File naming and organization of folders

[aramb]

Here is an outline that I have come up with as to organizing the folders and files as per Peter's book. Am I going in the right direction with this, or am I missing something?

Aram Basmadjian

Temporary Files/Folders:

>Working_Files
      >1_RAW_Originals    Contains originals off camera.
               >0420-0511     Sequence numbers of first and last images included. Folder will move through folders 1-4.
   >2_Renamed               Moved here once re-named. Add bulk metadata, CR adjust, rank & file.
   >3_Ready_for_DNG       Moved here awaiting conversion to DNG.
   >4_Converted
                  >DNG            The images get cataloged as they land in the #4 folder. Folder is transferred  to the archive drive
                                     (Original_01) and copied to the Transfer_to_Archive folder.  "Reset Paths" in the Catalog Folders panel, telling iVIew to now pay attention to
                                     the files in the archive drive.   
                  >NEF            Once archived, these files can be deleted.
   >Catalogs                    Contains iView catalog files.
>Transfer_to_Archive      Copy of the DNG files is kept here until the RAW bucket is burned to DVD.
>RAW_file_Backup           Copies of the raw files from camera that are copied into folder #1 above. Deleted when archived.

Permanent Files/Folders:

Hard Drive Storage                                                                    DVD Storage (Backup)

>Original_01 (contains in-camera originals – DNG or JPG)
        >RAW_001_YYMMDD                                                           RAW_001_YYMMDD
            >Name of shoot
               AHB_YYMMDD_1234.DNG
         >RAW_002_YYMMDD                                                          RAW_002_YYMMDD
            >Name of shoot
               AHB_YYMMDD_1234.Orig.JPG
         

Note:    Date for RAW buckets represents the date on which the last item was added to the bucket. JPG and RAW files should be kept in separate buckets.

Hard Drive Storage                                                                    DVD Storage (Backup)

Derivative_01  (contains modified files)
   >DRV_001                                                                               DRV_001
   >DRV_002                                                                               DRV_002
      AHB_YYMMDD_1234Master.tif   (color corrected, retouched file)
      AHB_YYMMDD_1234BW.tif        (B&W version of color master)
      AHB_YYMMDD_1234CMYK.tif     (converted to CMYK for offset printing)
      AHB_YYMMDD_1234Flat.tif        (flattened version)
      AHB_YYMMDD_1234.tif             (version for printing)
      AHB_YYMMDD_1234.jpg           (version for web or email)

[peterkrogh]

Aram,
The only modification I have implemented since the bok was written is to now use some kind of job identifier in the bucket name rather than the date the bucket was closed.  For me it now looks like

Raw_321_Iceland
Raw_322_Iceland

Peter

[aramb]

Thanks, Peter. That makes sense. I may use a combination: RAW_321_yymmdd_Iceland

I am not a professional photographer, so many of my buckets will have multiple subject matter. The date is more useful in the event that I am looking for a series of photos that were taken in a particular time frame. In those rare cases were I create an entire bucket with one subject, I can append the topic (job identifier) at the end. Does that sound reasonable, or am I just complicating it too much?

Aram Basmadjian
Sleepless in Frankfurt

[peterkrogh]

Aram,
That is why I started with the date - too many things were lumped into one bucket.  Now that the cameras shoot faster, and make bigger files, and my assignments get longer, I find hat I will more likely spread a group across multiple buckets.

In your position, I'd probably continue to do as you outline.

Peter

[aramb]

Okay... one last question on this topic, and then I believe I can proceed with migrating my library of photos. Based on the file/folder conventions I originally outlined, I will be storing my Converted DNG files in RAW Buckets on the Original_01 Drive. I will be storing derivative files in DRV Buckets on the Derivative_01 Drive. Where should I be storing and archiving the original NEF files? I intend to keep these, at least for a while.

Thanks for the advice.

Aram Basmadjian

[peterkrogh]

Aram,
I'd suggest storing them on another drive (if you are going to use the drive space, you might as well get another drive for added protection).

I might amend this practice soon, depending on when we see validation tools associated with the new DNG spec.  The new version provides for a validation tag to be written to the DNG that can validate the embedded Raw file.  This would make storing the raw inside the DNG the safest place you could store it.

At the moment, no software makes use of this tag, so it does not offer any protection, but hopefully that will change soon.

Peter

[aramb]

Peter:

So should I be creating three sets of buckets? The RAW buckets for the DNGs, the DVD buckets for the derivatives and NEF buckets for the original un-altered NEF files?

Aram Basmadjian
Allentown, PA

[peterkrogh]

Aram,
That's what I do (to the extent that I keep the Proprietary Raws as demo files).
Peter