Original file names

[RichB]

I am using Photo Mechanic to download images from my memory card to my pc.  I am placing the original camera file name in the IPTC Database/Object Name field.  This has been my first attempt using the complete DAM flow.  My previous DAM experience has been to incorporate previous images into the new DAM structure and the original camera names are long gone to them.  I have noticed that there are a couple of recent threads with the suggestion of storing the original (?) file name in the Title field.  I am confused about my optimal DAM approach.

Is the Title field preferred over the Object Name field to store a constant version of the file name?  What should that version be?

I shoot RAW+JPEG.  I am naming the Windows filenames as yymmdd-9999-D200.nef/jpg.  Once the files have been downloaded, I can change the IPTC stored filename in the Object Name field to match the Windows filenames, but the downloaded NEF would not match the JPG names, of course.  Is there an advantage in keeping the original in camera file name as a common field to tie the derivation files and orignals together?  (If I missed this in the book, I apologize.  The DAM book is the first reference book I have read from cover to cover.)

If it an advantage to store a common name, what would be the recommended naming convention?

Thanks,
Rich

[peterkrogh]

Rich,
A couple things. I would say that if you rename right away, and all stored copies of the file have the new name, there is probably no need to keep the original camera name.

The point of storing a filename is to offer a way to get back to the original file in the event that the current filename gets changed (Client specification, for instance, or uploading to Pictage).

I'm not familiar with "Object Name" is this another name for an IPTC field?  Is this a term from PhotoMechanic? Where does it show up in Bridge/Photoshop file info?

Peter

[RichB]

Peter,
I did a little test and when I change the "Database: Object Name" it shows up in the following 5 fields in Photoshop/FileInfo:

Adobe Photoshop Properties/photoshop:Title:
Dublin Core Properties/dc:title (alt container)/[x-default]:
XMP Core Properties/xap:Title/[x-default]:
PDF Properties/pdf:Title
http://ns.adobe.com/png/1.0/png:Title

Because I shoot Raw/Jpeg, the Raw file with have a different filename from the Jpeg, due to the different file extensions.  Wouldn't I want a single filename or some value to be the same in every iteration/variation of the file?  What would be your suggestion?

Thanks again,

Rich

[peterkrogh]

Rich,
So PM calls the IPTC Title field "Object Name".  Clears that up.

I would suggest that the root name (yymmdd-9999-D200) is the important part.  Just make the JPEG and the RAW match.
Peter

[RichB]

Peter,

I agree, however, what about the differences in the file extensions?  Obviously, if I am going to create a master file, it will be from the NEF file.  Photo Mechanic can also store the "filenamebase" variable which is the Windows file name sans the dot_3-byte file extension.  Is this what you would recommend?

Rich

[peterkrogh]

I would use cataloging software rather than PhotoMechanic to wrangle all the information about my images...
Peter