Keyword Strategy in Bridge

[Patrick Cox]

Currently I am using Bridge & ACR to convert my images to a DAM workflow, which will include adding Keywords, setting conversion parameters in ACR, then converting to DNG Format.  At some point I will look into adding a true DAM application such as IView or IMatch.  However for the near future, my plan is to simply use Bridge Collections and simple Bridge searches to find my images as needed.  So, my question is...

How (or better said, in what structure) should I add keywords to my images?  (Or does it matter?)  For example, I envision that in IView for example, I will have hierarchies such as..

1.Nature
1.1.Wildlife
1.1.1.Deer
1.1.2.Chipmunks
1.2.Birds
1.2.1.Cardinals
1.2.2.Goldfinch

etc....

So, how should I apply keywords in Bridge to prepare for this?  If I have a Cardinal image for example, should I apply the Keywords "Nature", "Birds", & "Cardinal"?  Or will this cause me problems when I move to IView or some other DAM that will allow virtual grouping of keywords?  Maybe I could setup a Keyword Setup that contained the various grouping levels and then delete them if necessary down the road?  Thanks for your insights.

Pat

[danaltick]

Pat,

I would re-read pp. 46-50 in the book; especially the right sided of p.47 and do some reading at www.controlledvocabulary.com for more information.  You may also want to read pp.204-207.  This is actually an in-depth topic.

Regards,
Dan

[peterkrogh]

I would only apply bulk keywords in Bridge, and do specific keywords in iView (or other DAM application)
Peter

[Patrick Cox]

I would only apply bulk keywords in Bridge, and do specific keywords in iView (or other DAM application)
Peter

Thanks Peter (and Dan) for your response.  I am not familiar with IView but I do plan to try it out once I am ready.  (ie - I don't want to start my trial until I have my images converted to DNG with Keywords applied, etc...)  But I still have questions.

My Images are divided up into two primary categories - 1.  Personal (ie - Family Snapshots) & 2. Portfolio (including wildlife, landscape, nature...)  I certainly believe that two of my keywords will be "Personal" and "Portfolio" but from here I am confused, mainly because I am not familiar with how IView works, even after reading the relevant material in your book.  Assuming the scenario I layed out above, what keywords should I apply to an image of a Cardinal for example?  Just "Cardinal"?  And then I would have a hierarchy defined in IView similar to the one I laid out above?  Or maybe "Bird" and I would add more detail in IView?

Also, if you want to point me somewhere else to obtain this information, that would be fine.  This may be too detailed a question for the forum here?  Not sure?

Thanks again for any input.

Pat

[Patrick Cox]

Peter,
I just found this post in the IView forum.  I think this answers my question.  I thought Keywords became part of your sets in IView but it sounds like this is not the case.  This is disappointing.  To me, this means I should not spend much time adding Keywords to my files because they won't be used in my DAM.  This is unfortunate if it is true.

Pat

http://thedambook.com/smf/index.php?topic=110.msg512#msg512

[peterkrogh]

Pat,
Sets and keywords are different, but at times they intersect. 

The first question is purpose.  Are you primarily concerned with organizing your material internally, or making it available for anonymous searches?  If the principle organization if for internal uses right now, I'd use catalog sets.  You can always push the information into keywords when you want to make the images available for searching over the web.  If you have immediate need to make it keyword accessible over the web, that's a bit more complicated. You start to get into a cost/benefit calculation.
Peter