Maybe there is a package now that does this. But this basic system is working out for me.
-Rick |
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04/14/2006 12:43:55 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by CarpeNoctem:
Will I ever use management software? Not until something comes out that will manage them from DVD or removable storage - something that may have a thumbnail and knows the real negative is on DVD #20D_2006_0004 and the finished file is on DVD XYZ. Maybe there is a package now that does this. But this basic system is working out for me.
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I know for a fact Extensis Portfolio will do this. That's the only management software I've ever actually played with besides the free beta of Lightroom I'm using now. Portfolio is not cheap though, which is the main reason I never did anything else management...
I like your scheme. We've got a networked RAID array we use as our prime storage now... my main problem has been finding any reasonably priced (less than $600) DMS package which has multiuser/networked storage support.
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