The bestest way . . . .

[FlowerGirl]

I'm like Amber and Cassie -- just need to break it down further now, into subcategories for each designer. And Cassie, LOVE the preview idea. I kept thinking of actually printing the previews into a mini ring-bound album or something, but so much easier to just put them all together into a folder on the computer.

And I'm going to have a look (and drool) over leopard now...

[denise621]

I am sure mac usuers have already stumbeled upon this, but I found this program called FileBrowse that I just love.It has a little 3D thumbnail with the first 6 files previewed. I have my folders organized somewhat like Cassies, but with this little program it make browsing through everything so easy, AND you can open the file up right into photoshop. Now instead of browsing through my files using OPEN from PS file menu, I go straight to FileBrowse, pick my item, and click and select photoshop. I grabbed some window shots, but I can't figure out how to post them. I found this program just doing a google search, and so glad I did!

Denise
PS CS2
Powerbook G4

[amango]

I use PSE's organizer to find all my stuff. I have a "Scrappin" group to separate it all from my photos. Then under that I have alphas, embellishments, paper, templates, etc. And then Designer names under each of those. If something is from a kit I put it under a category called "Kits & Collections" so I can see all the goodies together.

My favorite part is the tagging. When I add something into the Organizer & I have a specific project in mind, I tag the products I want to use and the photos I'm thinking about with a name like "Aerin's First Steps" or "Thanksgiving w/ the Mango's" so they are all in one place when I get time to actually scrap it.

When I'm done with the page and have gotten all my credits together, I remove the tags. I add my finished pages to a collection named "Pages." I save my credits in a text file with the actual .psd file of the page on my hard drive.

[jesshunt]

I know we have a lot of Mac talk going here about the previews....but I did want to mention for PC users, if you haven't heard of this trick yet, when I put away my digital goodies in folders I right click on the folder and choose Properties. Then choose the Customize tab and "Choose Picture". you can then find and choose the preview picture for the kit and it becomes a big picture on the folder when you hit ok This has helped me immensely when just browsing through all of my goodies.

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by denise621

I am sure mac usuers have already stumbeled upon this, but I found this program called FileBrowse that I just love.It has a little 3D thumbnail with the first 6 files previewed. I have my folders organized somewhat like Cassies, but with this little program it make browsing through everything so easy, AND you can open the file up right into photoshop. Now instead of browsing through my files using OPEN from PS file menu, I go straight to FileBrowse, pick my item, and click and select photoshop. I grabbed some window shots, but I can't figure out how to post them. I found this program just doing a google search, and so glad I did!

Denise
PS CS2
Powerbook G4

Denise.. this looks great! I just checked it out online... it would truly help me as I organize all my digital goodies.. thanks for sharing!

[lhanks]

I recently convinced myself to try out ACDSee..... I had previously convinced myself that I didn't need it....HA It has a handy little function for finding duplicates. I had over 6,000 duplicates taking up space. I delete them by hand so that I don't lose something I didn't want to lose. Now I can tag them with ACDSee, and have only one copy ....and let me tell you each one has more than one tag

[jg2924]

Originally Posted by Steph

Whoa Cassie! That is awesome!!!!! Wanna come over and spend 20 hours doing that to mine? LOL!!!

I was just thinking the same thing.

Since you're in Texas, you could just pop on over. It might be a small inconvenience that I use PC instead of Mac, but hey, you'll be learning something new.

[tracydigigirl]

This is all really awesome info...thanks!!!

i have used PSE Organizer in the past and have really loved it. I love the tagging because I'm very visual and search through my elements in different ways depending on what I'm working on.

My file structure for several years has been site>designer>kit. I tried the elements route but found that it took waaaay too much time to cut/copy & paste each kit. And, it's been mentioned here, that it removes the designer info when you break up the kit. Tagging was the method that really worked for me Big Time!!! It answered all of these issues.

here's my dilemma, i've migrated to Mac! I don't like using Finder, Bridge or even Aperture b/c I really love the tagging feature of PSE. Do any of you know if the PSE for Mac has the Organizer as it is in the PC version? I can't tell from the Adobe website and there's not trial download for it. ARGH! Is there any other File Organizer out there for Mac that has the tagging feature???

Thanks for your help. You guys ROCK!!!:

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

I'm pretty sure everything on the Mac PSE is the same as the PC one. In Bridge, you can add keywords which is essentially the same thing, right? It's added to the meta data and saved with the image. I've heard of something called "shoebox" but I've never used it. It might be what you're looking for.

I just use the Finder. It really is easy for me. If you have the new Leopard OS, it's even better thanks to the Cover Flow view option. It lets you see things much larger before clicking on it.

[tracydigigirl]

Thank you, 1gr8muggle!

As an amateur photographer, i've used and ditched Bridge. I strongly dislike it! I do like Cover Flow but still it lacks the tagging feature so falls short of what I'm hoping for.

I talked to an Adobe rep and he tells me that the PC and Mac versions are the same, so i'm thankful but he suggests that Lightroom will do anything that PSE Organizer will do. There is a trial download for Lightroom so I'm gonna test his claims. I've learned the hard way, though, not to download a trial until you are absolutely ready to start playing because 30 days isn't as long as you think it is when life gets busy. Therefore, I'm waiting until the kids are back in school to try the download.

I'll report my findings.

[tracydigigirl]

fyi, further googling prompted another call to adobe only to learn that the Mac version of PSE uses Bridge, which is NOT the same organizer as the Win version.

Will give Lightroom a look for sure.

[Kathie]

Tracy this is on my list of resolutions for 08--to organize on my Mac. I am looking at getting Shoebox. Figure I can get the pro version for less than most, use it for my pics, pages and digi scrap stuff. I have started (and not continued) every method mentioned and it doesn't feel right for me. I want to be able to use multiple tags, and not duplicate my stuff (I already don't have enough space even with an EHD.) Since we can't use ACDSee, this is supposed to be the Mac equivalent. Going to give it a shot.

[tracydigigirl]

Thanks Kathie! I downloaded the test version of Shoebox and it looks pretty cool. I'll play with it and see how it goes. the thing that winds me up is that i have thousands (yes, thousands) of elements that i've tagged in PSE Organizer over the last few years and all of that work is useless now.

If Mac is the preferred platform for digi graphics, why is cataloging such a tall order?

I bought and downloaded PSE4 for Mac b/c i figured at the very least the Editor would help me stay patient while I wait for the $ to put PSCS3 on my Mac (PSCS2 is on my PC and I love it!) However, I confirmed what I already knew and that is that Bridge is virtually useless. How did a company like Adobe think that Bridge was a good product? Playing around with it I tried to tag a few things. the very first 5 items i tried to apply keywords to spit out the message that info could not be added to these files. So what's the point?

BTW, I am a pro photographer. (No pedigree but people pay me.) The only thing (and I really mean only thing) I've EVER used Bridge for is looking at RAW images while proofing a shoot. I bought Aperture and now I don't even use it for that.

Okay, thanks for 'listening' to me vent. this process is so frustrating for me b/c i was really happy with my method on the PC and frustrated that the better Mac platform can't duplicate it. change. it's always hard, isn't it?

Keep those suggestions coming! There's bound to be a solution out there, right?

[Kathie]

So feel your pain with Bridge. Which leads me to my reason for this reply before I start chatting and forget. ;-) Have you contacted Adobe and tried to upgrade from PSCS2 to 3 and getting the Mac version in place of the PC? I have heard of lots of ladies who have been able to do exactly that with no problem.

Love using iPhoto on the Mac, and have tagged a ton of stuff, but my problem is that it duplicates, and I am not wanting to waste the space. Also love Cassie's method, but again it is the duplicate thing. Yeah, I have an EHD, but with all my purchases here at DD it won't take long to fill that.

My wish? That there was a way we could all be "equal" and when we bought the product it came "pre-tagged." Oh, to dream....

Give Adobe a try on the upgrade and let me know if it works!

[tracydigigirl]

Tks for commiserating Kathie! What a perfect world it would be if the things we bought came pre-tagged. That would call for chocolate!

I have talked with Adobe and since I have CS2, I would have to upgrade to CS3 to cross platforms which still costs $200. I have found a site where I can legitimately purchase Web Premium CS3 for just under $500 which is really my goal since it has PS and Dreamweaver (plus others). It would also mean that I wouldn't have to destroy my CS2 which is what upgrading cross platform requires. I figure I can wait and get the whole package. In the meantime, I'll do my proofing on my desktop PC and my scrapbooking on my Mac. I was hoping to turn my PC over to the kids entirely but since I don't have a web authoring application on my Mac either, I'll just have to coexist for a while.

Please note that I am NOT complaining. Even with all of this frustration, I still LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Mac and wouldn't go back for all the chocolate in Belgium. (Wait! Did I actually say that?!)

Here's an idea! Let's start an Adobe revolution! If we get enough digi-scrappers to call out to them, perhaps they will hear our pleas and create a cataloging software designed for scrappers needs that would be affordable and compatible on both platforms and multiple image editors. New thread???? What do you guys think???

[tracydigigirl]

Well, Kathie, I followed your suggestion and downloaded the trial for Shoebox. I played around and determined that it was worth the $30 to get the Express version to start out. I knew that I had several thousand elements but when the program gave me a message telling me that I had maxed out my 10,000 images and couldn't import everything, I was a little surprised. I had no idea that I had accumulated so many elements over the past years.

I'm totally liking the application so far and I think it'll work just fine. I'm gonna have to spring for the extra $40 though since I seem to have so many doggone elements. I need to get to scrappin' but it'll take me a lifetime to get over 10,000 elements tagged and since I'm neurotic, I can't start scrappin' until I'm totally organized. That's sick, isn't it?

Thanks for all of your comments guys. You really ROCK!!!

[Kathie]

Oh my!! That was my fear in getting the Express version... And I have to admit I have procrastinated getting either version because I know once I start I will become anal and keep going! Glad it is working for you!!