How do you sort your files out?

[mum2gnt]

Gosh I am living a nightmare at the moment trying to sort out me supplies and photos! It's a mess can I tell you!!!

So a gorgeous friend told me about Picasa as it is free! So I bought a tut at JS.C and just reading and watching videos, she says there is a fault in the program whcih means you can only tag once! Therefore the "blue paper" is all I can tag and the rest is all up to where I place the file (if that makes sense). Picasa 4 seems to be about but they still haven't updated the tagging!

So, before I get well into it I just wanted to ask what everyone uses. I have heard about Aceedcee but don't have much money right now (darn money tree won't fruit!)

Does anyone use Picasa for their digiscrapping files? Am I fighting a losing battle? OLr do I need to organise my files in the computer in a certain way first???

I do number each zip file and keep the same number for each unzipped and add tags already in the name - e.g. 967. KIT - Joyce Paul - polly rufus - mumbai lullaby
but then I usually file everything under titles - like papers under "papers" folder, flowers under "elements>flowers" folder, etc. So that file then gets scattered about. But it's all kept together by that one number 967, so if I search for that number the whole kit comes up. If all that makes sense!

But the thing is that I have heaps of duplicates as some contents of a file fall under more than one catagory - flower & rub-on for example.

So now I need to look at a proper organising program.

Is Aceedcee all it's cracked up to be and a can't live without? Or does Picasa hit the spot?

Thanks for any advice!!

Suzie

[heathert]

*blink* First time I've ever heard that Picasa can only tag once... I've got a zillion tags--Picasa is all I use.

[mum2gnt]

Well I did think that! She says you can tag each item up to 100 times!!! BUT if I want a Joyce Paul/ frame /white for example I can only search for one of the tags not all 3.

I think!

I just don't want to start tagging everything and then find it's not much use really!

Heather if it works for you hun then surely it will be fine for lil' old me!

Thanks gorgie.

[heatherbird]

Holy moly. I have such a basic system for organizing! I just file kits under shop name-> designer name-> kit (and I'll name the items in the kit if I'm not too lazy LOL). I have a folder for CT's also, and once the kit is used it gets moved into the regular folders. :)

[heathert]

But that's not true, I search for at least 2 on a regular basis... and I just tried 3, and it works fine!

[mum2gnt]

Well :pfft2: to JS.C!!!! Seriously that's what she said!!! I just re-ran the video!!!

Oh Heather you gorgeous gorgeous person! I knew you would know........:flowers:

Thanks hun - I shall carry on then!!!

[heathert]

=)....

[gonewiththewind]

I didn't like Picasa because a lot of the PNGs, on preview, were blacked out.

I purchased ACDSee and it was worth it IMHO . . . it really has sped up the scrapping process.

[heathert]

You must have used a very early version, Cheryl--no problem with .png's now! Plus it'll show the .psd's, etc...

[Joyce]

Suzie, make sue that you always unzip your files, because zip files can become corrupt over time.

I have got 1 folder where I store all of my bought stuff.
I have named each kit: store name - kit name
And I make sure that I name the preview "folder", if it hasn't been named that already, so that I know what's in the folder.
Because I don't scrap often (but I have got quite some GB's of scrapbook stuff) I probably don't run into problems, because I never have to search for particular elements, papers. (such a shame, I should start using my supplies - I have spent so much money over the years on scrapbooking supplies)
But if I was an avid scrapper, I would probably use ACDSee as well.

[mum2gnt]

I didn't like Picasa because a lot of the PNGs, on preview, were blacked out.

I purchased ACDSee and it was worth it IMHO . . . it really has sped up the scrapping process.

Thanks girls - really helpful!

It did say in this tutorial that you have to go into settings and change it to recognise PNG files (and others).

[Gemma]

Holy moly. I have such a basic system for organizing!

Lol, me too.

On my laptop I have folders such as Mscraps, Sweet Shoppe Designs, Shabby Pickle etc, then I've got a folder for CT kits and 1 for bought kits, then in each CT folder I have the names i.e Joyce or MonaLisa, then each kit goes in the right folder. I also have a separate folder for all my templates. It sounds complicated as I type it but it's not really. :giggle:

My EHD is much less organised though, but I always manage to find something if I need it.

[mum2gnt]

Well I have over 10,000 photos digital and have about the same again non-digi (to scan!) that are only filed in years. Say I have a beach kit, it would be nice to find all photos with a beach tag. The digi scrapping files got out of hand when I was starting out and D/L so many freebies, which sadly I have deleted most now - but I jumped onto the organisation then but only in Windows. Now I need to tag as I have so many duplicates. I am also not a hoarder! If I have 2 similar items I will delete 1. I delete anything I don't like (not much!) and never delete CT stuff. There is 1 designer who uses quite a few of the same things in each of her kits, so I delete those. But I have over 40GB of scrapbooking stuff and it's so out of hand! One of my EHDs is full of digi stuff and photos and all my pages, so I HAVE to do something!!!

Joyce thanks so much for the tip on zipped files. I have about 30 zipped files. I just have lack of time to do "housework"!!

Picasa is totally free and is created by the master of search engines, Google. This means that it searches through my files - all 10 billion of them - to find the tag say "blue flower" - something than usually takes me about 30 minutes!!! I have to say that most designers tag their items already. But "paper 1" for example won't tell me what make, model and colour it is! So I have to add the tags - which hey, no complaint on the designer's side as that is down to me! Just time.............!

ACDcee is about $50 ish - which I can't afford at the moment! Although I spent about $20 on this tutorial - which is fantastic I have to say, but she did confuse me by saying you can only search for one tag!

Anyway, I think I will stick with Picasa. It has face recognition too which is fabulous.

So I will carry on tagging! I am also trying to do another picture for a friend - the big huge enormous beach canvas I did of 10 Georges and 8 Thomas':

http://i49.tinypic.com/10nwen7.jpg

It's Rottnest - our local island 19kms from our front door!!!!! She's a gorgeous friend and has done so much for me recently and saw mine and loves it so I said I would make her one!

So I'd better get on with it and stop "chatting" hey!!! LOL!

Thanks for the advice gorgies!

[Joyce]

It's Rottnest - our local island 19kms from our front door!!!!! She's a gorgeous friend and has done so much for me recently and saw mine and loves it so I said I would make her one!

Been there twice before, it's BEAUTIFUL!!!
I am so jealous, Suzie!!

That canvas is fantastic!! I want one too!! :rolleyes:

[mum2gnt]

Thanks hun!
78 photos..................!!! 3GB in size!!! All different times of the day (shadows!!)! 2 beaches! But I am so pleased with it! It's a huge canvas! It took me such a long time to do! Everyone who has seen it loves it and wants one. They said they would pay me for it - but I can't accept money! And even if I did at $50 per hour (which is what the tradesmen charge) it would cost about $4000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not worth it! And if I did it at say $500 I would be working at about $5 per hour - again not worth it! So it is hung nicely on my wall and there it shall stay! I guess we are lucky in this "business" that we can do stuff like that hey!

- tell you what though! See Thomas bottom left corner with his bum in the air, there are 3 shore wave things - all one photo cloned 2 times of course!!! - but if you ever need a shore piece like that for a beachy kit - let me know!!!

[HazelOlive]

I think I just died Suzy...this is just waaaay too amazing!!!!!

Any hoo, I am an anti-tagger myself. I have all of my kits organized by Designer>Name of The Kit. The suuuuuper awesome part, is that I have a big ol' preview folder full of the previews from all of my kits. There are a few sub-folders of "Element Pack Preview" or "Brush Previews" ect. I got this method from a post by Steph at the Daily Digi. Organizing like this has changed scrapbooking for me completely. Not only can I find everything, I am constantly refreshed with a visualization of everything I have. I feel like that creature from Lord Of The Rings scrolling through my "precious" product previews just to admire all my goodies! http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee282/mrs-meek/Gollum.gif

Here are all the specifics, it's "Steph's System (http://thedailydigi.com/digital-scrapbook-organization-3-ways/)"...

[mum2gnt]

Thanks so much for that Ashley!!! You are an absolute star! I also saw a link in someone's comments to another site's forum. Interesting.............!!! No one seems to really like ACDcee! Both at TDD and this other site! Great! That rules the expensive one out! They are saying that you can't import the tags into another program so are stuck with ACDC and you can't tag PNGs??? Not much talk of Picasa! But everyone - PC and Mac - loved Adobe Bridge! This I think only comes with the full PS and seems it's only good for tagging png files from CS3+. Now I've never ever even opened this! Just did! WOW!

I already have all my files filed like you and everyone at TDD but I thought tagging was the way to go. With Picasa and Bridge you can tag and have files filed like I already do and they don't move your folders around (apparently ACDC does!)

So I think I will tag and keep filing like I am and I can use the tagged files in both Bridge and Picasa - best of all worlds!!!

Thanks so much guys!! Real help!

[mum2gnt]

Oh and when you tag PNGs in Bridge it says you can't but it does actually work! So they say!!!

[gonewiththewind]

You must have used a very early version, Cheryl--no problem with .png's now! Plus it'll show the .psd's, etc...

Well, since I already got ACDSee, I'll stick with it, but if something happens with it, it's nice to know that Picasa has improved! Thanks Heather!

[Romy]

Suzie, I only use Bridge for tagging. I am an organized person and I like things in order. My system is: STORE -> DESIGNER -> KIT. I have tons of keywords. In Bridge - no limit for keywords.
The main advantage of Bridge: the tags stay in metadata files. All search/organizing programs should read them if you decide to try a different program. Sometimes, I search in Finder ( Mac version of Windows Explorer) and all the tags are there and work!
I used Picasa for a while but then I discovered that it has its own tagging system which doesn't stay with the files. I had to do all the tagging all over! So first, try to tag something in Picasa and then look in Windows Explorer if it's there.

I also write a name of a designer and if it's PU/CU. Sometimes, the file name of an element doesn't contain the designer's name so later, if I want to credit the designer and I don't remember in which kit it was I just look into it's metadata file.

The only thing with Bridge is its filter system. If I search by a keyword BUTTON and a keyword GLITTER, it shows all buttons PLUS everything with glitter.
In Finder/Explorer, I'll get only buttons that have glitter on them.

I have some screenshots here:http://picasaweb.google.com/romana.kasanova/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCIvasNTu07DTrwE#5456 335853268962386
and here:http://picasaweb.google.com/romana.kasanova/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCIvasNTu07DTrwE#5456 337300068972050

hope this makes sense.

[sunnie2004]

I do my simple kits, templates, png's and paper templates, embellis, I never break a kit apart and when I file them I use the name of the designer and really that's it. I have vista and I just type blue paper in seach and what ever EHD they are in and I get a ton of stuff. click on open file location and I pick what I want

[sunnie2004]

Suzie that is absolutely Beautiful!!! Stuning work you do lady!! I do understand what you mean about when people say can you make me one? I am like Ummm no! Sorry this is fun for me if I do it for you I will pick it apart making "perfect" and it never will be and it won't be fun. Enjoy mine when you come to the house I will tell them LOL.

[mum2gnt]

Thanks Romy and caren!!! You truly are real treats! Thanks! I hear you Romy about Bridge!

[Kat]

I have used ACDSee but I do not tagg my stuff anymore..I only use windows for searching now..I type frames in my "Scrapping"map and all my frames pop up..very easy..

[christinap]

I've been breaking my kits up into folders (elements and inside subfolders "buttons" "doodles" "ribbons" "fasteners" "frames" etc) and I break my papers up into colors.... although, that was before the Windows search became so easy! I love it when designers name their kits consistant, makes it so much easier to find things.

[mum2gnt]

I've been breaking my kits up into folders (elements and inside subfolders "buttons" "doodles" "ribbons" "fasteners" "frames" etc) and I break my papers up into colors.... although, that was before the Windows search became so easy! I love it when designers name their kits consistant, makes it so much easier to find things.

Yes that's what I do already! And I always have an "ORIGINAL" folder where the kit preview goes. And I number all the kits too so I can search for the one number and everything in that one kit comes up!

maybe I should just stick to that!

[christinap]

Yes that's what I do already! And I always have an "ORIGINAL" folder where the kit preview goes. And I number all the kits too so I can search for the one number and everything in that one kit comes up!

maybe I should just stick to that!

I love mixing and matching kits, a staple is a staple! If I want to scrap by the kit, I usually just use the Windows Vista search thing for the kit name. I just got a laptop with Windows 7, so now I need to learn that :biggrin8:

[Joyce]

I have used ACDSee but I do not tagg my stuff anymore..I only use windows for searching now..I type frames in my "Scrapping"map and all my frames pop up..very easy..

I never even thought of doing it that way!!
Thanks, Kat!! :)

[mum2gnt]

Oooo Windows 7 for a laptop - does that use up almost all the memory like Vista?

[Kat]

I never even thought of doing it that way!!
Thanks, Kat!! :)

It can't be easier than that :winking0071:

[heathert]

I don't think XP has window searching, does it?

[christinap]

No I don't think it does Heather. I love it in Vista. Not sure about Windows 7 and the laptop. I JUST got it on Saturday, haven't had much chance to play yet. Hopefully tonight :D I'm so happy I have all my scrapping stuff on an external hard drive, I just have to plug it in!

One thing about the laptop, I really need to get used to the touch pad again. I suppose I could buy a new mouse (still need the old one for my desktop!)

[Chel]

Holy moly. I have such a basic system for organizing! I just file kits under shop name-> designer name-> kit (and I'll name the items in the kit if I'm not too lazy LOL). I have a folder for CT's also, and once the kit is used it gets moved into the regular folders. :)

This is my pretty much my system - when I remember to do it. My non CT folders are a mess. BUT thanks for the thread - I see lots of ideas for organizing that I might try.

[sunnie2004]

Oooo Windows 7 for a laptop - does that use up almost all the memory like Vista?

No Suzy infact from what I have learned and read about W7 it is much more efficient and the pc's and laptops that come with it have such a huge amount of memory, and alot of them are being made on a 64 bit platform. meaning Adobe and PSP and the software we all playwith will run so much smoother and efficient! I know to detailed sorry:glis:

[terese]

after iNSD this is definitely the thread i need to read. i´ve got a map on my desk that´s terrible now. so many kits and stuff and not organized in any way. so heavy to open up. :-/


and mum2gnt: :worship: your canvas, your artwork, this is amazing!!!!

[Helen]

Holy moly. I have such a basic system for organizing! I just file kits under shop name-> designer name-> kit (and I'll name the items in the kit if I'm not too lazy LOL). I have a folder for CT's also, and once the kit is used it gets moved into the regular folders. :)

This is how I work too!

And Suzie OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :brnheartsmiley:

[Aagje]

This is how I work too!

And Suzie OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :brnheartsmiley:


Me too and Suzie: that hart is also from me!!! :worship::worship:

[TracieS]

I have ACDSee and I LOVE it. It's great b/c I don't have to duplicate anything and take up more harddrive space, I just tag stuff and it's sooo easy to find. It also unzips everything for me into whatever folder I tell it to, which is great.

[mum2gnt]

Ooo I see this one's reared it's head again!!!

Still haven't sorted everything!!! And still have about 100 million zipped files!!! Shocking I know!

[Romy]

Ooo I see this one's reared it's head again!!!

Still haven't sorted everything!!! And still have about 100 million zipped files!!! Shocking I know!


absolutely beyond understanding!! ...... LOL !!

[justk]

I bought ACDSEE and I never used it I use Picasa for everything face tagging all of my photos and tagging all of my kits and I even use it to upload my pages to dig places using it WebAlbums. And I got it because Heather says it was the best for her and the nice part about it also if there are a lot of designers that use it the tags transfer to Picasa. heathers kits are tagged and then it shows up in my picasa also...not sure if that is normal or just a fluke?!?!?

[justk]

Suzie that canvas is stunning!!!! You are right about the per hour money and that. Super super amazing!!!!!!!

[justjen]

I use Picassa, and I LOVES IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! :worship: wouldn't use anything else. and it uploads to facebook slick as.... sn ooops, butter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[justjen]

HOLY MOLY SUZIE, YOUR CANVAS ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE It!