ACDSEE - tagging previews...got a question!

[Becky]

Hi all,

Haven't been around much in quite a while - life has a way of getting crazy sometimes. Anyway, after finishing my degree, getting my two oldest through high school and off to college and a move to a new state, life is finally settling down enough that I am just now getting back into things, really...and one of the first is organizing my images better so I can be more productive when I do have time to create.

I have ACDSee, and I have not utilized it well up to this point. However, last night I decided enough was enough, and I'm working on just starting the process by tagging my preview images. It's not where I necessarily want to end, but it gives me a beginning.

Here's the thing though, and where my question comes in. What do you do with those items that don't have a preview? I have things organized on my EHD by store and then designer - but sometimes in those folders I just have an element or two and not a whole kit, or the designer didn't include a preview.

So what are you guys doing with those? Right now I don't have time to tag each individual element in every single kit, which is why I'm doing the previews. It at least gives me a jumping-off point. But the folders without, I'm kind of at a loss.

What would you do? What have you done? I need simple, quick, and easy, to be honest...

Thanks in advance, and it's good to be back!

[Jen D]

I tag all the elements individually... but maybe drag the elements on a layout and make a preview for yourself? Not sure how much extra time that would take. I would be at a complete loss if I didn't have my supplies sorted. I love being able to look through just frames, or just alphas and it pulls from all my great kits as well as element packs. I probably tag about 15-20 minutes a week. But, I know it saves me in the long run when I am scrapping!

[Becky]

That's what I was thinking about - just tagging them individually. I will eventually go back and tag the kits that way, too...but for now I just need a basic system to at least see what I have, you know?

I have spent far too much time trying to find stuff...thus the reason for the new system. I'd rather spend more time creating!

[dugarner]

Originally Posted by Becky

That's what I was thinking about - just tagging them individually. I will eventually go back and tag the kits that way, too...but for now I just need a basic system to at least see what I have, you know?

I have spent far too much time trying to find stuff...thus the reason for the new system. I'd rather spend more time creating!

It really seems tedious and time-consuming to tag everything you have individually, but this is definitely the way I'd do it. I have about 13,000 items and if I get to it, it only takes me about 2.5 to 3 hours to tag everything. (I've had to do it three times when my catalog has crashed.) Efficiency of the tags is important, too---taking time to make sure those are pretty tight before you really get started helps. My first time around the tags were kind of loosey-goosey and I wound up having to re-do a lot of them.

Good luck! Things definitely run more smoothly with everything tagged. It's time invested at the front end that pays off at the end.

[maureenreynolds]

I've made my own preview of free things that have come in our various chats here rather than leave them all loose. That is a slight bit of work for me but easier to find stuff in the end.

[Becky]

Yeah, I think that I will definitely go back and tag everything...but I figure at least if I can tag previews it gives me a place to start.

I'll have to do some researching before I set up my categories more specifically - I really want things to be easy to find.

You guys are such great help! Thank you!

[vfleslie]

sometimes I create previews. I select all the items, then create, label and save a contact sheet. Kind of a pain, but you only have to do it once. Leslie

[Bschori]

Yes, there is a way to make a Contact Sheet that is pretty quick. Select the individual elements that you would like to group together. Then go Tools/Create/Contact Sheet and the window will open up. You can vary the columns and rows until you have it looking the way you want. Give it a Header and Subtitle and then save it where you want it. Then you could go back to it and tag it as a Preview.

[blhdvm]

I also create previews for things that don't have one already.