pfredd

Rachel, Here are some data which may alter your image storage philosophy.
If each image shot with a 20D eats 12+ Mp you are capturing both RAW and large JPG. Do you really use the JPG - why add 50% more file size over the RAW file if not?
I use a different Canon which yields a different file size than yours, but the ratios will be the same i.e. if an action doubles my file size it will double yours too.
SO, RAW (only) file size out of camera is 27.4
Into RAW with no work done then opened as PSD or TIFF 107.6 JPG 12.6
Into RAW with some basic work PSD/TIFF 107.6 JPG 16.6
A little work in PS5 (only 4 layers), saved w/o flattening 377.4
Flattened and saved PSD or TIFF 107.6
Flattened saved JPG highest quality ( low compression)
17.3
Thus your best strategy for least storage use is to save camera RAW, with XMP from processing - then go to PS for final processing, saving product without flattening) at this point, but only till happy with work - then save as high JPG which which will likely be fine for any future use.
You'll have untouched original from camera, a history of exactly you did in RAW, and a very useable and readily available file image which carries the effect of all the work done after RAW. You lose only the processing steps and values. This saves me about 330Mp per image, unless it's a lay-up — that's a different coloured cow.

foxpawpress Loc: Duluth, MN

Compatibility with changing technology is a serious issue. The early photoshop programs automatically saved in Photoshop format, and I now have Photoshop 3 files that I don't have the ability to open. I have found jpeg files to be consistently available from one generation of Photoshop to the next, and with other photo editing programs, such as Mac's "iPhoto." Personally I think Photoshop should provide readily available technology to recover early files. The compatibility issues are frustrating and irresponsible, especially given the high cost and necessity of buying new Photoshop programs.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I don't know if this will work but I found a site that takes about making ps3 open old files.

http://photoshop4artists.blogspot.com/2011/03/dealing-with-old-file-formats-kodak-pcd.html

Birdog9999 Loc: New Jersey

Thanks everyone lots of good information. Being a computer nut and computer pro hard drive space is the least of my concerns. So I think I have a good handle on it n ow I just wanted to know how others were dealing with it.

pfredd

Back to basics —— To open old files and photos try hi-liting the file icon ( don't open it ) then press Command with i on a Mac (Control - i on PC). This will open an info panel with an "open with" section. There is a pull down menu fur you to choose the application.
With that I can open a PSD from PS5 in Elements 2 and v.v.
Believe a PC has same ability, but of course the desired application must be available. You can't open JPG in PS 4 if you don;t have PS4 application as example.
Have never had a compatibility issue up or down, though it's rare to regress. Most always the problem is that the user has not learned to instruct the computer.

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

I had this problem with "Print Shop". I had expensive software. I had many finished projects saved. I got the new version and could not open the old ones. Totally unacceptable!

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

My Photoshop CS5 cannot open some old Nikon raw files I thought would be totally secure and accessible. I have never had anything that should be able to open a jpeg fail at the task. Least compressed JPEG does not lose much picture quality, so I recommend people use it.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Maybe save raws as tiff's. Has anyone had a problem opening Tiffs?

francesca3 Loc: Sausalito, CA

I do not see any advantage to keeping a record of all the layers you made.
Keep the RAW and JPEG fine original, and keep the JPEG final copy.

pfredd

RAW is Raw — you can't save it as anything. That's one of the beauties of RAW. You can save the output from RAW as about anything from PBM to IFF to PDF, your choice depends on what you intend the file for. FYI, TIFF files are much larger than the RAW file.

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

I am with you on keeping layers: What for? I keep them only until I am finished with my art work. If I think I may use the original for something else, then I keep that and any completed version. NO need to keep those layers unless you cannot make up your mind what you want to do with a picture.

pfredd

[quote=francesca3]I do not see any advantage to keeping a record of all the layers you made.
Keep the RAW and JPEG fine original, and keep the JPEG final copy.

Well let's say you spent an hour laying up a album page from your vacation, then your wife comes home, looks, says " I look awful in that third pix, CHANGE IT, and you misspelled the city name."
Wouldn't you like to be able to select and correct the layers with a few clicks?
Hold in PSD don't flatten till every cousin gets their oar in, may be weeks. Then flatten and compress to high JPG which is good enough for future reprinting for cousin.

foxpawpress Loc: Duluth, MN

I recently took a photo course at University of MN--Duluth, and our professor recommended saving in TIFF format.

I'm sitting on 81,000 photos from my Dad's files--color slides and color and black and white negatives. Somehow I want to transfer these to digital format.

I also have zip files, floppy disks, and now the issue of how to best save digital files.

It comes down to having to plan, and keeping up with changes on a regular basis--I'm not completely sold on CD or DVD files, as I've had some inexplicably fail to open. I've had USB files fail to open too.

My current plan--and I'm open to other recommendations--is to systematically back up my files with a copy on DVD, and a second copy on a portable accessory hard drive. They've gotten to be smaller and less expensive, fortunately.

It's a daunting task, as to date, I have not organized my digital files other than sequentially. Coming from a long history of shooting with film, I never imagined how many more digital photos I would take.

Keeping track of my black and white negatives was never a problem; it was easy enough to put them in a sleeve, and label them.

I hope those starting out will set up a system, delete out of focus or unneeded photos, and edit large files to manageable size, saving only the most exceptional in a large file format. I am not an expert, but the TIFF format may be the best for large files, and jpeg for those of smaller size. I can get a good 8x10 photo from a 1.5 million pixel jpeg file; I think that is a reasonable size for saving most of my files. Only a very few are exceptional enough to justify saving in large files, and I plan to save those as TIFF files.

The needs of those who are doing commercial work, involving layering and extensive editing will be different, of course.

Greg-Colo Loc: Fort Collins,Co

he is right

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Ok, I misworded it. Save your raw file and safe a tiff file. I do this only for the photos I want to keep. The tiff file is very large but contains more data than a jpeg file. Heck, might as well save the smaller jpeg file for additional insurance.