Tip: keeping track of kits when using PS

[France]

Hi all!
I just did something that I quite like (it works for me)....
I created in photoshop (it can be a bottom most layer or the top layer) and it's a text layer
in there I write the kits I used when I use more than one or two kits, or lots of bits from other kits. I make notes as I go along, so it's easy to credit when I'm done...
I know others use notepads, etc, but I end up having too many files.
When I don't need to see the text layer, I just hide it.

I thought it was an interesting tip, I don't know that it has any drawbacks (except if like me, once in a while you delete all hidden layers... in which case you might want to lock the layer when you are not editing it....

that's all :flower2:

[heathert]

I usually end up just renaming my layers with the kit name, although I suppose it makes more sense to just have a text bit where you can cut and paste...

[suzanne]

Why haven't I thought of that?! :D

Good idea, France! Though most often, I just scrap with one or two kits so keeping track of what I used is easy. However, when I try to force myself and use different stuff from varied kits, I use Notepad by default.

Thanks for sharing!

[Soco]

Great idea France! As Suzanne, I scrap only with one or two products the most of the time, but this your idea will be certainly useful more than once for me! :flower2:

[Joyce Paul]

Great idea, France!
Whenever I create a layout (well, it's been over a year ago since I created my last page) I usually just write everything down on a piece of paper!!
Yes, I know, very old fashioned!!! :25r30wi:

[France]

I usually end up just renaming my layers with the kit name, although I suppose it makes more sense to just have a text bit where you can cut and paste...

yes, I do that too sometimes... but yesterday I didn't feel like trying to find the layers, cos I'd forgotten to write it....

Great idea, France!
Whenever I create a layout (well, it's been over a year ago since I created my last page) I usually just write everything down on a piece of paper!!
Yes, I know, very old fashioned!!! :25r30wi:

Yep, that would work too (old skool!!!)... but I'd lose the papers... the program I started with kept the file information with the image (Xara) and that was great, but now that I've discovered PS (and am still discovering) I've had to be unfaithful to Xara..... *sigh* but I do miss that feature of automatically keeping the file name on the layer, so to speak (works differently but that's what it amounts to more or less).

:)

[mum2gnt]

Good thinking hun! I usually only work with a couple of products too (can't remember the last page I made that wasn't CT :rainbowf: - sad but true!) But in the old days, I used to re-name the layers. Double click on the layer and re-name. I also have a "note" template (.txt doc) which I write all the details and save that with the .psd and .jpg.

HOWEVER............If you write with the T tool in PS you can copy the text and paste into a doc - therefore, your way is better for me! Although, like I say I only ever now work with 1 or 2 products so don;t re-name layers - but when I eventually make a page using old stuff I will do it this way.

Thanks hun! And thanks for sharing. :flower2:

[fruitysuet]

I use PSE and handily, when you drag items up onto the page out of the photobin, the layers are renamed automatically. Then when I've saved the document, I go through the layers and add a note under the file information section of the document. In PSE9 this information transfers over to the jpeg file when you save for web (though it didn't when I used PSE5 I had to remember and copy and paste it).

[chonchon188]

Thanks for your tip France. It's so helpful.
Now I just start with one or two kits (because I find it's difficult to combine the elements or papers :giggle:) but I save your tip for future (when I have tons of kits and try to combine them :rolleyes:)

[Stef]

Great tip! Like many others, I typically use only 1 or 2 kits at a time, but i have been known to "borrow" a cute element from another (like a paperclip, staple, etc) and that is a great way to keep track. I know how confusing it can be - but credit needs to be given when it is due! :)

As a sidenote - a few years ago my computer pulled a fast one and deleted all of my digi-scrap files (except my layouts, thank heavens). Weeks later, I realized I hadn't yet uploaded all of the layouts to the various online galleries, and when i went to do that I had a horrible time remembering what kits I'd used and who they belonged to. This technique would have saved me tons of headaches and legwork, tracking everything down.

[gateausoso]

Great idea, France! I often limit myself to one kit + eventually a template, but I find you tip very useful.

[wombat146]

I use Notepad to keep track of all the goodies I use, then I save this using the same name as the LO (ie. 8x8 GRACE - CHERISH.txt). This text file is then saved in the same folder as the web LO I use to upload. That way the web LO and text file are always together and makes life very easy to simply copy and paste from the text file when I need to upload into the galleries.

So I have the text file open when I am uploading to galleries and then I can copy the gallery link to the text file as well. I can then use the text file to update my ct threads. It's all in one spot and I can go back and simply open a text file from last year even to see what kit I had used and where I had posted the page as well. Easy peasy.

I tried the layer method and just found it too cumbersome to open a psd file to get the text from it. I also normally move the psd files off my external HDD after about 3 months to free up space, but keep the web LO and text file so I can access them at any time. :glis:

[France]

yep, what I do though is keep track of all my LOs in a word doc, with where i've uploaded, release date, credits etc.
The layer in the document is to jot notes down as I go if I use a few elements from different kits (sometimes you need a staple, a butterfly, etc)...
Your method sounds great Ona. But I rename files, etc. I'm not very organised in that respect. I'd use Excel like suzie does but I need a visual of my pages. A table in Word, though clumsy, seems to work (I hate how they change things in Word... you used to be able to insert rows, and tell them exactly how many rows, now you have to do them one by one, or select rows and insert that number... etc. eeek. )

anyway, i should get off here and get my @$$ into work!!!!! I don't get paid if I'm not there!!!!!

[suzanne]

Hi, France! I remembered your tip last night when I was posting a layout which I did some weeks back. I did not keep notes and had a hard time remembering the kits that I used! Good thing it was just one designer's stuff so finding which ones was relatively easy!

I think I'd be following your advice starting today. ;) Thaaaaaaaaaanks!

[Crisdam D]

Great idea France, I normally use one or two kits and just write everything down on a piece of paper.

[aichaku]

oh it's such a good idea!! thanks for sharing! why didn't i think of that? :rainbowf: