Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
Desktop File Folders for photos
Feb 22, 2016 18:18:38   #
DennyM Loc: Masontown, WV
 
Hello there
This is my 1st post. I've been reading the mail for a wile now and have learned quite a lot from you guys. BBF etc.
I've noticed that there has been some concerns about uploading photos from camera to computer, and using them in PP programs etc. Picasa is going to change, and what to do about the photo files, so forth. What I do is to create desktop File folders for my photos that I install to computer from the SD card from my Nikon. I'm using a hp desktop computer with windows 7. Anyway, placing my photos in these desktop folders keeps my photos in groups as named by the file folder. Like; "Our Local Photos", "Temporary", "Photos on DVD", etc. Inside these folders I have created sub folders like "My Navy", "Trip to MAAM", etc. These folders make it easy to find any photo I wish at any time. I also have Picasa3 and when I open it, I can view any file that is in the file folders on the desk top. I do what ever editing I need there, and save the edit. Then when I look in the respective file folder, The edited photo is there, ready for printing directly from the file folder or just viewing in general. I name the files as to the date and time taken, with the year first, that keeps them in proper order. When I insert the SD card from my D7000 into the card slot, the window opens, and I just move the files from that window to the file folder I want the photos to be added to. This way, there is no problem with files being lost in programs. I Burn the files in appropriate groups to DVD's on a regular basis, for security, convenience, storage, etc. I name the DVDs the same as the name of the file I copied them from. So you can see, this makes it easy to keep photos in order, available and viewable.
I don't mead to be mouthy, seeing this is my first time on the Hog, but I thought that maybe this info might be of help to someone having an issue in this area.
Good Luck to all, good shooting, and good viewing.
PS; My picasa3 is still working OK. I think it should as long as I don't mess with it on line.

Reply
Feb 23, 2016 07:32:26   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Welcome to our forum!

It sounds like you've found a system that works for you, and that's the important thing. There are as many systems as there are photographers.

Reply
Feb 23, 2016 08:16:24   #
Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX
 
You might go one step further as I have. I organize by year and then within that have folders with the name of the shoot and the date in the folder name as well. When I post-process in Lightroom or Photoshop, I export my finished product to a subfolder with the prefix "Edited". Example: Pictures\2016\MillsPondSunset2-22-2016\EditedMillsPondSunset2-22-2016. Even if software goes belly up or changes, like Picasa, the structure is there to find originals and past edits. As my skills and needs change over the years, I can always go back to any original and try something different. Hope this is helpful.

Reply
 
 
Feb 23, 2016 08:55:38   #
mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs
 
DennyM wrote:
... What I do is to create desktop File folders for my photos...

All sounds good except "desktop folders". Note that the desktop configuration and what you see on the desktop screen is tied to a specific user. If you log in as a different user, you may not be able to see or access the folders that originate on the desktop itself.

Better to create your photo folders under an existing folder such as My Documents, or My Photos. I create my photos in the public "shared" space, so that if my computer has a problem, I don't have to remember my Admin password in order to access my files in "Safe Mode".

Reply
Feb 23, 2016 11:06:02   #
amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
 
Hi and welcome,

I'm not sure about using "desktop folders" the way your describe....

Are those actual folders sitting right on the Windows desktop? Or are they shortcuts to the folders located elsewhere on your computer?

Having large folders and/or a lot of folders on the Windows desktop - if that's what you're doing - will bog down computer performance. Those folders and the files within them will use memory whenever the computer is running. The more files you put into folders on the desktop, the more the computer will slow. Heck, I see a performance drop-off even when I forget to empty my desktop "trash can", after doing some "house cleaning" and filling the trash with a lot of image files.

I would instead recommend placing the actual folders somewhere else on your computer, then just use shortcuts to those folders on your desktop. Working with shortcuts won't be all that different... but shortcuts use considerably less memory, so system performance should be a lot better.

Reply
Feb 23, 2016 12:41:35   #
Redmark
 
Hi amfoto1, what is some of "house cleaning" can one do (beside the trash can) without re-imaging? I thinking laptop here.Running Windows.
I do have some pending work folders on desktop but otherwise I bring images to My Pictures and that's only temporary as they end up in an external drive that's dedicated to photos only.(first backup).
Cheers

Reply
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.