Photo Organizer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve King
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Steve King

Looking for software to organize our growing collection of digital
photographs, which are rapidly getting out of hand.

Thanks!

Steve . . .
 
Steve King said:
Looking for software to organize our growing collection of digital
photographs, which are rapidly getting out of hand.

Thanks!

Steve . . .
Click to expand...

What exactly do you want this software to do?

A new one is DMMD Visere - Image viewer and management software

<Quote>
VISERE [vi-se-re] - Visere is a unique, high-speed, flicker-free image
viewer and a basic image management tool that supports over a dozen of
widely used image formats. A condensed list of other Visere features is:

Visere is freeware.
Visere runs on Windows 98, 2000, and XP platforms.
You can edit (cut, copy, paste, crop, rotate, and flip), rename,
convert, email, and print multiple files.
You can create portfolios and index files of your favorite pictures.
Excellent picture navigability with keyboard and mouse mappings that you
can customize.
Dockable toolbars for thumbnails, tools, view, favorites, and EXIF
information.
Dynamic thumbnails (Visere dynamically loads only the thumbnails you are
viewing) with cache.
Speed options such as: skip when fast viewing, use cached thumbnails,
and downsampling when reading large images.
EXIF Support. An EXIF profile is text saved by your digital camera in
the JPG image. This text usually contains information about the camera make
and model, exposure, shutter speed, and many other features.

</Quote>
http://www.dmmd.net/products/visere.htm


Irfanview and all the plugins is great.
www.irfanview.com/
 
Steve said:
Looking for software to organize our growing collection of digital
photographs, which are rapidly getting out of hand.

Thanks!

Steve . . .
Click to expand...

I started using Picasa as it has a very attractive GUI, but was converted to
FotoTime by the ease with which external graphics editors (such as IrfanView
or PhotoFiltre) can be plugged into it. Also all the album settings are held
in a single file which can easily be backed up and this automatically
updates if files are moved in windows explorer.

With Picasa you have to create a new album, each with its own .ini file,
each time you import pictures from camera. This then gets confusing when you
wish to reorganize the albums, or try to move pictures in explorer, as the
..ini files are scattered throughout the pictures folder.

Just had a quick look at Visere, which looks good and has the ability to
plug in graphics tools, but seems a little more complex for resizing
pictures for e-mail.

IMHO of course...
 
Photoshop Album 2.0 - Starter edition is SO basic, that I would judge that
it is only suitable for absolute beginners with less than 100 - 400 photos
to catalogue. It is even less capable than its equally free predecessor
Adobe ActiveShare. In my opinion, the payware version is only a little
better, but then again, my photocataloging needs are pretty sophisticated.
The causal user might find the payware version OK, but I doubt it.

For those who have more than 500 photos and need a reasonably sophisticated
cataloging/viewing methodology, and who want something in freeware, I would
suggest Irfanview. It's kind of ugly, and it has its quirks, and being
freeware, it doesn't get updated anywhere near enough to stay competitive
with the commercial products, but it gets the job done.
 
For those who have more than 500 photos and need a reasonably sophisticated
cataloging/viewing methodology, and who want something in freeware, I would
suggest Irfanview
Click to expand...

I find Irfanview is a good viewer, but as cataloging, it is next to
useless.
 
Jack said:
Only one way to go. PICASA which is freeware from Google
Click to expand...

Most photo catalogers and organizers are solutions in search of
problems. I've created photo archives of historical family photos from
100+ year old and newer negatives, those collections number in the
thousands. All I did was to take the time to organize them into
appropriately named folders and subfolders, and to name the image
files according to content. Never needed any such program.

As a side note and I know this isn't what the OP is interested in, I
distributed copies of these collections to all of my cousins, uncles
and aunts, brothers and sisters. What I did was to organize the images
into large groups that I could zip file into self-extracting files
that take up an entire CD. Then I put autostart .inf files on the CDs
that started the extraction process. The end user simply puts the CD
in their computer, waits for the "OK - Cancel" buttons window to
appear, clicks "OK" and the rest is automatic. Nobody complained that
anything was difficult to do or that the pictures were hard to find.

I also included a current copy of Irfanview (with plugins) on the
discs and recommended it's useage. Many of the archive recipients to
my advice to install it and found the program to be excellent for
viewing the pictures.

If the OP *must* use a cataloger, then the aforementioned Picasa is here:

http://www.picasa.com/picasa/

(Talk about a lame flash demo on that page though. 80)> )

And of course, like all such software, it's main purpose is to get you
to start a account with some online "picture sharing" site and and
from there lead you into buying enhanced services.
 
I
distributed copies of these collections to all of my cousins, uncles
and aunts, brothers and sisters. What I did was to organize the images
into large groups that I could zip file into self-extracting files
that take up an entire CD. Then I put autostart .inf files on the CDs
that started the extraction process. The end user simply puts the CD
in their computer, waits for the "OK - Cancel" buttons window to
appear, clicks "OK" and the rest is automatic. Nobody complained that
anything was difficult to do or that the pictures were hard to find.
Click to expand...

This is an interesting tactic, but I think I would go for using jalbum
(http://jalbum.net) to create a web, with uncompressed images, and burn
that to the CD. It would be more user-friendly and the recipient would
still be able to extract the images from the CD.
 
Iain said:
This is an interesting tactic, but I think I would go for using jalbum
(http://jalbum.net) to create a web, with uncompressed images, and burn
that to the CD. It would be more user-friendly and the recipient would
still be able to extract the images from the CD.
Click to expand...

Looks like a good one. However, I don't remember it being around when
I started my project back in 2000. Also, there is this dreadful
requirement:

"JAlbum needs at least v1.3 of Suns Java runtime (or equivalent) to run."

Ever since the Redsherriff scandal:

http://www.inluminent.com/weblog/archives/2002/11/06/defeating_tracking_software_redsherrif.php
(link may wrap)

I won't touch any type of Java with a ten foot pole.
 
John Corliss said:
Most photo catalogers and organizers are solutions in search of
problems. I've created photo archives of historical family photos from
100+ year old and newer negatives, those collections number in the
thousands. All I did was to take the time to organize them into
appropriately named folders and subfolders, and to name the image
files according to content. Never needed any such program.
Click to expand...

that's it. from work and hobby i'm handling some *hundred thousand* photos
and scans, but i'm far from installing any cataloguing sw. i might write one
fitting my needs, and often think about it, but sofar i didnt really need
it. irfan and windows search & preview are enough. i just dont search the
picture of a painting by joshua reynolds in my family pictures folders.
As a side note and I know this isn't what the OP is interested in, I
distributed copies of these collections to all of my cousins, uncles
and aunts, brothers and sisters. What I did was to organize the images
into large groups that I could zip file into self-extracting files
that take up an entire CD. Then I put autostart .inf files on the CDs
that started the extraction process. The end user simply puts the CD
in their computer, waits for the "OK - Cancel" buttons window to
appear, clicks "OK" and the rest is automatic. Nobody complained that
anything was difficult to do or that the pictures were hard to find.

I also included a current copy of Irfanview (with plugins) on the
discs and recommended it's useage. Many of the archive recipients to
my advice to install it and found the program to be excellent for
viewing the pictures.
Click to expand...

yes, true again. i found an alike but somewhat different way. usually i
build a mini-site, simple html, with an old sw of mine, dividing pictures
onto the cd's in two mirroring folders, big and small (usually 640*480)
pictures. the autorun points to an index.html in the cd root. i gave cd's to
friends and relatives utterly i.t.-illitterate, and they all found their
way. in the last one i also included some avi's built with vdub, including
the kcodecs in the cd and explaining how to install if they want to see the
movies. i just am not sure kcodecs are that legal-- but as for
accessibility, it seems to work.

every time i begin to explain how to use a pc, i just say, a wise and
correct folder structure is a big step not to lose your data...

hth, ciao, j.
 
javalab said:
that's it. from work and hobby i'm handling some *hundred thousand* photos
and scans, but i'm far from installing any cataloguing sw. i might write one
fitting my needs, and often think about it, but sofar i didnt really need
it. irfan and windows search & preview are enough. i just dont search the
picture of a painting by joshua reynolds in my family pictures folders.
Click to expand...

What if you want to see every photo of one person in the family?
Cataloguing software can show just those photos to you (if you have
taken the time to input that information). IMO these apps can be very
useful.

Susan
 
Susan said:
What if you want to see every photo of one person in the family?
Cataloguing software can show just those photos to you (if you have
taken the time to input that information). IMO these apps can be very
useful.
Click to expand...

If the files are named based on content, then a simple Windows
Explorer search will list every such image. That's how I set up my
archives. The amount of work involved in using proper file labeling is
probably less than setting up key words and the like.
 
John said:
If the files are named based on content, then a simple Windows Explorer
search will list every such image. That's how I set up my archives. The
amount of work involved in using proper file labeling is probably less
than setting up key words and the like.
Click to expand...

That's not the ideal solution for everyone. (I have family photos with
20+ people in them.)

FWIW - I named several thousand old family photos by date, cataloged
them in a spreadsheet and created HTML pages from that. I can search for
photos by a person's name, the date, location etc. etc. etc. I don't
recommend that as an *all-purpose* solution - it's one that worked well
for *me*.

I use FotoAlbum for other image collections. My daughter-in-law uses
FotoAlbum for family photos. Different strokes for different folks (and
different situations). . .

Susan
 
Susan Bugher said:
What if you want to see every photo of one person in the family?
Cataloguing software can show just those photos to you (if you have
taken the time to input that information). IMO these apps can be very
useful.
Click to expand...

hello susan

yes, they might. but in my experience no-one keeps the catalog ordered and
updated in time :)

as for filenames, i wrote and put free on my site a simple vb app for single
and bulk renaming files. nothing that cant be done by hand, anyway.
i myself take photos every day, and as soon i take them off the cameras,
before any processing, i just name them with a "j" and the file date-time.
if names are an issue, i can include them in the filename:
j20040923-220000_john-susan.jpg. as john points out, a simple win search
will find the string 'john' or 'susan'. (i'm really surprised every time i
realize how people cant use the win+f utility...).
the only restriction, i seem to remember, is that path + filename must be
shorter than 255 chars in all.
on this laptop i only keep the pictures i most care. there's a c:\@rk
directory with, checked now, 1628 subfolders, containing pictures,
documents, links, web pages. person names are in folders, picture dates are
in files. it's very rare i cant find something i know i have saved somewher.
on the contrary these days i'm searching a specific printed portrait of 15
years ago and i'm giving up, having to browse in 4-5 big dusty boxes :)

of course others may find different naming/ordering/cataloguing systems more
useful. but i only thought of writing a dbms for pictures
#1 for building a dynamic site, asp or anything, with cross-links and all.
#2 for the scans of the library i work in, which are getting near to 150,000
and 300-400 gb of images which must be related to manuscripts and prints and
to their catalogs. i dont think this is a common situation, and i dont think
any commercial sw would do an efficient job. but i could very well be wrong.

an example i wont forget: in the early nineties i registered smartcat for
cataloguing the library floppies. i still have the db, but
#1 it's in a proprietary format, and i'm not sure i could export the data
#2 anyway i'd need to reinstall smartcat, built to run in win3, and i have
just finished of getting rid af all win9 machines...
now i catalog cd's and dvd's, very roughly, straightly in access, and wrote
a small vb rdbms to scan them, if needed. access is proprietary too, but can
export easily...
i wont allow anymore a program to become the owner of my data :)
 
javalab said:
hello susan

yes, they might. but in my experience no-one keeps the catalog ordered and
updated in time :)
Click to expand...

The only one I've used much is FotoAlbum and you can do a fair amount or
organization with little effort. FotoAlbum recognizes EXIF dates
automatically and can display photos sorted by camera date (or file name
etc.). You can group photos into "albums" and "groups" (choosing photos
from different subdirectories if you wish to). Photos can be in more
than one album or group - one album for each occasion, person etc. etc.

In other words - I think someone who *doesn't* want to spend a lot of
time organizing will find these apps useful.
an example i wont forget: in the early nineties i registered smartcat for
cataloguing the library floppies. i still have the db, but
#1 it's in a proprietary format, and i'm not sure i could export the data
#2 anyway i'd need to reinstall smartcat, built to run in win3, and i have
just finished of getting rid af all win9 machines...
now i catalog cd's and dvd's, very roughly, straightly in access, and wrote
a small vb rdbms to scan them, if needed. access is proprietary too, but can
export easily...
Click to expand...
i wont allow anymore a program to become the owner of my data :)
Click to expand...

I'm in *total* agreement with you on that. :)

Susan
 
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