Organization - Tell me what to do! (MAC)

[GingerScraps]

I just bought a Mac in May. I absolutely love it! I also have PSE8, which came with Adobe Bridge CS4 and Adobe Extension Manager CS4 (those are the applications that show up in my folder anyway), in addition to iPhoto '09.

I have unzipped and placed all of my digi scrapping files into folders on my EHD. I haven't done anything beyond unzip them and put them in my "Digi Scrapping" folder. I also have placed all of my digital photos into folders by year on my EHD.

Now what? LOL. I have read through a few threads here about using iphoto (esp. the one by AllynD) and I've seen lots of references to Bridge - they are about 50/50 as far as loving/hating it. Should I use iPhoto for everything, creating different catalogs and smart albums? Should I use iPhoto for my photos and Bridge for my digi scrapping files? Vice versa? Bridge for everything?

I'm really trying to be organized from the beginning with this new computer. I realize that I'll probably have to tweak my system as I get it working, but since I've never really had a system before, I'm not sure where to start.

What are the pros and cons of the different programs? How does scrapping style fit in?

Someone tell me what to do!?!?

(P.S. - I'm new here, relatively new to digi scrapping so I don't have a TON of stuff, but I have managed to accumulate more than I had thought, and I suffer from OCD, especially where my scrapbooking supplies are concerned.)

[anxela]

As far as folder organizing, I organize by designer. For designers that produce supplies of different types, like Katie,
I will make subfolders for 1embellishments, 2frames_masks, 0papers, 3kits, 4alphas, 5overlays_edges and so on.
I name the folders with a number in front of the folder name to have them appear in the order I want.

For designers that typically make on type of supplies, or most of on kind of supplies,
(think Cathy Zielske / templates), I will not have subfolders within her folder.

[Amy L]

I'm on a similar platform as you...I do use Bridge to view and edit photos but I use Picasa to organize my digital supplies. It's a free program where you can tag your supplies and search that way. I know some people search using Finder on their Mac too.

[anke]

I won't be of much help here. I still haven't found a program I like, I guess I am waiting for ACDSee to come out for Mac in the near future In the meantime I use Finder to look for particular items, I am creating subfolders and folders for designers like Heidi did. The thought of having to tag all my supplies eventually gives me one big headache!

[digigrandma]

Ginger, I keep my organization simple, but, I do keep at it on a regular basis....burning kits to CD's and storing kits on my EHD on a regular schedule, for example. I have a Mac and I use bridge for viewing my folders and kits. My kits are stored by category: basic papers for backgrounds, paper packs, full kits by designer, fasteners, word art, frames, labels and tags, journalers, dates, epoxies, brushes and so on. I have a red, white and blue folder for patriotic themes, a baby folder because I've been scrapping photos of my youngest grandson born this year and a heritage folder because that is an ongoing project for me.

[lesvrolyk]

I bought ACDSee over a month ago and am liking it very well so far. I still haven't gotten everything tagged and named and such (it's a LONG process with my super-stash), but it does make it very easy to see what you have. Want a staple? Click on the staples category and you can see all your staples! I'm finding things in my stash I had completely forgotten about.

Whatever program you use, if you start organizing while your stash is still small, it will be very easy to work with.