Files - what/how to keep

LoopyLou · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 06:03 PM

A tad confused on which type file to keep and with needing to sort out my "on computer" photo filing system. Thought asking may also help others.

Thanks to the wonderful RAW tutorial from Genese, i've made the step from jpg to Raw. Having a Nikon, this means when loading, all files are .NEF I then have to convert, which makes a copy of the shot under .DNG Once i've decided to edit, this then gets saved as a TIFF and if a copy for website loading is required, we then have a reduced image size under JPEG. We now have 4 copies on an image.

Would I be best to keep .NEF and just convert the ones i want to edit at that point and delete the DNG once i've saved the TIFF?

I've got many file headings, now including Raw & Edited with all the original Landscape/Wildlife/Family&Friends type too. Some ideas on managing this so i don't become completely messed up with where to look would be greatfully appreciated.

Thanks to all you tech bods who i know will surely come to my aid

philippa · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 06:20 PM

Hi Lorraine - you're going to need storage space such as an external drive. maplins do one on special offer at the moment, a maxter for around £100 and its 750gb (thats a lot of space and i'm saving up for one.... its also a good idea to keep them on an external drive in case your computer has a fatal crash)..
the way i do it (i'm sure there are simpler ways) is to keep all raw files in date form (you can come back to them whenever you want, edit them or bin them); then i have a folder for edited images which are saved as tiff (large file, not resized, in case if ever want to print them); then lastly a folder for resized images saved as jpeg for the web. so thats 3 separate files of shots i want to keep.
wonder how other filing systems work?

LoopyLou · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 06:31 PM

Thanks Philippa, am planning to look at external storage too. Your system makes sense as well.

**Ogofmole** · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 07:30 PM

Hi Lorraine, every time I download from my camera I make a new folder with a prefix and date like (001 - 3rd April 2007) these will be my original files which are never adjusted/edited. So when I open one of these images in PS it is then edited and saved in another file that contains all of my .tiff files with the image name as (001-2345) so whenever I look at this image I know exactly where the original came from (001) and the number after is the number generated by the camera (as long as you have continuous numbering set up on camera). I then only make .jpg's as and when I require them from my .tiff's.
If you look at any images on my website you will see that this is how the images are numbered. Hope that this makes sense to you.

**genese** · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ogofmole

Hi Lorraine, every time I download from my camera I make a new folder with a prefix and date like (001 - 3rd April 2007) these will be my original files which are never adjusted/edited. So when I open one of these images in PS it is then edited and saved in another file that contains all of my .tiff files with the image name as (001-2345) so whenever I look at this image I know exactly where the original came from (001) and the number after is the number generated by the camera (as long as you have continuous numbering set up on camera). I then only make .jpg's as and when I require them from my .tiff's.
If you look at any images on my website you will see that this is how the images are numbered. Hope that this makes sense to you.

I do pretty much the same thing i open my Raw and then edit accordingly ... save as tiff in a folder called "unedited" when the image is satisfactory and i want to keep it both the tiff and RAW gets moved to the relevant file on my hard drive... ie landscapes, animals/birds, art, flowers/macros, etc if i am unsure about a image it stays in the unedited folder until i know whether i want it or not... then when making a jpg for the web i open the tiff make a jpg from that and then save to "my pictures web" when i have uploaded to the sites i wanted them for i then delete all the jpgs of course you could keep the jpgs if you wanted in a seperate folder called " web jpgs "
works well for me and i can find any image very quickly
hope that helps chuck x

**Eos1nrs** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008, 01:28 PM

Wish i had that amount of space to save. currently in the studio we have x6 250 gb, x1 180gb, x1 320gb plus everything is backed onto dvd as well. I just bought x2 500gb as well. we never keep raw files at the studio as the developed file is always "saved as", so the orig is never tainted. rarely do we have to open them again after they have been art worked for lab anyway
At home i try not to leave anything on the HD. Raw gets backed up if i feel i will need them along with the tiff/jpeg files, once the job is done with off they come..

BTW saw this little gadget at Focus..really smart think we may get one
Drobo Data Storage Robot - GlowGadgets.com

wicked little gem..

cyclone · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008, 01:41 PM

640K ought to be enough for anybody.
Bill Gates, 1981.

**genese** · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eos1nrs

Wish i had that amount of space to save. currently in the studio we have x6 250 gb, x1 180gb, x1 320gb plus everything is backed onto dvd as well. I just bought x2 500gb as well. we never keep raw files at the studio as the developed file is always "saved as", so the orig is never tainted. rarely do we have to open them again after they have been art worked for lab anyway
At home i try not to leave anything on the HD. Raw gets backed up if i feel i will need them along with the tiff/jpeg files, once the job is done with off they come..

BTW saw this little gadget at Focus..really smart think we may get one
Drobo Data Storage Robot - GlowGadgets.com

wicked little gem..

everything goes onto the external hard drive and then onto the studio hard drive and onto DVD i keep nothing but editing programs on the laptop and the odd jpgs!
liking the look of the drobo storage robot... hmmm maybe next month lol..
bet sell some pics then and get printing!
i keep only the very best images now .. on the 320gb drive

**Eos1nrs** · #9 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genese

i keep only the very best images now .. on the 320gb drive

so you keep most stuff then....*smiles sweetly, flutters eyelids*

LoopyLou · #10 (**permalink**) 03-03-2008, 06:13 PM

Thank you all for this great insight into how i can manage what i've got, managed to get myself into a bit of a pickle lol. Hopefully can make a few adjustments to how things are done to make life a little easier and more organised. Big hugs to all.x