Image filing and editing workflow: what works for me.

chrisinhouston · 08-03-2011, 03:48 PM

I usually download the images from my digital exploits to my desktop as it's a handy place to start. If I get busy or sidetracked I end up with a dozen or more files and then I end up spending some time to catch up and get them filed and do a basic edit. I have no idea how many images I have but the file for my archive is 750GB and growing!

I use a hierarchical filing system that I modified from my old film shooting days. It works for me, your mileage may vary. I have no use for the digital file name assigned by any of my cameras! My Canon 5DmkII uses the IMG_0001 and so on system whereas my Canon 1Ds II uses some crazy alphanumeric code. So here is what I do.

I usually name the folder of the downloaded images with some kind of identifying name or words like "Seattle Trip". And I usually do a rough sort of the images after downloading and discard any obvious bad shots like out of focus or blurred or just really bad shots that I acknowledge I will never use.

Once I see too many files on my desktop I start my filing process where the folder of images will be stored in 2 separate hard drives, one internal and one external which gets stored in my fire safe. Both drive are mirrors of each other.

1. Open Adobe Photoshop and the Adobe Bridge
2. Open a browser window for each hard drive and the folder named "Archived Images" I have 2 22 inch monitors which make this easier.
3. Open "Archived Images" and then open the folder for the current year, in this case "2011 Archive". The folder contains all of the image folders that I have sorted and filed thus far starting with "2011-001 Seattle Trip" and ending with whatever was the last folder created, in this case "2011-014 Memorial Day weekend". Now I know that my next folder will start with 2011-015... In all my years of shooting I have never had more then a hundred or so files in a given year so 3 digits works for me here.
4. In Bridge I rename the folder that I will file next, in this case it will be "2011-015 Kids at Galveston Beach"
5. Once the file on the desktop is renamed I open it in Bridge and select all images. Then click on "Tools-Batch Rename". I then type in the info for 3 prechosen fields, Text-2011-015-, then Sequence Number- 001 (3 digits, sometimes 4 digits for big photo shoots) and then Text- Kids at Galveston Beach. I click on Rename and all files are now renamed in the folder and the first image will be "2011-015-001 Kids at Galveston Beach".
6. Then while still in Bridge with all files selected I go to "Tools-Edit Metadata"; I already have a basic template but I modify it as far as the date or other pertinent data and I even create Keywords that are pertinent to the images like "Kids, Galveston, Beach, Ocean, Shells" or whatever and click on Replace Metadata. Now all images in that file have current metadata and my copyright as well as searchable keywords. The logic here is that for a large amount of image it is easier to search for keywords like Sunset or Flowers then try to remember what file folder they are in and from what year!
7. Last step is to drag the file to each hard drive window and copy it there. It can take several minutes for big files, especially an external but I have one with a Firewire connection so it is pretty fast.

This system works for me because I have lots of images. If I want to look at pictures from my Africa trip I go to the year folder, open the file and look; all the images are in sequential order, renamed logically and contain my copyright, etc. And if I get a stock call for "Clouds" or "Sunsets" etc I can easily do a Keyword search. And having the files on different hard drives allows me some level of security from loosing everything. I try to keep the external stored in a fireproof safe when not in use. And I may initiate a 3rd drive just for extra insurance. Burning to CDs and DVDs has had it's share of problems with image files corrupting over time so for me hard drives are the way to go.

Hope this helps anyone who is collecting lots of images and looking for a filing system. Kind of a boring topic but I have seen some of the other Cellarites mentioning how many images they have on file.

chrisinhouston · 08-03-2011, 03:49 PM

Forgot to mention that Bridge will also add the file type to your batch rename, as in .CR2 or .JPEG, etc.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-07-2011, 02:04 AM

For extra security you could post them all here.

Pico and ME · 08-07-2011, 07:18 AM

How often do you get stock calls?

BigV · 09-05-2011, 01:26 PM

bump

08-03-2011, 03:48 PM	#1
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	Image filing and editing workflow: what works for me. I usually download the images from my digital exploits to my desktop as it's a handy place to start. If I get busy or sidetracked I end up with a dozen or more files and then I end up spending some time to catch up and get them filed and do a basic edit. I have no idea how many images I have but the file for my archive is 750GB and growing! I use a hierarchical filing system that I modified from my old film shooting days. It works for me, your mileage may vary. I have no use for the digital file name assigned by any of my cameras! My Canon 5DmkII uses the IMG_0001 and so on system whereas my Canon 1Ds II uses some crazy alphanumeric code. So here is what I do. I usually name the folder of the downloaded images with some kind of identifying name or words like "Seattle Trip". And I usually do a rough sort of the images after downloading and discard any obvious bad shots like out of focus or blurred or just really bad shots that I acknowledge I will never use. Once I see too many files on my desktop I start my filing process where the folder of images will be stored in 2 separate hard drives, one internal and one external which gets stored in my fire safe. Both drive are mirrors of each other. 1. Open Adobe Photoshop and the Adobe Bridge 2. Open a browser window for each hard drive and the folder named "Archived Images" I have 2 22 inch monitors which make this easier. 3. Open "Archived Images" and then open the folder for the current year, in this case "2011 Archive". The folder contains all of the image folders that I have sorted and filed thus far starting with "2011-001 Seattle Trip" and ending with whatever was the last folder created, in this case "2011-014 Memorial Day weekend". Now I know that my next folder will start with 2011-015... In all my years of shooting I have never had more then a hundred or so files in a given year so 3 digits works for me here. 4. In Bridge I rename the folder that I will file next, in this case it will be "2011-015 Kids at Galveston Beach" 5. Once the file on the desktop is renamed I open it in Bridge and select all images. Then click on "Tools-Batch Rename". I then type in the info for 3 prechosen fields, Text-2011-015-, then Sequence Number- 001 (3 digits, sometimes 4 digits for big photo shoots) and then Text- Kids at Galveston Beach. I click on Rename and all files are now renamed in the folder and the first image will be "2011-015-001 Kids at Galveston Beach". 6. Then while still in Bridge with all files selected I go to "Tools-Edit Metadata"; I already have a basic template but I modify it as far as the date or other pertinent data and I even create Keywords that are pertinent to the images like "Kids, Galveston, Beach, Ocean, Shells" or whatever and click on Replace Metadata. Now all images in that file have current metadata and my copyright as well as searchable keywords. The logic here is that for a large amount of image it is easier to search for keywords like Sunset or Flowers then try to remember what file folder they are in and from what year! 7. Last step is to drag the file to each hard drive window and copy it there. It can take several minutes for big files, especially an external but I have one with a Firewire connection so it is pretty fast. This system works for me because I have lots of images. If I want to look at pictures from my Africa trip I go to the year folder, open the file and look; all the images are in sequential order, renamed logically and contain my copyright, etc. And if I get a stock call for "Clouds" or "Sunsets" etc I can easily do a Keyword search. And having the files on different hard drives allows me some level of security from loosing everything. I try to keep the external stored in a fireproof safe when not in use. And I may initiate a 3rd drive just for extra insurance. Burning to CDs and DVDs has had it's share of problems with image files corrupting over time so for me hard drives are the way to go. Hope this helps anyone who is collecting lots of images and looking for a filing system. Kind of a boring topic but I have seen some of the other Cellarites mentioning how many images they have on file.

08-07-2011, 02:04 AM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	For extra security you could post them all here. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-05-2011, 01:26 PM	#5
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	bump __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

08-03-2011, 03:49 PM	#2
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	Forgot to mention that Bridge will also add the file type to your batch rename, as in .CR2 or .JPEG, etc.

08-07-2011, 07:18 AM	#4
Pico and ME Are you knock-kneed? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middle Hoosierland Posts: 3,549	How often do you get stock calls?

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