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Organizing

& Using

Digital photos

From Shooting/Scanning to

Storing and Sharing

Why Organize?

  • 50 years ago there was a shoebox
  • Room for maybe a few hundred photos
  • Then came the Photo Album
  • Maybe room for a few thousand
  • Now there's a computer and
  • Room for many thousands
  • So How do you find that photo?

First Get your Photos into Computer

  • Option 1 – use program that came with camera
  • But, do you know how to or even want to use this program?
  • Can this program bulk re-name? Does it help Organize? It's “free” so don't expect much.
  • Option 2 – connect camera or remove card and put into a card reader
  • Then look in My Computer and one of the “Disk Drives” is now your camera or card
  • Now just copy and paste contents to folder of your choice

Photos on your computer

  • Initially put photos into a folder called something like “New Photos”

  • Check that the transfer worked then format the card in the camera to delete the photos!

  • Now re-name your photos with a name that means something

  • The idea is to add “intelligence” to the folder and file names so they mean something to you.

But renaming can be a pain

  • In Windows, the simplest bulk renaming is:
  • select a group of files
  • Choose rename from right click or file menu
  • Type a name
  • Windows will change the names so that all files have the same name but with a numerical sequence

Anything better?

  • Use Photoshop Bridge or a similar program that provides for Bulk renaming
  • Use a renaming Utility like the one in IrfanView or the stand-alone CKRename
  • The hard part is to remember to do it before you modify any photos
  • With files renamed, almost any folder system or organizing system will work.
  • I use Photo Shop Album 2 (Version 3.2 now free)‏
  • Picasa would work too (free – auto organizes by date)‏
  • Or even just Windows – Vista is similar to PS Album

Next step

  • Shooting in RAW means you will modify 90% to 100% of the photos
  • Even shooting in jpeg means some photos will have something adjusted
  • Keep the originals in case you screw up or just adjust poorly!
  • I just have a folder (e.g.) Originals 2007
  • Modified photos will be same name but stored elsewhere.

Organize Folders

  • Group the folders in a “tree” that makes sense
  • E.g. Main folders by month with sub-folders by event or type of subject or client
  • Or the other way around - type of subjects with subfolders by date
  • Pick a method you are happy with but do it!

  • Don't forget to move photos from the New Photos folder to something else

Summary of Work Flow

  • Make sure you have a suitable collection of folders
  • I start with “Latest Photos” then move later
  • Move photos from your Camera to Computer
  • Rename
  • Do any RAW and/or basic corrections
  • Save into organized folders

Corrections - 1

  • You can't correct bad compositions – or at least not easily
  • Only in RAW can you correct exposure and then only a stop or two.
  • You can't fix focus errors – although you can and should sharpen a bit.
  • You can't fix depth of field errors
  • So what can you fix?

Note: the following assumes you are using PhotoShop or Photoshop Elements.

Corrections – 2

  • White balance is often wrong
  • the easiest way to fix it is to use a “levels” layer and sample something that should be grey (e.g. an old person's hair!)‏
  • If it is too much, back off using opacity less than 100%
  • Contrast and/or brightness sometimes could need tweaking
  • Maybe a touch more saturation would add zest
  • Always try a little more sharpness – but don't overdo – if there are white lines on borders you've way overdone it.

Sharing Photos

  • If you have a good camera, the file size when you are done will be at least 2 to 4MB.
  • This size is ready to print – as is.
  • But emailing needs about 100KB each! That's 20 to 40 times smaller.
  • And for sharing on our web site or showing on the projector, the size (in pixels) should be no larger than 1024 x 768 and no larger than 1MB

Cameras and Formats

  • Photo size starts as pixels
  • e.g. 3000 x 2000 = 6MP
  • There are 3 pixels per colour, each needing 8 bits = typically 144Mbits or 18MBytes (= originals are big!)
  • Most cameras process these inside the camera into approx. 2 - 4MB jpeg's for high quality or larger for RAW
  • Scanners often produce TIFF files with no compression so are quite large

Formats on the Computer - 1

  • Once downloaded (and for RAW, after processing), photo will be about 2-4MB jpeg but still 6MP

  • To print, you will need all the pixels and all the bits you can get.
  • Compressing below “high quality” will blur or cause pixelation – especially noticeable on large prints

  • For showing on a projector, you need to keep quality high (compression low) but reduce pixels to 1024 x 768 or whatever the capability of the projector is.

Formats on the Computer – 2

  • To email, you need a small file size (in bytes)‏
  • File should be resized to fewer pixels because you'll then need fewer bytes
  • Computer screens are typically 1024 x 768 so choose 1024 pixels wide
  • File should also be compressed or reduced in quality
  • Choose medium or low quality so that the file size is 60 to 200KB

Note: Resolution (ppi or dpi) is of no concern until you print – ignore or use default for this setting.

How to change file size

  • Use a photo editing program
  • First change pixels
  • Then change quality
  • E.g. In Irfanview

choose Image>Resize/Resample then choose size wanted (e.g. 1024 X 768)‏

Choose File>Save as the file type jpg then quality 60 (medium)‏

Experiment with quality till you get size (KB) you want

  • Get Irfanview free at www.irfanview.com

IRFANVIEW 1

  • Opening Screen
  • Go to File

IRFANVIEW 2

  • Open a file
  • Go to image > Resize/Resample

IRFANVIEW 3

  • Choose size wanted
  • Click OK

IRFANVIEW 4

  • Choose File> Save as Type jpeg – below => 186KB

IRFANVIEW 5

  • Can also Batch Convert and rename!

  • Do limited colour adjustments
  • Run a decent slide show

IRFANVIEW 6 – Batch processing

  • First be sure you know which folder the photos are in and create a destination directory e.g. “Resized photos”.
  • Choose File>Batch Conversion Rename (or press B)‏
  • Navigate Look in until you find photos to be processed
  • Highlight wanted pictures then click Add
  • Under Output directory, navigate to the folder where the modified files will go.
  • Go to “Work as” and select Batch Conversion – rename result files.
  • Check Use Advanced options

IRFANVIEW 7

IRFANVIEW 8

IRFANVIEW 9

  • Rename and
    numbering
  • Sample will name
    all files:

“John Draper's
Album_Dec
2007”

With a 2 digit
sequential
number

IRFANVIEW 10

  • Choose Output Format Options
  • Choose 60 Quality
  • Check keep data
  • Click Start

Other Programs

  • Adobe Photo Shop Album Starter 3.2 – Good organizing and simple adjustments – free
  • Google Picasa – good organizer (but no tags) and simple adjustments – free
  • Adobe PhotoShop Elements 6 – very good adjustment capability, good organizer $75
  • Adobe Photoshop CS3 (includes Bridge). Best in class adjustments, $649. Bridge is good organizer but no tags.

Club Sharing – web site

  • Send 8 photos to John Draper by email, CD or prints for scanning.
  • These will go in members gallery

OR

  • Go online to new gallery that allows for comments, self-uploading etc. Members can upload up to 50 photos at 1024 pixels and 1MB each.

Questions?

  • Download Irfanview from www.irfanview.com

  • Download CKRename from
    www.cobourginternet.com/images/downloads/Ckrn_108.zip