how about instead of using ss, just use the original file number: YYYY-MM-DD-hh-mm-1234.ext and drop the seconds?

rod

What about using colored labels as workflow indicators. For instance, assign a color to all those original images you've made Lightroom edits to. You can still append the file name for those TIFF, PSD, or JPG images you've created as derivatives from the originals.
 
Personally, since all my camera originals are raw (dng actually), anything else produced (tiff, psd, jpg) are derivative so I don't necessarily need to append the file name. However, I will do that when I create specific print sizes. Then I'll add something like "_12x18" to the end of the file name.

Another option is using keywords, as you've described. But it seems this might be a pain. And what if you decide to hit the "reset" on an original? It's much easier to add or remove a colored label than a keyword.

You could also use custom metadata fields. John Beardsworth's Search Replace Transfer plug-in adds something like 18 custom fields. I've found that very useful (the whole plug-in is remarkably useful)
 
rod

I don't have any experience with this software, but it looks like one solution: http://www.stockboxphoto.com/


rod

Well, until the next EM release, you could always convert your NEF files to DNG (and embed the NEF for later retrieval). That way you can do all your cataloging in EM and have that metadata follow the NEF whenever you need to separate it from the DNG. (I'm assuming any metadata you embed in the DNG will be part of any NEF sidecare once you pull the NEF out of the DNG--maybe Peter knows for sure)

rod

Sossity,

read The DAM book. All these questions are answered there.
You can place your catalogs anywhere you like, where ever makes the most sense to you. Keeping them on the same drive as your images is as good a plan as any.
I wouldn't put it on a flash drive just because of access issues. It might be nice to have a backup or duplicate of your catalog(s) on a flash drive so you can access them on a laptop.
I back up my catalogs on a daily schedule to an external drive in a "catalog backups" folder. You can also back them up to dvd, cd, etc.
Splitting up catalogs should be done by what makes sense to you. I could have a "nature" catalog, a "product shoots" catalog, etc. Or it could all go into one big catalog. Having a catalog for each bucket sort of defeats the purpose of a catalog; you might as just well manage images folder by folder then.

I don't quite understand your last question. EM and Iview (and IDImager, and Lightroom, etc) can search all image content. That's kind of the point of a cataloging program. I'm not sure what you mean about these programs only searching through saved catalogs. The cataloging program can search through cataloged images: you first have to import them into the catalog. A browser, like Bridge can look at folders and extract this information, but it first has to read all the images. A cataloging program does all this much faster.

If you read The DAM Book, much of this will become clearer.

rod

For me, the originals are the dng conversions of the original NEFs that came out of the camera (and jpg originals if i was shooting jpg). It doesn't matter if I've made adjustments to the DNGs in Lightroom or ACR, they are still my originals.
Derivatives are TIFF, PSD, or jpg (from DNG) that I've created either in Photoshop or during a Lightroom Export. These files were usually made for prints or as final prep for various submissions.
So, original: off the camera or the DNG versions
derivative: everything else (saved as TIFF, PSD, etc.)

rod

You should check out the EM Forum at Phase One as well: http://forum.phaseone.com/En/viewforum.php?f=36

rod

did you check the manual? The "soft rotate" is in the upper right part of the Thumbnail view area. You'll see two rotating arrows.
The lossless rotate is under the Action Menu in the menu bar.

rod

Bridge is more of a browser. It's not really a DAM application. But it will rotate images and you can add ratings and metadata.
Lightroom would be, by far, a better choice than Bridge as a DAM application. If you want to dump EM, that is. Don't know that Lightroom is as robust a DAM app as EM is, but it's got a lot of good features.

rod

Whenever you click on an image in thumbnail view in EM2 you'll see the path to that image at the top of the thumbnail grid. This at least lets you know which folder that picture lives in. You can then navigate to that folder to see the other pictures.
In your given example, you could simply CTRL-click the "dots" on the folders (in Catalog Folders under "Organize") and see the contents of all three folders.

rod

Has anyone found a way to sort or search on the metadata status of images?
For example, if I make metadata changes to in image or images outside of Lightroom, one of two thumbnail tags will appear. One of the is "metadata was changed externally", the other is "Error writing metadata". With either of them I can simply click on the icon and am given the option of Importing Settings From Disk or Overwriting Settings.
The problem is that I have to search visually to find these and I'm wondering if there's a way to view only images that have either one of these tags.

Rod

never mind. Just found it. It was hiding off screen. I had to reverse the positions of my monitors in the monitor resolution setup in windows. after I did that I could see it and move it to where it belongs. I hope it stays there 

woops. That's Windows 7 Pro 64-bit

Well, I'm sure it's some place. Anyway, when I click on the View Option icon, it depresses and stays depressed but the View Options box does not pop up. I've tried opening it from the Windows menu and by using the shortcut.
when clicking on the arrow next to the icon I can still access saved views.
Everything else seems to work. I've tried the Image Editor and that box pops up, the Assign Labels and Ratings boxes pop up. Everything but the View Options box.

The only change I've made to the system lately is to replace one of my monitors.

any ideas?

Windows 6 Pro 64bit

rod

Peter,

thank you, that was it. I think I changed it when I was messing around trying to help someone else. Ironic, huh?

rod