Scrapper's Challenge - Organization [Archive]

Funtolearn

01-02-2005, 09:17 PM

Excellent Idea!! I will be watching for it.
I was up last night until 1:49 a.m. trying to get files organized. I had files between two machines and had folders within folders and copies of copies. What a mess!!!!! I want to get eveything burned onto DVD or CD. Because it has always been a worry when the machine starts to act up. Then I move files to another machine then have to move them back and so on. I am looking forward to you suggestions. BRING THEM ON! LOL
I havepictures in my machine now for five years. I am so glad I found this place and it got me going to organize my files. Looks like the first thing for me is to get the folders set up and not keep changing them. On one machine it maybe trips, onthe laptop it may be travel or location or both. I want to get uniform files between my two machines. That is my first goal.
I may burn some general DVD's so I feel more secure and then do my reorganizing and then reburning. Heavens how am I going to reorganize my machine when my mind is bouncing.LOL I think in reality I need this yesterday.

the_littleminx

01-02-2005, 11:14 PM

Great idea! I've been working on trying to find a better way to organize all my scrapping stuff. The sucky thing is I've already burned a lot of it to cd so now I'll have to reburn when I get reorganized. lol

Anyhow, can't wait for this challenge to start. :D

Rebekah

jamie

01-02-2005, 11:26 PM

Since I'm supposed to be helping with this, I guess I need to get started too! lol ... I have most of my stuff backed up already, thanks to a 6 month old computer that already needed a hard drive! :p For those who are a little intimidated by burning CD's, look for an article on how to do it coming soon under the articles. I'll be sure to post the link in this thread as soon as its up! Until then, good luck and if you guys get any good ideas on organizing, post them here!

Funtolearn

01-03-2005, 12:00 AM

Kristen

01-03-2005, 02:33 AM

The Scrapper’s Challenge
Jamie Rousselle and Kristen Skold

What is the Scrapper’s Challenge? Is it finishing an album? Getting a layout published? Actually “getting caught up”?

Nope, no, uh-uh. It’s getting and staying organized! Whether we paper-scrap or digi-scrap, scrappers collect stuff! Photos, of course, and kits, elements, quotes, sketches – stuff. Over the next several months, Jamie and I are going to get ourselves organized – and we invite you to organize along with us.

But before we actually start sorting, tossing, arranging, labeling, etc – we’re going to back up everything! This is a rough-and-ready, throw everything on CDs, just-in-case back-up. This is insurance against the worst.

You're probably not going to fit everything on one disk. I’m sorting in large categories – photos, layouts, fonts, freebies, store-bought kits, online classes. If you’re also making elements and kits, be certain to back up that work well. You may end up with more than one disk in some of these categories. I’ve decided that every category gets its own CD (or two or three.) In other words, I’m not trying to fit the fonts and the freebies on the same CD. For me, it’s easier to look for stuff on separated CDs. On the other hand, this is basically an emergency-proofing backup so you can decide to just fit as much as you can on each disk. We'll be sorting and arranging in the next few months and you'll be making more backups as we go.

Remember to label the CDs as you make them – and use something more permanent than the sticky-notes I have on mine right now. I wouldn’t bother with a full CD label on these – I’m going to print on address labels. You can also write on most CDs. Use a felt-tip pen, not a ball-point. The coating on the back of a CD can be damaged by ball-point or other hard tips and ruin the CD. [http://www.mscience.com/faq508.html]

If you’re feeling either paranoid or especially virtuous, make two copies of everything and take one set to your sister’s, or to work, or some other place outside your home. This is more insurance against the worst. At the very least, you might want to make two copies of your photos and store them in a safe place away from home.

Next month: Organizing Your Elements. Until then – Burn, Baby, Burn!

Kristen

01-03-2005, 02:38 AM

What a day LOL I got my first CD and DVD Burned. I am off and burning :)
Questions for article. Is there any way to show scrap book pages from the CD as a cd show? Would like to be able to show on TV and be good sized.
Also in saving scrap book pages to disk should we use JPG or native format?
Thanks Muriel

Hurrah for the burning!

Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 has a way to save a slideshow to VCD (a format to allow a CD to play in a DVD player.) I did this with some Christmas photos. Not the highest quality images, and I don't think I'd want to try to look at layouts this way. I know there are other programs that do the same, but I haven't researched them. You should probably post this question again in the Software forum (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7). People with software answers may not be reading this thread right now.

When you're saving scrapbook pages, I'd save both the jpg and the native format. You want to be able to go back and make changes and additions (one of the benefits of digital scrapping!) and for that you need the native format files.

mbartist

01-03-2005, 08:55 AM

I have 2 questions about backing up files.

1) I have read that they should be backed up to CD-R rather than CD-RW. Is it correct to say that DVD-R would be a better place to store the files than DVD-RW?

2) Is there an advantage to using CD-R rather than DVD-R if I have both options available to me?

Thanks for helping clear this up in my mind!
Pat

Janet

01-03-2005, 09:42 AM

I'd like to hear other opinions on this as well. From what I understand, CD-R (and I also assume DVD-R) discs are more stable than the RW...and I imagine not being able to overwrite by accident is a good thing as well. :rolleyes:

The advantage of DVD over CD is you can get more on one disc. BUT, the disadvantage is not everyone can read a DVD at this point, but usually can read CD. I use DVD-R whenever I can for my own stuff.

I love this whole idea!!!! I've been slowly working at organizing my stuff, but this might be the push I need to really clean and fling the old files I really don't need anymore, and burn to CD/DVD the ones I need to keep for awhile longer, but probably don't need to store on the computer anymore. I'll take the Flylady route on this of setting the timer for 15 minutes and seeing how much I can get done!

Funtolearn

01-03-2005, 09:53 AM

Burn Burn Burn LOL Till I went to bed last night.
How I decided (cd or dvd) was how much I needed or wanted on that file.
Have all my pictures backed up. Then woke up this mornig thinking did I get them all?"?? :rolleyes:

Haley64

01-03-2005, 12:04 PM

This is going to be such a great treat!! I have been honestly trying to organize my computer for over a week!! (I think too much!!) It's about 6 yrs old, even though it still runs great due to my puter guy! I'm afraid half the time, scared about the TV commercials that talk about all family photo's disappearing!! I just ran across a posting in the Jasc forum that they talked about a .dll file in PSP9 and that it is a security breach through Microsoft to allow internet uses to basically get your photo's!!
I have Roxio & HP cd burner, never used Roxio because I didn't know what it could or would do!!
I find I am moving things to where I think they should be, only to move them again! I have elements in kits like tags and such that I would like to be able to view all tags at once, but I am afraid to move them out of their correct folders, so that I can give credit when I use them!!
I use picasa, but I think it is limited on the size of image it will allow you to view? And it doesn't support .psp files which I have a lot of!
Anyway I can't wait for this organizing to start!!

scrappygranny

01-04-2005, 01:32 PM

I won't lose my stuff any more? (insert big smile here)

I burned CDs with my files about three weeks ago, or so, but dang if there aren't more things to burn. LOL Like dishes and laundry, a never ending job, I think.

This will be very good for me. I have a system now, but it isn't a very good system. And pictures are all in dated folders from the camera transfer. THIS could be some WORK! Much needed work, though.

Thank you!!

Dusty

01-04-2005, 07:14 PM

Oh boy this came just in time for me..Been working all week on organizing..burned everything on my computer last week but didn't orginize it first, I was worried I might delete something while I am organizing, I have a lot of copies so trying to get rid of all the extras. Then I'll orginize and re burn everything in proper folders. Looking foward to this.

the_littleminx

01-05-2005, 06:42 AM

Dusty,
Sounds like you and I are in the same boat! Glad to know I'm not the only one who haphazardly burned everything without putting much thought into the organizational side of things. lol

Rebekah

Kristen

01-05-2005, 10:42 AM

One thing that occurred to me - after I posted my article.

When you label - DATE! Month and year at least, but you might as well add the day as well.

jamie

01-05-2005, 11:13 AM

I did the same thing ... I literally have THREE spindles of CD's with photos, music, scrapbook kits, layouts, programs ... anything and everything (that's those stackes of 100 CD's you can buy ... I have THREE almost full!) I know I can probably weed some of them out and combine them, so this is definately a challenge I need to undertake!

txmusicmom

01-05-2005, 06:29 PM

I love this whole idea!!!! I've been slowly working at organizing my stuff, but this might be the push I need to really clean and fling the old files I really don't need anymore, and burn to CD/DVD the ones I need to keep for awhile longer, but probably don't need to store on the computer anymore. I'll take the Flylady route on this of setting the timer for 15 minutes and seeing how much I can get done![/QUOTE]>>

Janet!

Another Flybaby!

Donna ;)

jamie

01-11-2005, 12:11 PM

Ok, its time for everyone to check in ... how's the organizing going? Are you getting those CD's burned? Well, if you haven't started yet b/c you aren't sure how to burn CD's, I have an article posted in the University section right now on Burning CD's (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/articles/savingtocds_jcr.shtml) ... check it out and get started! :)

WyoGal

01-11-2005, 01:40 PM

Jamie, your article was great! It is so important to learn to burn! :D

I had a horrible experience with my laptop a few months ago. The motherboard went out! What a nightmare! Fortunately this isn't as bad as the hard drive because people who know how are able to retrieve the info off but for a few days it was still a nightmare to me because I just wasn't sure I would be able to get everything back that was so dear to me. :(

I ended up buying a new desktop for what a new motherboard would have cost and have since burned everthing I put on this computer. It is a good feeling to not have to worry about my files. We all think it won't happen to us but the way computers are made there is a very good chance it will. :eek:

I am enjoying this thread. Kristen and Jamie, keep up the good work! :D

Funtolearn

01-11-2005, 04:10 PM

I have everything burned to the cds and it is a big relief. I am keeping a list of new things so Ican add them to cds.
Thanks for the thread. My next goal is to try and keyword each pic. I think I will try and make it a point to do what I down load and then work so much a day on the older files. Maybe in time I will have it done.
Muriel

msmac_rn

01-12-2005, 05:58 PM

Hi Ladies,
I am very new to all of this. I am so new that I don't have anything on my computer to burn to CD's. I am in the process of scanning all of my photos. I am wanting to make an album for my daughter (senior this year). So I am starting with pics I think I will use in that album. What I need to know what software do you use for organizing. I have Photo Album 5 and have heard people talk about Picasso. Do these do the same thing or what. Please I need yall's input.

Becky
In Texas

Dusty

01-13-2005, 11:24 AM

Well been having trouble with my isp so that kept me off line and gave me more time to get organized. Spent the last few days going through all my folders and organizing them better I almost ready to re-burn everything again but this time all neat in proper folders and CD's..

rubberjunkie

01-13-2005, 12:05 PM

I've kind of haphazardly burned things for now, but I want to remind y'all of something. I just posted this to another group last night, and it bears repeating.

CD's are great for storing photos for ease of viewing or sharing, but they are not stable enough for long-term storage. The ideal thing for a full system back up would be to get an external hard drive that you could schedule to back up the entire computer every so often. Then when you aren't using it, you disconnect it in case of virus and can take it off site in case of fire.

Also, some people store photos off-site at places like dotphoto for extra insurance against losing photos.

jamie

01-13-2005, 12:25 PM

That's a really great suggestion and I really like the idea of storing photos offsite for those who can't go the external hard drive route. I think the basic rule should be to always have a back-up backup plan lol ... if you back up to 2 different places, you're extra safe!

Becky - I can't really help you with what program to use, anyone else have ideas? I've never used a photo organizing program b/c I upload my photos directly into individual folders. Its my method and its worked for me for years so I haven't changed it! We will be covering organization in the next couple topics though!

scrappygranny

01-13-2005, 02:45 PM

[QUOTE=jamie]Ok, its time for everyone to check in ... how's the organizing going? Are you getting those CD's burned?

ummmm... welll... I need to burn again cause I got new stuffs... but ya know... I really need to reburn everything and re-label as you suggested with Pictures on one, or 15, CDs and arrange other graphics on other CDs and such. and since I have to add I may as well just get that done correctly this time.

scrapqltr

01-13-2005, 03:05 PM

I finally got caught up on burning my CDs last night, and I also have an external hard drive.
When I download anything, I put it in a folder I named "Zipped Files" to be unzipped and added to the appropriate folder when I have time. After it's unzipped, I put the zip file into another folder labeled "To Burn". If it's a png or jpg, I copy and paste it into the "To Burn" file. I have subfolders for fonts, DSP, PSE brushes, styles, etc., Fotofusion, and general digi files(for everything else). I can then burn to the appropriate CD without having to go through the whole folder looking for specific files. Works great for me. It drives me crazy to have my computer unorganized. :D

I have the Roxio CD burner. For a long time I used CD-RWs and a formatted Direct CD, where you can drag and drop from Windows Explorer. I found quite a few later that were corrupted and unable to be read. My DH even took them to work to read on one of their computers, and it was no use. I lost them all. Now, I use CD-Rs with the Data Recorder, and haven't had any problems will loss.

the_littleminx

01-14-2005, 10:07 AM

Wow, I love how you have your process set up. That sounds awesomely convenient. I think I might just have to copy you a bit by creating a folder for zip files and a folder for burns. As it is now everything is fairly easy to locate for burning, but zipping is a whole other story if it doesn't unzip automatically. Thanks for sharing what works for you. That's really great!

As for my progress... I'm still working on doing my rough burn of everything. Once I have that all done then I'm going to go back and really organize everything and then reburn. It would have been nice to have had everything in good order before burning these last ones, but since I'd already started there wasn't really a whole lot of room around it. That's okay though as I'm just glad to be getting it done. :)

Oh, and in regards to keeping photos and such like that off site... I always burn copies of all of the pics, mainly of dd, and take them to my mum's. That way she not only has copies for herself, but we've got that extra insurance of the only copies not all being together.

Funtolearn

01-14-2005, 01:17 PM

I like the idea of the folder to burn. Just went in and added that. I had been keeping a hard copy of what needed to be burned but that is much easier.
I already had a zip file and that is very helpful. Just have to remember to put it in different folder when that comes up. Still mulling over the best way to save the finished pages.

scrapqltr

01-14-2005, 04:19 PM

Well, I have another folder called "Layouts", and that has subfolders for my layouts (grandsons, family, nature, etc.). LOL I have lots of folders! I just went through those and changed the pngs to jpgs if I knew I wouldn't be changing anything. Saves space. Then, I deleted the pngs. I used up so much space on C: that my husband put another drive on this computer just for my scrapbooking stuff. I still use C: for my graphic programs! :D

Funtolearn

01-14-2005, 04:39 PM

When I got in there and was setting up the program I started adding files and I thought this could go on for every LOL When I was downloading the CD and DVDs I did devide them so I can add to each one. This is turning out to be quite a job. :-)
Muriel

scrapqltr

01-14-2005, 06:55 PM

I know what you mean. But once you get a system going that works for you, then it's fairly easy to keep it organized. Each January, I go through my files (50 GBs) and delete stuff I know I won't use. Tastes change, so it's best to clean out the files and just keep it on CDs. I have 62+ folders :eek: with subfolders under "Scrapbooking". It takes days to go through it all. It's such a relief when I finally finish this process...until next year! :D

Funtolearn

01-14-2005, 08:28 PM

In November when I joined I realized what a mess I had and my machine was trying to go down on me. Got the fixed and realized I had been given a secon chance so I had better get things on another source. I got rig of a lot and reaaranged a lot. I had some collections of pictures in three or four different foulders. It is so much better. But must keep up the effort..
Muriel

scrapqltr

01-14-2005, 09:51 PM

That's why it is so important to burn CDs of your computer stuff. I learned the hard way. An electrical storm came through about 3 years ago and hit my computer before I could turn it off. Everything melted and I lost it all! It never dawned on me to burn CDs. I didn't even know how.

Samara

01-22-2005, 03:15 PM

I've been pretty good about burning a CD as soon as I have enough layouts to fill it up. In one month of digi scrapping, I have 5 CD's full!!

I also try to back-up my pictures as soon as I download them onto the computer. I immediately print out a contact sheet and burn a CD. I keep the contact sheet and the CD together in a binder. I keep the files on my computer and as I scrap them, I delete them. Makes it pretty easy to figure out which pictures I've scrapped. KWIM?

I realize that I really need to burn all my DSP sets too. I was thinking about going with themes or even designer. Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!

scrapqltr

01-22-2005, 03:56 PM

I think that is a personal preference, Samara. I do download all of my DSP things to one CD. All other digi scrap stuff goes on other CDs, no matter where they come from.

jamie

01-22-2005, 06:13 PM

Samara - I love your ideas of making the contact sheet and deleting photos as you scrap them. I do similar things with my kits. Once I use a kit I put it in a separate folder to burn to a cd later on. I don't really use kits more than once, and if there's something I want to use, I just go to the CD.

Next month's theme is actually going to touch on organizing all of yor digi scrap files :-)

Lauri

01-26-2005, 10:53 AM

This is a great challenge! My New Year's resolution is organization - my computer, my house, my LIFE! :D I'm in the process of burning CD's of all my scrapbooking kits. I can't believe how much there is, considering I've only been here since October! I have all the ZIP files of the kits and extras I've downloaded, and want to put them on a CD too. Some of the extra kits had passwords that were given out at a chat, and, well, I wrote them on scraps of paper that have been misplaced/cleaned up/thrown out! My question is, will I still need the password to unzip these ZIPs if I need them later? I've tried opening them now, and they do unzip, but is that because I've already unzipped them on this computer, or because the ZIP is no longer password protected?? I could just repack the stuff that's been unzipped, but why go to the trouble if the ZIP file is already there! Thanks for any help!!

Lauri

the_littleminx

01-26-2005, 11:24 AM

I'm by no means positive, but I would think if you've unzipped the files using the password previously that is why you are able to open them now. I don't think the password protection would just "go away", I think it's that you've set your system to remember and apply any passwords to zips for present and furture extraction on your particular system.

Rebekah

This is a great challenge! My New Year's resolution is organization - my computer, my house, my LIFE! :D I'm in the process of burning CD's of all my scrapbooking kits. I can't believe how much there is, considering I've only been here since October! I have all the ZIP files of the kits and extras I've downloaded, and want to put them on a CD too. Some of the extra kits had passwords that were given out at a chat, and, well, I wrote them on scraps of paper that have been misplaced/cleaned up/thrown out! My question is, will I still need the password to unzip these ZIPs if I need them later? I've tried opening them now, and they do unzip, but is that because I've already unzipped them on this computer, or because the ZIP is no longer password protected?? I could just repack the stuff that's been unzipped, but why go to the trouble if the ZIP file is already there! Thanks for any help!!

Lauri

scrapqltr

01-26-2005, 11:48 AM

I tried opening one of the password protected zips in the past and I couldn't do it. I usually make a duplicate folder and save that to a cd, discarding the zip. You could add the password to the zip name, like -pw-____.zip

jamie

01-26-2005, 12:35 PM

I'm not too sure about the password deal either, maybe someone else could enlighten us! But I would suggest keeping a small notepad by your computer to write all the passwords in or even a Word/Excel document on your computer, that way they will always be available to you. I also like the idea of renaming the files with the password in it, for example:

lyrical_layout.zip = lyricallayout_jackson.zip
:) :)

Janet

01-29-2005, 11:40 AM

Well, I hate to say it, but there IS an advantage to losing the gallery thumbnails....going through them, I'm FINALLY making sure all the "Stray" layouts are moved to the proper file on my computer. You know, the ones I saved without taking a nanosecond to look to see where it was put. Then I'll burn them ALL to an organized disc!!!!!!! Maybe this should be this week's organizational challenge! LOL

Funtolearn

01-30-2005, 11:20 AM

Wow! It is good to be back!! I too have been made more aware or saving. I was alright in that fact that I have a special file for my items saved for the web. So uploading was no problem but the fact that I have not been backing them up was brought to light big time.
My hat is off to the DSP Team. We're behind you all the way!

jamie

01-31-2005, 11:42 AM

I also had lots of spare time with DSP being down last week. Friday night I spent all night getting my computer organized. I literally had 3 spindles of CD's (you know the one's that hold 100 cd's each!!) full of photos, programs and digital scrapping stuff. It was all very unorganized b/c I would burn just a few things on them here and there. I tranferred EVERYTHING from the Cd's to my computer and organized them into different files. My photos, which I keep in folders according to event, went into files for each year - 2001, 2002, etc. Those were all then burned to CD's and labeled. All my layouts went onto one CD. My kits and elements, I separated by designer or type. For example, all kits by DSP Designers went on one CD, then I made another CD of "stray" kits. If I only had one thing from a site or designer, all of these went on another CD.

All of this transferred nicely onto about 15 CD's which I placed in a small CD holder that fits in my laptop case. I travel aroudn with my computer a lot so now I will always have my files with me. I then went back and deleted anything off the computer that I don't currently use - all photos from before 2004, kits I've already used, etc.

Having to reupload thigns to the gallery, I had to resize all my layouts b/c I don't keep the web versions. I created an action in PSCS that resizes and saves batches at a time and ran the batch action through my whole "Computer Scrapbook" folder. I had these small layouts saved into a folder called - go figure - "Small Layouts" lol ... I will save these from now on b/c they are the perfect size, not only for posting, but for submitting to magazines as well!

tshirt

02-01-2005, 07:35 PM

MaureenH

02-01-2005, 09:01 PM

One of my favorite organizing tools is that I download the graphics that show what is included in a kit. I inlcude one copy of this graphic with the kit itself (filed by web site). I make another copy of the graphic to put into a folder called "Kit indexes" which has subfolders by subject, such as Family & Child, Beach&Boat, Christmas, Winter, etc. I put a copy of the graphic that shows the kit contents in whichever of these are appropriate and I also put a copy of the graphic in a folder for all kit indexes. I can go to these folders and quickly see a graphic of every kit I have and scan through them to find one just right one for what I want. The name on the graphic file is first the kit name and then the web site (or designer) name so I know what folder to find the actual kit in.

jamie

02-02-2005, 10:34 AM

Here's the complete article for this month's challenge:

Scrapper’s Challenge #2
Ok, digi-scrappers, ready for your next challenge? For very obvious reasons, our next assignment will be to get those elements organized! As digital scrappers, we tend to stockpile TONS of elements and kits whether they are freebies or purchases. The number one rule you should remember is to always know where the kits and freebies came from. Anything you download should come with a “Read Me” or Terms of Use text file that will contain all the information you need about that particular file. If the element does not come with one, make sure to create one yourself. If you tend to download from the same designers, create a folder for each designer.

There are several different approaches you can take to organizing your files and it truly depends on personal preference. If you tend to keep every single thing you ever downloaded on your computer, then it may benefit you to use a program to help you organize and tag the elements. DSP has a great tutorial on this here that will pretty much tell you everything you need to know. I, on the other hand, only keep kits and elements on my computer that I have not yet used. Once I use something, I burn it to a CD, add it to an ongoing list I keep in Word and then delete it from my computer. This won’t necessarily work for everyone because I know many of you pull elements from different kits and use things again and again. Here are a few tips for keeping things organized:

1.Create and print out index sheets and keep them in a binder near your computer or in a file on your computer.
2.Keep a list of all your CD’s along with the kits found on each CD. This can also be placed in a binder.
3.Keep everything in separate folders – the folders depend on you – designers, file type, element type, etc.

Because this is such a large-scale task for most of us and will be done in so many different ways, we really want to hear from you guys to see how you all go about organizing. Do you know of a great program? Have you devised a system that works really well for you?

The most important thing to remember is that this is going to take time and patience, but will all be worth it in the end. Yes, it will take a few hours, maybe days to go through each element, tag it, assign keywords, put in folders, make sure you know where it came from, etc, but you won’t regret. The next time you’re creating a layout and you need that perfect element, it will be right there at your fingertips. Good luck!

Funtolearn

02-02-2005, 11:01 AM

Oh me! I am already behind :) Igot the first burning done right on time then came DSP!!! With classes, scraps, freebies and such I am in over my head. :) I have some organizing but this last two week things have just expolded!!!!! I make a hard copy of each kit and index. But I have gotten behind doing the classes and spend my time there. May have to sign off DSP next month just to catch up LOL. Not get my DSP fix Oh no!
Looking forward to seeing what others are doing. Maureen's ideas are good
Tagging along
Muriel

scrappygranny

02-02-2005, 04:14 PM

[QUOTE=jamie]Here's the complete article for this month's challenge:

Scrapper’s Challenge #2
Ok, digi-scrappers, ready for your next challenge? For very obvious reasons, our next assignment will be to get those elements organized!...QUOTE]

Oh, my goodness gosh. ::: dropping jaw to the floor ::: I KNOW that would make things much easier to find, and keeping it up after it gets to that point will be pretty easy, too, (if I actually keep it up) but gettin there could be some work! LOL Have I ever mentioned that I'm really a very lazy person? (giggling) Ok... gotta get things organized, this class, that class, organize files, make lists, cook supper, chase cats, make lists, go to work, sleep, make lists of organized files... Ok... I can do that! :D

dinotien

02-03-2005, 05:10 PM

I found a mail in my box from DSP, and accidently fell on this challenge of organizing. I am almost done organising. Working on a book to be published in september 05, I needed a system to organize my digital elements together with the pictures I was going to use for the book.
I found my dream organiser in Extensis Portfolio. Last year I took some rough 18ooo pictures, and I have A LOT of digital stuff.
Portfolio lets you make screenversions of HD and disks burned. It stores a preview folder on your Hard drive, and makes it easy to find everything back. You see previews from all the folders you want, you can catalogue by folder, but also by subject, color, designer. Name it and you can do it.
It is not an easy program, but if you really want to be serious about cataloguing, this is it. (Well, it is for me...)
I can send out a screendump should anybody be interested.
Catherine

Scrapbooknorma

02-03-2005, 05:22 PM

I currently am using 6 basic folders and have been working at getting them organized.

Folder 1 is AAAA (places it at the top so I don't have to scroll forever to get to it.) in My Documents on my C drive. In this folder I put all of my new items or downloads. This folder has lots of subfolders mostly divided by source; and once a month I try to make a backup cd/dvd. Then move them to a folder on my D drive.

Folder 2 is AAAAsort which holds items moved from my main drive until I have time to burn and sort them.

Folder 3 is AAAASource on my D drive and is an archive of where I downloaded from.

Folder 4 is AAAAGraphics on my D drive and is a breakdown into themes. (MANY folders!)

Folder 5 is AAAANormasPages on my D drive and contains many folders of archived pages, projects in progress, etc.

Folder 6 is AAAAPhotos

Now my HUGH collection is actually duplicated between source and graphics.
I know I want to eliminate one or the other but haven't been able to decide which one since I find items both ways, by theme also by creator or source.

No matter how one does this it seems to be a formidable task. Good Luck!

scrapqltr

02-04-2005, 11:22 AM

I think my files are as organized as I can make them, for me, and it has taken me about 2 years to get it working right. I have one folder called "All Scrapbooking". Under that, I have about 60 folders, with subfolders. They start with "Alphabets", and end with "Words". One folder is called "Sets", and that is broken down into themes for the kits I have (boys, girls, floral, colors, masculine, zoo, etc.)that don't fit into one of the other categories. Each one of those has subfolders for extra alphas, elements, papers, besides the kits. For the kits from DSP, my kits will read: DSP_designer_kit name, so it keeps everything grouped. Same for POTH, and SBB. The rest are listed with designer's name first, and then kit name. My "Holiday-Seasons" Folder has subfolders for all holidays and seasons, and those each have subfolders for alphas, elements, paper, WordArt, besides the specific kits.

Outside of the scrapbooking folder, under "C", I have Z-My Files (projects, templates, etc), Z-Zipped-downloaded files, and ZZ-Files to be burned to CD. The "Zs" keep these files at the bottom of C: drive for easy access so I don't have to open up the scrapbook folder to get to them.

I also have an external hard drive I copy my files to.

Whew! Sounds confusing, but it really isn't. :D

Nostalgic1

02-04-2005, 12:54 PM

Aha - here's the place to start - b4 burning. I have done the same thing - burned 2 soon. Not having any idea under the sun that I would have as much stuff to organize as I do now - and no doubt oodles more coming down the road - I just started burning alphabetically. Duh - what to do with the next wave of alphabet stuff? Seems like before we do anything, we've got to hear from everyone else who has figured out something so we know what the target is. I just started off running down the road, obviously not knowing where the target was. And now, like Rebekah, things are burned in no order at all.

Speaking for me, the lazy one, I don't want to have to identify each kit or photo by category. Maybe a HD the size of the NY state building would work. What I kind of mean is that when I want to find a kit to use for a family reunion, what kind of search criteria would I use to try to find where I had filed it away? Or if I have a beautiful kit that I absolutely must use, how do I search for a photo to put on it?

Hope several people come up with answers, so we can get a great target.
Barbara
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=21229#
Confused

Great idea! I've been working on trying to find a better way to organize all my scrapping stuff. The sucky thing is I've already burned a lot of it to cd so now I'll have to reburn when I get reorganized. lol

Anyhow, can't wait for this challenge to start. :D

Rebekah

MaureenH

02-09-2005, 10:10 AM

In working on the organizing I ran across a DSP kit that has no text file identification in it. It's called Homespun Harvest. Does anyone know the designer of this kit?

Similarily I was thinking that it is pretty easy to keep track of designer credits for kits, but once you start moving the elements around to subject folders, or download individual elements, it is harder to keep track of credits. I'm wondering if designers could put their names in the file names of folders and files? That way, you would always have the credit information no matter where the file ended up.

jamie

02-09-2005, 10:49 AM

Homespun Harvest was a quick crop kit by myself and Kelly Meaux :)

Funtolearn

02-09-2005, 11:18 AM

Maureen that would be a good idea if they would do that and we could make a master code list. Initials or coded their name in some way.

bdr

02-10-2005, 02:59 PM

I don't know if it may help anyone but I use a program (Macro Express) to rename all elements with a suffix including yymm date(helps eliminate duplicates).
I sort the terms of use file into a credits folder, and the kit sample into a sample folder. The remaining files can then be sorted into backgrounds, matts, charms etc.

If I need the credit, or terms-of-use for an item I look up the suffix in my credits folder. If I want all the parts of a kit I do a find for *suffix.* to round them all up again.

The macro program just helps to automate the renamming. If anyone is interested, I'd be glad to share the macro I created.
barb

Bittyfeet

02-14-2005, 10:18 PM

Well, I'm kind of an organizing freak. As my brain gets slower and my memory quirkier (is that a word??), I rely more on organizing to keep myself going. Whenever, whatever I download, I add the creator's name and a 3-4 letter abbreviation for the site/designer. Then they go into PSP PhotoAlbum under broad categories like kits-alphas-backgrounds-holidays. If there's a particular file in a kit that I think I'll want to use outside the kit, I add a keyword to that file - like tag-sage green (that's my favorite color-of-the-moment). I have an external hard drive and also burn to CD by site/designer and category. I'm eagerly following this thread to find ways to fine-tune my system. Thanks for starting this thread - what a great topic.

Karen

tnscrappn

02-20-2005, 10:58 PM

barb: I am impressed that you created your own macro! Wow! Now, do I understand you correctly that you don't keep your kits together? What steps do you follow when you do a layout?

anyone: How does sorting by site or designer help with finding the colors, elements, etc. you need when doing a layout?

Thanks. I'm looking forward to learning. I just started digi-scrapping and got so excited that I've collected freebies from all over and have very little idea what all I have!!! :o

rubberjunkie

02-20-2005, 11:57 PM

bdr

02-21-2005, 03:36 PM

When I do a layout it depends on what I'm going for. I like kits so I might look at the sample folder to see if any "grab" me. If so I can do a find over mutliple catagories for the "short suffix" I added to each element...then copy the "found" elements to a temporary work folder.

If I'm going some other way and I'm looking for a particular element I can look in the sorted folder for just the right element (or at least some inspiration).
barb

bdr

02-21-2005, 03:40 PM

It didn't really take me too long to set it up..but I must admit I have been tweeking it over time.
I love the macro program because it helps me save time in several different areas...and I definately need time!!!

rubberjunkie

02-21-2005, 04:01 PM

I'm thinking you should do a little tutorial on this. :D This sounds like something I can get into. What if I bribe you with a freebie? LOL!

bdr

02-21-2005, 11:48 PM

I wouldn't mind doing a tutorial but it does require the Macro Express software (macros.com). If enough people would be interested I wouldn't even need to be bribed.
barb

Scrapbooknorma

02-26-2005, 01:52 PM

This sounds FASCINATING! Please count me in if you do a tutorial on this!Norma

Kristen

03-02-2005, 02:14 PM

This month we're tackling our font collections. First of all, we have to remember that fonts can have an effect on the entire computer and not just our graphics programs. Windows 95/98/ME have a limit of approximately 1000 installed fonts and Windows XP doesn't have a limit. Mac OS 9 has a 512 suitcase limit and Mac OS X has no limit. However, the more fonts you have installed, the longer it will take for programs that use those fonts to load. On top of which you get incredibly unwieldy fonts lists to scroll through to choose your fonts. Right now, I have 235 fonts installed and I could probably stand to trim that down some.

When you decide to uninstall fonts, it‚s important to know which ones came installed with Windows in the first place. If you uninstall something Windows uses - for filenames, error messages, web pages, etc. - your computer will act very strangely until you get the fonts reinstalled.

List of fonts installed with Windows 95/98/ME
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q195708/

List of fonts installed with Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/winxp.htm?fname=%20&fsize=

List of fonts installed with OS 9
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=18078

List of fonts installed with Mac OS X
http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-fonts-in-mac-os-x

Alright - that gets the scary technical stuff out of the way. The rest of font management has two parts (just like element management) keeping track of where you found the fonts and finding the ones you want quickly and easily.

I use the same sort of folder setup for fonts as I do for elements. I have a folder in My Documents labeled "Fonts" and in that I have folders for the (many and) various websites I've downloaded from. Even though we're not in the habit of listing font designers by name in our credits, it's still a good idea to be able to find the site should someone ask - or if you want to go back and collect some more!

What about finding the right font - quickly and easily? Most people use a font utility. These generally allow you to preview the fonts on the screen, install and uninstall fonts, and sort them into categories. Many scrappers at DSP use The Font Thing (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~scef/tft.html) a free font utility. I use Printer's Apprentice (http://www.loseyourmind.com/) a shareware program that allows me to print the fonts in various ways. I tried The Font Thing and found that I need to see the fonts "live" on paper to be able to make a choice. I haven't had cause to look for a Mac font utility - if you're using one, please let us know.

Scrolling through hundreds and thousands of fonts - with or without a font utility - just isn't the way to go. You want to organize your fonts in categories, so when you look at a layout and decide "I need a hand-written font here" you can look in one place and find all the handwriting fonts together. My categories happen to be stored in binders next to my computer rather than in my font utility, but the concept is exactly the same.

What categories should you use? It depends greatly on what sort of fonts you collect. I am very fond of historical fonts - so I have binders for Historical, Calligraphy, and Hand-writing because I have enough to make three binders and because for me there's a difference between Calligraphy and Historical. If you don't collect historical fonts you may not have any, or they may be classified with handwriting fonts. I have Grunge and Typewriter and CK binders. I also have binders for Stylish and Decorative. For me, the difference is that Stylish fonts are streamlined and elegant while Decorative fonts go all out with flourishes and curlicues. The point is, you need to look at your own font collections and decide how to most effectively categorize them.

My dingbat fonts (picture fonts) are sorted by category in a single binder. I don't have many alphadings, also known as letterbats or dingfonts (fonts that combine the alphabet with pictures - such as a pumpkin alphabet) so they're not sorted, they just get a binder to themselves.

There are three points to organizing your fonts - keeping your computer happy, finding the font you want when you want it, and keeping track of where you got it. Please share with us your techniques, your categories, other software you've found useful - or any questions.

msmac_rn

03-02-2005, 06:18 PM

I have a slight problem, I have approx 1600 fonts. :eek: I use font thing to keep them, I have absolutely no idea where I got all of these fonts. Some were given to me, some I have d/l. I started getting these fonts before I had even heard about digi scrapbooking or gotten the "bug". How do I fix this. I do not want to think about dumping it all and starting over again. :eek: I have a font folder that I just keep them all in and point font thing to that file. I by no means have them all installed. What do I do? :confused:

TIA
Becky

Funtolearn

03-02-2005, 06:49 PM

Oh Yes!!! This is what I need. LOL thanks for the lists. That is where I will start.
Muriel

Funtolearn

03-07-2005, 12:30 AM

Went thorugh my machine today and I have 1050 fonts installed. I printed them all out . NOw how do I sort them?Can I add folder in my windows file and move them in then move that folder to MY Fonts in My Docs. It was nice to get you nice neat list. Acouple of weeks agao when I was doing an online news letter I discoverd that looking at what I had done ( thought it was wonder ful LOO) then looked on my husbands machine and OH nO the wonderful stuff didn't show up. I knew nothing had been added to his machine so I went and printed his list of fonts off and marked them in my fonts book with yellow. That way I could see waht was native to windows when I was making the web newsletter. That way I would be sure it looked like I wanted. All help with fonts would be appreciated.

jamie

03-07-2005, 11:20 AM

How you sort your fonts really depends on you. I don't have mine organized :rolleyes: but I only have fonts from CK, LD and one other CD so I tend to know where they came from. I know that some people keep them in folders by website and use The Font Thing to install them as they need them. I like to have all mine installed already, though. I do have a word document that lists all my fonts and where I got them from. For those of you starting with 1,000+ fonts, this may be an option instead of sorting them into folders. If you aren't sure who made the font, most of the time you can google the font name and find out who the creator is. Be careful, though b/c some websites like Dafont.com carry lots of fonts but they are not the creator. The actual creator can be found (most of the time) in a read me inside the zip file. This will probably take forever, but can be worth it.

Another thing I'd like to mention that I think is really important and somethign I didn't consider until I became a designer for DSP is that if you plan to eventually create and sell your own kits or elements - you have to make sure you are allowed to use certain fonts in your creations. Check each font and make sure you have permission to use it for profit.

I used to have over 1,000 fonts on my computer but once I began selling kits on DSP, I dumped my entire collection and now only keep fonts on my computer that I can use commercially. This makes things much easier for me.

pkbb

03-19-2005, 08:24 AM

Been meaning to do this, but now that I am challenged to do it. I am on the mission.

Pam

04-02-2005, 12:13 PM

I've saved all of my fonts to a font directory -- with subdirectories. I named the main directory "extra fonts" and that's where I unzip fonts when I first get them. The subdirectories are "cursive, dings, scraps, etc." and then "A-C" & "D-I" & "M-P" & "Q-Z." You could add as many as you wanted -- but since The Font Thing (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~scef/tft.html) loads everything in the directory you've been in last (or are in now), it takes forever if you have several hundred.

I have copied all of the files that are in my fonts directory in Windows also (because if you tell The Font Thing to uninstall a font, it sends it to the recycle bin. So now I can trim down the number of active fonts without ever losing any of them! I've kept my favorites and some that I know came with different software in Windows and trimmed the rest, adding and subtracting often.

When working on a layout and needing a special font, I open the tab on the right side of The Font Thing to the "Multiple" page so I see several at once. I open the tab on the left to "Browse" and choose a directory to look at. When I've found the one I want I can then look at "Characters" (tab on the right side) to make sure it has any extra or special characters I may want, or in the case of dings, I can see which are included). Then I check the "Font Info" for copyright information if there's a chance I could be submitting the layout to a publication.

vgray

04-03-2005, 09:36 PM

I have also put my files on DVD-R but I really need a database of the images because I'm still always looking for the one I want. I'm glad I transferred the zip disks to DVD though because now my zip drive reader is not reading dependably. Another technology dies!

vgray

04-03-2005, 09:52 PM

Everyone has a picture at the side of their message. Did I do something wrong? I thought the picture came from the Gallery.

Pam

04-03-2005, 11:53 PM

Those photos are called avatars. To add your avatar, you need to size a photo or graphic image to a max of 125x125 and less than 50kb. Then click your user CP (the far left link on the bar right below the title graphic). In the box on the left of the page, click edit avatar, then click the Browse button (similar to uploading to your gallery) -- find the photo you've created and upload it.

Pam

04-04-2005, 08:07 PM

This month we'll work on organizing the shortcuts to website pages. I've seen browsers with a long, long list of shortcuts and I've seen someone scribble a web page address on a scrap of paper. Organizing shortcuts allows you to find the link to just the right font or tutorial when you need it to complete a layout!

While searching the Internet, your web browser allows you to save shortcuts (Mozilla Firefox and Netscape call them Bookmarks, Internet Explorer (IE) calls them Favorites. These shortcuts will allow you to re-visit pages directly without always having to remember or type in the address. You can even organize shortcuts into folders that you create and name yourself, just as you might with a filing cabinet.

Browsers come with shortcuts already in place, but most users will add to these default settings. In Firefox, click Bookmarks, Bookmark this page. A small menu appears that allows you to create a folder to save the page in or choose from a folder already there. Click Bookmarks in Netscape and it allows you to File Bookmark, again choosing a folder to save it in. IE also has a small menu appear that allows you to choose the folder to place it in or create a new one.

My folders are named "Quilting" or "Fonts" or "Scrapbook" and such, making it easier to find the link I want. If the name of the website is too long, or if you prefer to remember it by a different title, type it into the Name field before you save it. You can have a folder for your topic, say genealogy, then place sub-folders within it to name each family - then save links in these folders.

You can right click while within a folder of bookmarks and select "sort." This way the links are alphabetized. But if there are shortcuts you prefer to have at the top, right click and drag it to the top. You can also "organize favorites" or "manage bookmarks" to open the shortcuts and rename them, delete them, or drag them into a different folder.

It's always easier to organize from the beginning, but if you have been saving shortcuts for a long time it is well worth the effort to take a few minutes to organize them. Then when you are looking for the perfect font, or Valeri's tutorial on removing the background of a photo in PSP, you'll have the links saved and organized that you can go right to them.

OK, I hope this has helped some - and we encourage your comments and suggestions.

Funtolearn

04-09-2005, 08:08 PM

Goodness I started off with such good intentions and now I am in the hole!!! Have been organizing my desk and making a new notebook so that I can try and keep up with the months activities and challenges. Found where I had printed one months challenge and realized I had let this challenge get away.. Anyway have all challenges jprinted and also interestin responses.
Hopefull I will get back to organizing.
Thanks for being here.
Muriel

JoyCrazy

04-18-2005, 07:38 PM

Hi. I'm very new here :)

About every 6 months I factory wipe my computer and use the backup disks that came with it to reinstall my basics. But I use CD's to backup my freeware programs (addicted to freeware), Photo's and other files I want to keep. So I try to keep everything organized. (I don't recommend doing the factory wipe for everyone ... it works for me but it's scary every time) For my Favorite/Bookmarks I use a hardcopy to keep track of them in two parts. I print off a list of the websites and which folder I have them organized in for ex
Y!
www.yahoomail.com
www.yahoolaunch.com
Go
www.disney.com
www.amatravel.com

and I print it off then burn a copy to one of my cd's. With the printout I go through and write the username and password for each site. (I do not ever store a list of those electronically!). When I'm rebooting I just load the list and add them back into my favorites as I need them.

Two last notes about favorites Yahoo has a online Bookmark backup that's free and works for IE and Netscape users. Us firefox users gotta do it the hard way so far. Lastly I keep all my bookmarks in my Links folder. I move all the quicklinks that are factory installed into a Windows folder and out of the links one. (cause i hardly ever touch them) then I create folders with names one or two character long such us J - for all my website stuff and Sc - for all my scrapbooking links. Then when I'm surfing I just click the folder name and a drop down list of all my links appears. It looks something like this on my links bar {Y! J Fw HP @ $ Go Sc ). My links are all easily available and there alot of space left on the link bar to add folders. To adopt this system all you have to do is empty out your links folder rename your other folders and move them to the Links folder with your organize bookmarks function on your browser. This works with IE and Mozilla Firefox for sure. I don't know about netscape.

I really glad I found this thread. I didn't realize how much keeping my fonts and Photoshop extras separate would help speed up my computer. I plan to add nothing into the Photoshop folder from now on.

Sorry I was so long winded.

alliani

04-23-2005, 12:25 PM

I have a ton of burned CDs (two full binders, each holding ~120, plus various boxes & shelves). One of the things that I've found extremely useful is a catalog program. I use Advanced Disk Catalog (ADC) but I know there are others out there. With ADC you pop in your CD, it reads it and makes a catalog database (stored on your computer), and you can add comments & categories for each file or an entire folder. Then when you're looking for something you can do a search through the catalog and the program will tell you which disk it's on and which folder it's in.

There is another program I use less frequently called ThumbsPlus which will create a thumbnail catalog of images and fonts (oh, I have too many fonts...). Again, you can create categories & assign keywords for searching later. You can even print out a catalog of the thumbnails if you wanted. TP is nice in that it can find duplicate images (one of my many faults) which can end up taking up a lot of space.

Now I need someone to come to my house and make me organize everything else!! :D

~L

Pam

04-23-2005, 09:10 PM

Wow, thanks for sharing these! I'm off to check them out -- they sound like wonderful helpers! I did buy an external hard drive to back my kits, digital photos, and scans to - but still have mountains of CDs that I need to sort out the duplicates of. Although I have my fonts organized, it would be wonderful to have a better way to visually select the one I may want to use. Now if you get any takers on the housework, I need that kinda suggestions, too!

Funtolearn

04-24-2005, 01:47 AM

Goodness i am back to month 2..Trying to get my files straightened out. Had downloaded a bunch and not kept up.. So went and got all downloads under Designers name.. It is in order for the moment. Hope it will last more then a day.

mom2one+two

05-20-2005, 11:57 AM

I absolutely LOVE The Font Thing. It has been my font lifesaver since I have over 600 fonts now. What I need is something like that for Elements.

I want to be able to organize and find my papers, mats, frames, embellishments, etc. the same way I search for and install fonts. If anyone is of the programming persuasion and could come up with something like that, you'd sell a TON of them!!!

Theresa

whisper angel

05-20-2005, 09:19 PM

I sure have a critical need for organizing, not only getting started with scrapbooking but organizing Paint Shop Pro graphics, personal financial records, my home papers etc and I really don't know where to start. I probably have not burned more than 3 or 4 cd's and no dvd's at the moment. I have many of my graphics on a zip drive as well as my plug-ins. My tutorials are printed out on paper and also need organization. I am really quite an organized person even though I have made attempts to organize my papers but all to no avail. I am new to scrapbooking and it is difficult to keep everything in line. I just found out about this thread and it seems to have been going for quite some time. I sure don't know where to start and it will take forever. I guess for the next couple of weeks I will be working on getting organized for my trip to Nashville. It sure doesn't help to be working full time either. I guess I just try to do too many things as I have so many interests.

Shirley

Starling

05-21-2005, 08:21 AM

Welcome to the club, whisper angel. This thread was already running when I came to this site. I've done a lot of organizing, but still need to do more. I'm beginning to think that what is really needed is an ongoing challenge that repeats every few months to keep us all in line. ;)

raynebair

06-14-2005, 03:14 PM

What do you do with the zip files after you've downloaded and unzipped it and organized the contents?

I downloaded a bunch of stuff from the Freebies and once I unzipped it all and categorized it, there wasn't enough disc space on my CD to burn everything, so I just didn't burn the zip files.

I'm one that always keeps everything, so not having the original zip file is hard to get used to. So I was wondering what everyone else does.

alliani

06-14-2005, 03:40 PM

The .zip file is just the compressed version of the original (I know you know that) so, in my opinion, the .zip is just the packaging, so to speak, it's the uncompressed file that you want/need.

However, being a fellow packrat, I can certainly relate! :D I would suggest, then, when you've unzipped a file to set the .zip archive aside in a folder marked "to burn" or something - and when you have 700Mb worth of zipped files (or 4Gb if you're lucky enough to have a DVD burner) burn all the zipped files to a separate CD. Or two if you're paranoid. ;)

Again I'd strongly suggest some kind of catalog, whether a program or just a word processing document with the file name and a description of what's in the file and its location. Might even include a .txt file or files on the burned CD with descriptions as well.

Since you asked, personally I delete the .zip once uncompressed. And, yes, there have been occasions where I inadvertently deleted an unzipped file or folder and had to go through the process of trying to remember where the hell I found it & which one it was, and hoping it was still available! But that doesn't happen often enough that I feel I need to keep the zipped files handy.

Oh, and if you have any passworded .zip files either include a .txt document in your archive with the passwords or unzip & rezip without the password. I do have a few zips laying around I've lost the password to. Can't bring myself to delete them because as soon as I do I'll find the .txt or .doc where I wrote down the password. :rolleyes:

~Lori

MaureenH

06-14-2005, 06:19 PM

I burn the zip files onto a DVD once I have enough to fill it and then delete from my hard drive. I put the password right in the zip file name.

txmusicmom

06-14-2005, 06:43 PM

I've done a lot of organizing, but still need to do more. I'm beginning to think that what is really needed is an ongoing challenge that repeats every few months to keep us all in line. ;)

2 thumbs up! I agree!

Donna

Emma

06-14-2005, 07:36 PM

Just FYI: zip files don't really compress graphics, they're already compressed. What they do is put a lot of files into one file for easier downloading. I'm sure there must be some graphic file formats a zip can compress, but they're the same size as the files inside usually. So bear that in mind when deciding to save them. I chuck them, personally! Just burn back-up graphics, same size anyway

whisper angel

06-15-2005, 02:20 AM

I tend to keep my zip files also. Right now I have folders for zip files set up for the programs I use them for. Like the classes I am taking I have a folder called online classes. Within the online classes I have a zip folder, and a folder for each group of classes I am taking. I also have a folder for this groupl for eadh of my lvsonline classes etc and each class has a folder for whatever weekk I am working on but the zip files stay in my folder for online classes. I have a folder for PSP Magic, PSP Dynasty etc and place a zip folder in eadh of those groups. I then unzip them as I decide to do the tutorial and then have the zips available when needed. I have not deleted any of my zips.

Shirley

What do you do with the zip files after you've downloaded and unzipped it and organized the contents?

I downloaded a bunch of stuff from the Freebies and once I unzipped it all and categorized it, there wasn't enough disc space on my CD to burn everything, so I just didn't burn the zip files.

I'm one that always keeps everything, so not having the original zip file is hard to get used to. So I was wondering what everyone else does.

BonnyJean

06-15-2005, 09:18 AM

my "stash" is a mess right now! When I started digi scrapping last year sometime, I never thought about designer credit or where I got things. I just got things! I did save all the zips to a zip folder but then took the kits and broke them up like I did my paper stuff! I had a folder for backgrounds, for fibers, elements etc. I didn't rename anything or do anything, just broke them up! Now that I'm doing more pages, I really want to know who the designers are! So, I'm going back and trying to recreate the kits and rename them from where I got them! lol I'm glad I kept the zip files, because now I'm having to look at those to find the files again and go searching out each file. Its nice because I'm finding kits I forgot I had! lol

After I'm done recreating the kits, I'm burning the zips to cd and then deleting them off the hard drive. I feel like I have security (some because I don't have passwords for some of those kits! :( ). I may also burn the kit folders to cd after I have them all organized! I've been working since last Thurs, a few hours a day on this! Well, I did take a day and create notepad files for everyone of my layouts with the designer info on them! lol

Emma

06-15-2005, 10:27 AM

Shirley, burning those types of zips DOES save space because those aren't graphic files, or at least not ALL graphics (tutorial html, doc, txt, or similar zip up very well, compressed in size). The graphic zip files...well, I guess at least the txt file takes up slightly less space, if that's possible, LOL!

raynebair

06-17-2005, 03:04 PM

Thanks for the responses...I have decided that once I unzip and organize, I will delete the zip file, which I know will come back to haunt me some day. LOL!

So far my organization involves, keeping a folder for where I downloaded/purchased from...Inside that folder I have a folder for each type of download. Like from here, I used the same categories as are used in the freebies gallery. Inside those category folders, I have a folder for each item I downloaded. So that all components stay together, I know what it is, and I know where it came from.

Since I'm a beginner, and am just starting I think it's great to get organized now, before I get too involved.

My images are on a networked drive because my hard drive is too small. I hate it, but I'm on a Mac and it's not feasible to upgrade the hard drive. DH has a 200 GB drive that he added to his PC for exactly that, storing files, so he says I don't need to get a new hard drive for my computer. But I got sidetracked.

I have a folder within my Pictures folder that I keep all my digital camera photos. Then a while back, I organized my photos by month/year. They are all named "yyyy.mm" unless they are from a specific day that I want to keep separated, then I include the day in the folder name. Or if they are from a specific event, I append the event name to the date, so for example I have a folder named "2004.12 Christmas in Florida" or "2002.09.07 Cousin's Wedding". I also have folders for photos that do not need or have a date associated with them. Like photos I've taken of my house or all of my knitting project photos. Those are just thrown into folders with the subject name.

For photo management, since I'm on a Mac, I use iView Media. There is also a Windows version of this software. I like it because it doesn't matter where your files are...it only records where it is and general info about the image along with a thumbnail. So you could catalog images on a CD. If you want to view the full size image, it tells you to insert the CD that the image is located on. I can make keywords, add location, author, event and people tags, as well as create sets of photos that might span multiple folders.

But, all that being said, my fonts are not organized. I just have a CD with almost 1000 fonts on it. LOL! I'm still trying to find a Font manager that I like. As I mentioned above I'm using a Mac, so I can't use my favorite font manager. For a PC, I totally recommend The Font Thing. It is the best font manager ever made and it's free.

Oh I forgot to mention...I also created a separate catalog in iView Media to organize my scrapping supplies. Keywords would include hearts, blue, keys, flowers, etc.. Sets would include the major categories...Backgrounds, Embellishments, Ploppers, etc.

photomama

06-17-2005, 07:50 PM

This is a neat challenge - Is it too late for me to start?

I will read through the challenges more carefully and see what I can get started.

Yeah - for starting this.

Thank You - Photomama aka DiAnn

knowly13

06-20-2005, 03:25 PM

I sorted all of my freebies into folders by subject: brads, tags, etc...now I feel bad that I can't give credit where credit is do. So, I'm making a credit page on my personal webpage where I plan to give credit to all that I have gotten freebies from. Then from now on I'll just type the url to that page.

I have also started putting stuff into folders by designer and then by sub categories.

I am kind of wierd about my computer everything has a place and a folder. It makes it much easier for me to find things...Now if only I was like that in my studio and art classroom. LOL. :rolleyes:

I posted this and then realized this goes with challenge 2 and I'm a little late to the group. Until I get caught up I'll utilize the challenges.

LauraLou

06-21-2005, 07:06 PM

At a crop recently, we were asked to put the kit number in the keyword field. Kit number??? I immediately saw a way to organize my kits a little better. I sent Emma question about how I could find out each kit number and it was SO easy! The last numbers in the URL of the full-size version of the kit in the DSP store is the kit number with "dsp" after it. For instance, if you own Lauren' Bavin's African Safari kit you will discover the number is "0476dsp". So my kit is named "Kit-0476dsp-African Safari-Lauren Bavin". It only took me a little under an hour to find the numbers and renumber 67 kits.

Why? So I can include the dsp-number in the keywords for each and every layout I do with kits. If you do that your layout will come up when a potential buyer clicks on that line under the description of the kit. I was dismayed when some of my favorite kits didn't have ANY examples.

I am still checking in case I missed one of the purchased kits residing with my set of 43 DSP "freebie" kits. I also need to identify Alphas, Background Collections, Overlays, Ploppers and Word Arts with numbers but all in good time.

Tara

06-21-2005, 07:36 PM

Sounds great! I've got most of my paper-scrapping stuff under control...and so far my computer looks good too. However, the number of digital photos and projects and embellisments are rising at an alarming rate!

PS Elements Three can help you make a back-up of all your photos. It takes a while but it pretty much does it itself. Then you can just back up the new stuff every so often.

And don't forget the Font Thing. That is my favorite tool for organzing my 900+ fonts!

canay

07-05-2005, 03:14 PM

What do you do with the zip files after you've downloaded and unzipped it and organized the contents?

I used to save mine in a folder called "downloads". But I have never gone back into the downlods folder and decided it was unnecessary.

Now, I use a program called unziplify. I have it configured to delete the zip file after it has unzipped. I do backup my files to CD/DVD. If I ever needed something I would go to the backups instead of the original zip folder.

However...I do keep the zip file of any programs and updates that I get online. I save these in my downloads file and burn that file onto CD. This was a lifesaver when I re-formatted my hard drive and needed to reinstall programs.

Canay

txmusicmom

07-09-2005, 04:53 PM

Why? So I can include the dsp-number in the keywords for each and every layout I do with kits. If you do that your layout will come up when a potential buyer clicks on that line under the description of the kit. I was dismayed when some of my favorite kits didn't have ANY examples.

I am still checking in case I missed one of the purchased kits residing with my set of 43 DSP "freebie" kits. I also need to identify Alphas, Background Collections, Overlays, Ploppers and Word Arts with numbers but all in good time.

WOW I'm impressed-- I've done 3 so far-- LOL
I think the confused picture of you doesn't fit this post! :)

Pam

07-30-2005, 10:31 PM

I got my first digital camera in July of 2000. I've created a photography directory, under which I have sub-directories for scans, my nieces wedding, genealogy photos -- all with subdirectories. I also have a "digital" sub-directory. In it, I've placed the years, adding each year -- so my first sub-directory in the digital sub-directory is 2000. Within that, I place another sub-directory for each month -- 200007, 200008, through 200012 (the year, the month - this keeps them in the right order when I am looking for a photo).

My photos are then renamed by the year, month, date, number for that date -- so the first photo I take will be 05073101.jpg, the second will be 05073102.jpg, and so on (05 for the year, 07 for the month, 31 for the date, and the number order for the photos). My main reason for this is that if I edit a photo and lose the date and timestamp, I still have it in the name. And if I later wonder when I took the photo, it will be easy to know because of the name.

Photography
...Digital
......2005
.........200501
.........200502
.........200503
.........200504
.........200505
.........200506
.........200507
............05070101.jpg
............05070102.jpg
............05070103.jpg
............05070201.jpg
............05070202.jpg
............05070203.jpg
............05070204.jpg
............05070205.jpg

It's work, yes. But it works for me - I take a lot of photos. So it's easier to take the time to rename them when I put them on the computer because it gets easy to put it off and then have a huge job or just quit doing it. I do keep a copy of my digital photos that I've never edited backed up to my external hard drive, and to CDs - with no negatives, I'm very cautious.

Always interested in what others do for organization!

sandra

08-28-2005, 03:06 PM

You guys are really terrific to help us newbies at DSP, pulling us along with you on these challenges! Two quick questions relating to this massive challenge. although I am far behind...

Can someone please expand on this issue of CD-R versus CD-RW? I have CD-RW on hand today, and I began burning my collections, as these are taking up the most space now. But then I read that the other type is preferable. Why is that? Should I ditch the stuff I have copied in favor of the other type of CD?

And a silly question: once I burn a batch of stuff, can I then go back later and add more to that same CD? Or must I burn everything at one time?

If I can revisit a partially used CD, is there some easy way to know how much space I have left on a CD I have burned stuff onto? I have Windows XP, if that makes a difference. dunno... ((shrugs shoulders and slaps forehead in frustration.))

With all these CD issues, compounded by the question, what the heck will I do with them all, I wonder if an external drive is not the better way to go. Cataloging many cds in binders with index prints (and how do you get THOSE?) is just too much to imagine yet. I would really much rather continue saving in an organizing fashion similar to what I use now on my PC. How much should I expect to spend on a purchase such as that?

Thanks again for all your help...

raynebair

08-30-2005, 10:33 AM

Once you burn something to a CD-R it is permanently on there, no taking it off except to destroy the CD. Of course then you can't use it again.

With CD-RW, it means it's rewriteable. Which means that you can burn something to it, and reformat it (like you can with a floppy or your camera card) and write something else to it.

If you are looking for something permanent I would recommend CD-R. They are so cheap that even if you don't need something in the future, it's not too big a deal to throw the disk away.

With Windows XP, and CD-R, you can continue to add to the disk, you just can't modify or delete what is already on the disk. This is a handy little feature cause you don't have to wait till you have enough to fill up a disk. Put what you want on it and it's permanently there. Then, where you have more to add, just put the CD back in the drive and add more to it.

It creates a temporary file (it will be sort of gray with a shortcut arrow) so when it goes to burn to the disk, it will let you know if there isn't enough room for all that you want to copy, so you can go back and delete the temporary file from the CD folder if you have too much.

I'm not sure how people catalog their CDs. I keep everything on an external drive and back up every once in a while to DVD, so I don't really have a set backup/cataloging routine.

Pam

08-30-2005, 06:44 PM

Check out page one of this thread -- it began with burning to CDs and DVDs and there is a lot of information there also. raynebair has done great with answering questions for sanstanton, any more suggestions?

Pam

08-30-2005, 07:58 PM

This month's challenge will be to prepare for albums you want to create for a gift. How do you organize your photos to prepare for a project? Do you hunt for photos and make copies to place in a special directory or do you make notes as to where each photo is? Do you know which kits you have? Do you keep a small notebook handy to write down events as they happen?

Journaling is one of the things that makes a scrapbook extra special - especially when they are memory books for our children or books to share our children's lives with their grandparents. We keep so busy that it's difficult to remember a cute remark made or a teacher's name or the perfect quote - seen flashing across the bottom of the clock at the bank. Preparation begins before anything happens.

Have you read or used Margie's Power Scrapbooking guide (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/powerscrapping.shtml)? For many, school just began -- do you remember how fast the holidays approach? Why not begin now with a list of those a digital album would be an ideal gift for and begin to arrange photos - get a head start on holiday gift giving! You can also follow along here (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4495).

I'd like for you to add your ideas and comment on mine! It's great to learn by sharing.

Mikana78

09-10-2005, 05:35 AM

Amanda

09-10-2005, 07:53 AM

Butterfly24

09-10-2005, 08:56 AM

I'm going to try to post my question as clear as possible! Say I've already burned my files to a cd-r. I know how to add files afterwards but does anyone know if its possible to add files into folders that are already on the disk? Like if I were to have a folder for downloads from different sites and each site had there own folder, (example) could I add DSP files to my DSP folder on my disk? I don't know why I never tried this, it just came to my thoughts now! Hope someone can help! Thanks :)

Amanda

09-10-2005, 09:35 AM

I think you would be better off burning everything to a whole new cd :)

Pam

09-25-2005, 04:44 PM

I noticed the last post was in April - yet I've only just started going through this a couple days ago to organise my files...

this forum has really helped to work out how to organise my newly developed obsession :p has it gone to another thread, or did it just die off? perhaps we could start again for those who havnt kept up with their newly d/l files???

Actually the post before yours was made just before yours -- the threads are sometimes on more than one page. If you get to the bottom of a thread, check to see if there are more pages -- this one has three pages, and does continue. Check back through the comments and then post again if you have specific questions -- friendly/helpful members is one of this site's greatest assets!

Pam

09-25-2005, 04:46 PM

Both of the organizers aren't not really around right now.

Kristen has been a work-a-holic lately and Jamie was from New Orleans and is now living with her cousin with the impending birth of her first child.

Maybe someone else will want to take it up! We also love member-hosted events!

I have been helping Kristen with this area since this Spring when Jamie asked for a replacement. Sorry if I've missed some posts. I'll subscribe to this thread so I don't miss future ones. The members are doing great with sharing what has worked for them, please be sure to post if you have specific questions. I have been trying to add a new topic each month.

EeyoreChele

11-12-2005, 12:01 AM

Just popped in for a bit of advice. I know for most of you it's a bit too late, but when I fist started collecting stuff here (erm what a week or 2 ago) I began taking my freebies and stuff and sorting it from the get-go. I have a backup drive that most of my graphics and stuff go on anyways.. so I made a new folder called "Scrapbooking" and inside it I have folders ranging from fonts, to kits, to Finished, etc. As I collect more, I sort it as I go.. so I don't get over burdened with stuff.

I've been using PSP for about 5 years (give or take) and when I started collecting stuff I got SOOO SWAMPED. I JUST got everything organized and deleted etc about a month ago. Now, someone can ask me if I have a graphic of a male pixie and I could go to my fantasy folder and in "FairyPixie" folder and pull out several. Now to buy new CD's to back it up before we have another crash. Which is the MAIN reason I have the stuff I want to keep on my backup drive.. reformating isn't a bother with images since their on drive 2. The big pain of reformatting is to put my PSP's back on and get my settings, fonts, and plugins back in order. ACK!

Pam

11-12-2005, 08:06 AM

Along with backing up my kits and graphics on an external hard drive, and organizing them in the process, I also back up all of the fonts I use (and those I only use occasionally). Paint Shop Pro places most of the additions we make in a separate folder in My Documents called My PSP Files - so I back that up and the directories under Paint Shop Pro in Program Files that contain filters and materials. This has also been helpful when upgrading to newer versions when PSP no longer included a favorite brush or shape -- I could go to my backed up items and add it to the new copy.

Paint Shop Pro also allows you to save your workspace -- so if you get the icons all set up the way you want them, be sure to save the workspace. You can even save extra workspaces -- maybe one for when you're working on photos and another for when you're drawing objects (as you'd be using different tools). If you have to reformat or reinstall, you can open PSP and load your saved workspace and everything is back the way you saved it. These workspaces get saved in the "My PSP Files" so would be backed up if you save this folder to your backup drive.

MandyT

11-25-2005, 10:15 PM

EeyoreChele

11-25-2005, 10:25 PM

RE: ORGANISING AND STORING - any ideas for me???
Jumping in a bit here - but how are most people organising their stuff - by type: Overlays, Kits, Ploppers, etc? or by Categories like: Baby, Children, Wedding, Christmas, etc? or by Designer?
I admit to being a total shopaholic and kit buyer and have tons - so any ideas that would help me would be GREATLY appreciated (especially after Friday's Sale)!

Currently I have everything organized by type as you mentioned. I have a main folder on my backup drive called "Scrapbooking" and inside that folder are folders like "Finished" (ones I've already done), "Ploppers" "Kits" etc. Things like the kits I have each in their own seperate folder by the original name and everything for that kit inside. I've found some kits that had alpha's inside, those stay in their own folder so I don't loose any letters. I'm finding that is the most convienient way for me to stay organized at the moment.. but who knows it may get too cluttered eventually. I plan on putting them all on CD eventually so I have a backup for later use.. especially since my backup drive is nearing it's dying days.

Hope that helps ya some.

Judyy

01-09-2006, 07:28 AM

I'm another Johnny-come-lately, but I'm sure someone has some ideas about the organization issue I'm wrestling with.

I often don't do whole albums at a time, but have several I'm working on, in between which I may go back and scrap some less recent photos in response to a challenge or just because I see a cool kit and it looks perfect for an older photo. So here's my question: where do you store your LOs, as opposed to just photo files? Do you make a scrapbook folder for each subject, such as "Christmas 2004" or "Trip to California"? Or do you file them by years? Or do you file the scrapped LOs with the photos, or what?

This never seemed to come up with paper scrapping--I took the photos, made the album, put it on the shelf, and then I was done. But after digi-scrapping for something like a year now, I've amassed quite a number of LOs, as you can imagine, and I'm not sure my organization system--such as it is--is the best.

So, a little help?

Sandersmr

01-09-2006, 09:53 AM

Judyy - that's basically what I'm doing. It's the challenge layouts, etc. that I'm having trouble with. But the albums I'm working on, I do have a separate folder in my Scrapbooks folder.

MaureenH

01-10-2006, 07:39 AM

I keep my layouts separate from my photo files. My layout files are organized by album (wedding, reunion, Story of Us, etc.) and if the layout does not go in a special album, then organized by date.

I keep contents of kits within the folder for that kit and kits and graphics organized together by designer. I do rename the preview or sample in a kit to identify it, for example, "Colorific,KimLiddiard,DSP". The I copy each of those samples to a separate folder that is an index. One folder is all kits (a JPG preview of each kit), other folders are by topic, like heritage, child, nature where I place another copy of the appropriate jpg samples. This way I have a picture index of all kits and a picture index of kits by subject that I can look through quickly to see what I have.

Sandersmr

01-10-2006, 08:12 AM

Bentrdr -
I like the idea of copying the preview sheet to an index folder. I keep all my kits in folders in a larger Kits folder, backgrounds in a Backgrounds folder, Fonts in a fonts folder, etc. all in a Scrapbooking folder in My Documents - everything is together except the photos.

When I get ready to scrap a page, I usually create a new folder in either the appropriate album folder or the scrapbooks folder. The page folder will then contain the kit or papers that I plan on using, any embellishements and if I know I'm going to use Alphas, plus copies of the photos I *may* use. That way I don't have to go hunting. Come to think of it, it's powerscrapping way of doing things.

My Folder structure looks something like this:

My Documents
Scrapbooking
Alphas
Kits
Backgrounds
Elements
Classes
Scrapbooks
Album 1
Album 2

etc.

Sandersmr

01-10-2006, 08:14 AM

Acck my spaces disappeared on my folder structure:

My Documents
---Scrapbooking
-----Alphas
-----Kits
-----Backgrounds
-----Elements
-----Classes
-----Scrapbooks
-------Album 1
-------Album 2

Funtolearn

01-10-2006, 10:10 AM

Hi Fun to see how others organize. I start with a file for DSP under that I have a folder for each Aritst by name, with additional files for Groups(ptp, or when it say Dsp designers) , one intitled members kits, and one for classes.
Then I make a hard copy of each sample sheet. If there is not one with it I go to phtotoshop and make a contact sheet. And have a large note book again with the above divisions that I can look through.
Like the Idea of folders with with just the contact sheets. Wish I had saved all the many contact sheets I have made.

I too am using the power scrapping model for pictures to be scrapped.
Have a File for Pages in progress. Also save layouts in a file "Original format" by month they are created. And flatened layouts in "To be printed" and then when I have printed move to a "Printed" file..

Like Maureens cross references.

Muriel

BubblyKori

01-10-2006, 12:38 PM

I went the easy route, I bought a new external disk drive and copied everything there. I couldn't face copying all those Cd's again. Last time I backed up my computer it took days of burning!

I have an obscene amount of fonts (over 100,000!). I have them sorted into alpha folders, I have #-1; #-2, A-1..A-7, B1...-B8, and so on through z. The Font Thing doesn't like to find more than 1000 fonts in a folder (slows it down), so that is why I have multiples of each letter of the alphabet. I do have some theme folders, such as Halloween Fonts, Christmas, Script, Dings.

For my Scrapbooking, I have them sorted into categories (keeping the kit together, with the same name as the original zip, any TOU in the folder) these I label 00Autumn Themed, 00Baby, 00Birthdays, 00Christmas, 00Chats & Challenges,... 00Spring & Easter, 00 Summer & Beach...the "00" is to make sure they appear first in the list. Then I have folders for the unmatched stuff: 00Unmatched Alphas, 00Unmatched Elements, 00Unmatched Papers, 00Unmatched Ploppers, and so on, these are for items that came without a full kit or matching pieces.

I keep my layouts in a separate folder from the main scrapbooking folder.
I keep my PSP graphics in yet another separate folder, with lots of sub-folders (Adult, Children, Christmas, Fantasy ... and each of them has additional sub-folders too! LOL For example Christmas has Santa's, Adorable Animals (inside it are Polar Bears, Penguins) Snowmen, Trees, Ornaments, you get the idea).

My digital and scanned photos are in their own folder too. Divided into sub-folders by date and/or occasion such as Christmas 2005, Spring 2003, New Puppy Aug 2005; depending on how many photos were taken or if there was a special event.

So I have several Folders in My Documents, each with sub-folders, filled with more sub-folders further divided into more categories. Does this make sense??

Tink2Zoe

01-10-2006, 05:12 PM

I have a 75G D drive that is devoted to my scrapbooking, photos and graphic projects. In it are folders for photos, layouts, layout ideas, scrapbook folder for elements and paper that I have either purchased or downloaded free with subfolders within them. This was in hopes I would remember where I got them, BG. I also keep a burned to CD folder. Each time I burn one, I move what is on the cd into that folder until the next time I burn one. That way if there is something I that find I am using more often than loading a cd would warrant, I can put it in most used folder.

Karon
(Tink2Zoe)

BeckyBair

02-28-2006, 02:24 PM

I really need to do this too. But one word of advice when working with photos on CDs. If you ever have to send your computer (cd drive) in to get repaired, make sure you remove your photos cd from the drive. I forgot and lost about 2 yrs of photos on that cd. I was so upset. They ended up having to replace the cd drive and didn't remove the cd from it before they swapped it. Anyways... Live and learn...

yvspeck

03-03-2006, 06:56 PM

Pam

03-03-2006, 08:15 PM

Maureen (bentrdr) shared that she creates a layer on her layouts and types information on it -- kit name(s), designer(s), and font(s) used -- then makes that layer a hidden layer -- you can "unhide" it to see which fonts you used to open them for editing.

Judyy

03-03-2006, 08:18 PM

In PS Elements, when you open the layout, and click on the text thumbnail to edit the text, the current font is named in the options bar. So that's how I generally know. But if you do something to the text that requires simplifying the layer, you won't have access to the font name any longer. So when I simplify the layer, I rename the layer to indicate what font it is.

Also, whenever I start a new layout, I also open a Notepad document and keep a text file of kits, other elements, alphas, fonts, and anything else I use in the layout. I give this file the same name as the layout itself, so there's no question of which Notepad file goes with which layout.

These ideas work for me, but someone else may have other suggestions.

Emma

03-03-2006, 09:30 PM

canay

03-04-2006, 12:25 AM

When PSP opens a layout it will substitute any fonts that it can't find. But it opens in a screen that says what font it can't find.When I see this message, I just open The Font Thing and open the folder that holds that font, then PSP can read the font.

In PSP, I duplicate my vector font layer before rasterizing it. I then hide the vector layer. That way if I don't like the way my effects are turning out, I can just start over. This also helps to know what font was used.

I also put the names of the fonts I use in the information screen. I can copy and post it when I upload my layout.

I like some of the ideas like creating a layer to house your information or creating a text page. I keep a stack of old tutorials next to my computer. I use the backside to take notes while I am creating a layout. Often what I end up with has no relation to what I started with. When I "think" I am done with the layout I transfer what info I need to remember into the information tab in PSP and to a paper notebook that I keep. I was thinking of giving up my paper notebook, but since I lost my 2004 layouts I at least have my notes should I be inclined to recreate anything.

Pam

03-04-2006, 12:45 AM

Wow, it's so great to learn new things! I knew that when I double clicked a font it became active and I could use it for as long as it was open. But I hadn't realized that an open directory in The Font Thing was also active! Thanks -- that's news I can use!! I work mostly with Raster text layers in PSP, so have to retype (but things don't get changed when I reopen a layout).

lvich

03-04-2006, 10:02 AM

I wouldn’t bother with a full CD label on these – I’m going to print on address labels. You can also write on most CDs. Use a felt-tip pen, not a ball-point. The coating on the back of a CD can be damaged by ball-point or other hard tips and ruin the CD. [http://www.mscience.com/faq508.html]

Yikes! If you are going to use labels on a CD, you SHOULD use a full CD label, not an address label. The CD can become unbalanced and therefore unreadable. If you are going to write on the CD, there are special felt pens for this job, not just any felt tip pen. Some felt pens will eat into the CD and spoil your data.

lvich

03-04-2006, 10:04 AM

One other thing about DVDs is that you to avoid wasting them, you need to have enough to fill the DVD in one session. With CDs, you can burn multiple sessions to the disk as needed.

bethliz

03-04-2006, 09:34 PM

I have been putting a bit of thought into the organising thing and have come up with some ideas. I burn my stuff already organised onto cd or dvd and label them correctly...but then I forget what is on them. This means that I have to run each one to find out what files are on what!! Especially if you are looking for something in particular it can be frustrating. Anyway I thought that a contact sheet with the titles of all cds and their contents in thumbnails so that you can see at a glance what is on each cd. Put all into a clear sleeve display book and you have everything together. I even put together a layout for the cd. Positioned in its own sleeve and all!! This is what I would eventually like to do!!

Sonesta

03-04-2006, 10:52 PM

I organize everything right when I download it so that I don't have to go back later and do it. On my external HD, I have made 2 folders: Saved downloads, and Unzipped embellishments. I download everything into the Saved file, then immediately unzip them into the Unzipped file.
Inside the Unzipped file I have 5 folders: Alphas, Elements, Papers, Kit Previews, and Word Art. Inside each of these files I have many sub-files. For instance, in Papers, I have sub-files each for Reds and Pinks, Oranges, Yellows, Greens, Black & White, Brown & Tan, Purples, Blues, and Multi-colored.
In Elements I have sub-files each for all the different elements such as Charms, Ribbon, Tags, etc. Elements is my largest file with the most sub-files.
When I unzip something, while I'm still in Winzip, I locate the exact file or sub-file that I want that item in. If it's a page kit that has all kinds of things together I just unzip it to the first file and manually place each item in it's correct file while I'm waiting for another kit to download.
I hope this isn't too confusing. But it makes for very easy and quick finding right when I want something.

yvspeck

03-06-2006, 08:39 AM

two questions

1. Why are the fonts uninstalled when you shut down your computer? If you're using TFT, they stay installed until you unistall them (and that program does put them int he Windows Fonts folder for you, and deletes them from there when you uninstall, hence the need to store your fonts in another folder on your hard drive)
Perhaps you're just OPENING your font file instead of installing it. You can use any open font as long as its open

2. When you go to open the layout, it'll tell you fonts are missing, so you click OK. As long as you don't edit the text layer you don't need that font. If you DO edit the text layer, as Judy said, it'll tell you the name of the missing font with a little !!! icon next to it to show it's uninstalled. At that point you either choose something else, or go install or open the font.

The Notepad idea is good; I prefer bentrdr's text layer on the PSD file that she hides. Has text, graphics, credits, and a few tidbits about the photos or her technique. Maureen, what's the link to that layout you posted like that?

Thanks everyone for all the terrific Ideas.. I knew someone would.... Emma I didn't "install" my font. I "loaded" it... So my font only stays put until my computer is shut down....I read somewhere in this forum that "installing" all my fonts into windows is really hard on my system so I uninstalled all the fonts I knew were mine and just "load" them when I need them... Did I miss understand how this is all suppose to works? Did I uninstall over 100 fonts for no good reason?????? And if I did then I am really scratching my head as to why The Font Thing is needed...Oh there is always so much to learnnnnnnn!

P.S...... I just love that I can come to a forum with any questions I have and get such great help....... DSPers are the best!

Emma

03-06-2006, 09:46 AM

Funtolearn

03-06-2006, 11:21 AM

After reading this I downloaded TFT...It is strange it says I have only 600 fonts installed and I have about 1500 installed. I want to sort what is on my machine but didn't know how to uninstall and install. I wonder why it only shows 600. Any ideas.
Thanks

Emma

03-06-2006, 12:22 PM

Where does it say you have 600 installed? this might be because of the folder you're viewing, perhaps only 600 installed in that folder? When you open TFT it says "Loading X number of fonts" but that's just TFT files in that particular folder, has nothing to do with how many are actually installed.

to install/uninstall, right click on the font and choose from that pop up context menu

you can create collections, or manually put your fonts into subfolders. There are pros and cons, and some prefer collections while others prefer subfolders

yvspeck

03-06-2006, 12:36 PM

yep, if the font is just open, you can use it while it's open only.

TFT is a wonderful tool, you'll wonder how you managed without it for so long

1. gives previews of multiple fonts at once with your intended title

2. one click install/uninstall
so you can preview and then install just the one font you want to use, and if you're getting too many you can one click uninstall each one easily

Take a peek at the TFT tutorial to see more about it.

Windows doesn't mind having fonts installed until you start getting over 1000 or more. It just slows down loading applications that use fonts, like PS or Word etc. The new OS this isn't much of an issue at all. People used to say you could "only" have 3000 fonts installed so they were careful about what they downloaded, but that doesn't include just the TFT files saved in another folder for storage. Even though you can now have unlimited fonts installed, I would never install more than around 1000 anyway.

I have around 1000 fonts on my computer, and I have about 400 insalled at any given time.

For newbie scrappers that sounds like a lot of fonts, but you'd be surprised! In Vegas I was giving "font quizzes" to everyone. All the signs at other booths, billboards, whatever, I couldn't believe how many of the font names we knew by heart. When you're working with them frequently you just pick things up as you go. I think 3000 is a lot, but many here have even more than that!

Oh that sounds so much better.... The thread I read was talking under 300 for the windows font folder at any given time... When I tried to do a by hand count I found over 500.... I kind of panicked. I really think most of that was already installed...Emma If I am getting your drift here you install the fonts you want to use at the moment one at a time, leave them installed (in the windows fold) until you feel your Windows Fold is maybe in need of some house cleaning, then you do some uninstalling... And when you uninstall it all goes right back into your My Font folder?
Now 3000.... That is amazing! But I can see how you could get there... I am just starting out and have already collected over 200. And thats useing restraint.. LOL.. It's all way too addictive:D :D :D

Emma

03-06-2006, 12:42 PM

IF you have them saved in another folder, like most of us do in My Files>Fonts or something like that, then they're safely tucked in there.

Unistalling a font DELETES it from the Windows fonts folder, so make sure that's not th eonly location you have the font saved.

Installing a font that's saved in your My Files>Fonts folder will make a COPY to put in the Windows Fonts folder, and uninstalling just deletes that copy only.

Yes, I install one at a time, I'll leave it if it's something I'll likely use a lot, or uninstall right away if it's weird/specialty font. Every so often I'll go uninstall a few I haven't used in awhile during my browsing, but I never make it a point to houseclean in there. A few in, a few out, it's all good

yvspeck

03-06-2006, 12:55 PM

Excellent.... Thanks Emma and everyone else... I am on my way to being an organized fontoholic!

yvspeck

03-06-2006, 12:58 PM

A new question along the organize line.... I have found so many types of scrap albums out there... Post bound, ring, spiral and so many more.... Can anyone tell me what the pros and cons are of all, which they prefer and why....

lilbunge

03-10-2006, 10:32 AM

Just found this post I think this is a great idea, I've only been digital scrapping for 2 days and already have alot of files. I've tried to organize them in folders like background, embellishments, overlays ect. with subfolders in those, but I don't think this is the best way. I'd love to here other suggestions from more experienced digital scrapbookers.

photomama

03-10-2006, 09:35 PM

lilbunge - there are many suggestions in this thread - however, If I had known what I know now - I would have saved differently. Lots of us have discovered WE save files within a site or store name - Such as DSP (Digital Scrapbook Place) and then within the main folder - the designer of the kit you buy. This is helpful when you are trying to give credit for whose piece you use in a layout.

It is all so confusing though - find a technique that works for you.

raynebair

05-28-2006, 10:01 AM

My organization is like this...I have two folders...one for supplies and one for layouts.

In my supplies folder, I have a folder for each store I buy at: DSP, etc. I also have a folder for all random kits, if there are only like one or two from that site. Inside each store folder, I have all kits, fonts, elements and backgrounds labeled with type, title, location and designer such as "Page Kit - Title of Kit - DSP - Designer. That way, I immediately know what it is, where I got it and the designer.

My layouts folder has all my psd files (I use PSCS). If the layouts belong together in an album, then I have a folder for that album. I also have a folder for all the web versions that I post here. I print directly from the psd file, so I don't have a print version. If I need one for something, I just open the psd and create it.

My constant issue is finding a program that will show me everything in a folder at one time, without me having to "browse" each folder. I was using iViewMedia, but the standard version doesn't automatically import new items, so any time I add new stuff to a folder, I have to manually go add it to my catalog...it's a big pain. I want something that will scan my folders and add stuff automatically. But I haven't really found anything I like for the Mac that doesn't cost a fortune. So looking for elements, etc is still a pain for me.

If anyone has ideas or suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

Ted

05-28-2006, 11:12 AM

Hi Rayne,

I hope I'm understanding your quandry correctly... here's what I do (and hope it's something that is relatively CLOSE to answering your question..LOL!) :)

I have Photoshop Elements 4.0 (I think it runs about $80 to $100)... with it, one can create "Catalogs". I have a Catalog "Scrapbooking". Then... I have the scrapbooking catalog always search for anything I add in certain folders.
Once that's done... I tag various scrapbooking elements..."Layouts"..."Papers"..."Buttons"...."Brass"..."Green"... etc.

So... if I want to find any green brass buttons (do they make those?!), I click on those three tags and anything in my collection meeting that criteria shows up. :)

If I am not understanding your question, ignore this babble! :)

alliani

05-28-2006, 01:26 PM

I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, either. What do you mean by not wanting to "browse" the folder -- As in using Windows' "browse" button to locate your file(s)?

If so there are two programs that you might want to look at.

The one I use most is Adobe Bridge which should have come with your CS (at least it did with CS2 - look for a folder icon in the upper right area of your tool bar, I think it has a mangifying glass with it?). In the left-hand area you'll see the file tree just as you would in a Windows environment where you can browse to whatever folder you like, but there is another tab called "favorites" so that once you know where your folder is you can add it to your favorites and won't have to browse there each time. For instance all my scrapbooking elements are in various sub-folders of "scrapbooking".

You can also add keywords to your files and are able to do a search on the key words.

Double clicking on the file you've found in Bridge automatically opens it in Photoshop.

Cons: It sucks up your memory. I can still function with CS2 and Bridge open as well as my browser and various IMs and downloads but after a while it starts getting grumpy with me. Subfolder contents are not visible until you open the subfolder.

Picasa (free) is another one that can be very useful. Once you install it it scans your whole drive and finds graphics and image files no matter where they're hiding. I've seen some folks express their delight in "finding" photos they thought were lost forever. All images are displayed regardless of path (sorted and separated by folder, but all open and visible).

Cons: It doesn't like png files, or at least didn't last time I used it. :( What kind of deal is that?? Any day now they'll get a clue and fix that. But if you're looking for a kit with a particular color scheme or know what the background paper looks like in the kit you want then it can be helpful.

HTH
Lori

omio

05-28-2006, 10:15 PM

I want something that will scan my folders and add stuff automatically. But I haven't really found anything I like for the Mac that doesn't cost a fortune. So looking for elements, etc is still a pain for me. If anyone has ideas or suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

I use a separate library in iPhoto to organize kits. By using film rolls, I can see one or several folders at a time.

If I read your post correctly, this thread might help: http://digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13754.

raynebair

05-28-2006, 11:58 PM

Thanks for the link. Great thread on organizing using iPhoto. I will definitely try it out.

tjh186

05-31-2006, 11:49 AM

Yea!! I've been plugging along slowly at this project all week, and I'm now too intimadated to download any more page kits until I can handle the ones I have! I'll definitely be following this thread!

hawksnest7

06-16-2006, 08:56 PM

I too am overwhelmed! I thought I was organized but after reading these posts I realized I have a lot to learn! Thanks to all of you who took the time to post your organization ideas! I truly appreciate it!!!!!

uthatswho

06-20-2006, 11:33 PM

I used to try and make webpages for my graphics. Nice to be able to click on it and have file open instead of having to hunt for the file. But most of the time nowadays I just snag into folders too. Which get huge in a vey short time and hard to not duplicate the artist and their work when try to keep folders tidy.

Will have to try that index/content method and not divert stuff until it's properly organized. Myy biggest thing is keeping my no-no yes-yes artists seperated since artists change their TOUs I find out after fact that can't use it and that's frustrating too because complicated how many subcatagories you have to keep track off.

I will have to watch this forum too. I didn't know you could keep burning till you filled the CD..woohooooooo

CarolKeenan

08-29-2006, 12:48 PM

Hi,
Thanks, I need all the help I can get. I make so many files all over the computer, I get my daughter so mad at me. She and my husband and two of my sons are totally organized. I am totally disorganized. I really don't know that much about making files, and moving them around on the computer.

Before working with digital scrapbooking I really never made any files, mostly
I played games, and looked up websights for my daughter, and my husband. I did a lot of arrangements for travelling, and email, but nothing that required files. This is a real challenge to me. I hope with your help, and the different ideas people have been giving me, I can get some organization, and get my computer back running fast, and not having so many freeze ups. Village15

PrancingPrinces

08-22-2007, 09:08 AM

I have a Font thing question..... So I don't install all my lovely downloaded fonts into the windows font folder and go The Font Thing route... I load the fonts I want for a layout which will be unloaded as soon as I shut my computer down.... Next day I go to work on my layout.... What happens when I want to edit my text? I know it's not going to be on the installed list... I have a horrible memory so I know I can not keep my font choice in my head.... And I know I can not be the only one out there who has sad memory skills... So what do you do to keep track?

Not sure if you have found a method for remembering what font you've used, but thought I'd tell you how I do it as I have a horrendous memory...when I choose my font for my layouts, journaling, etc I actually name the layer, for example title;font adorable or journaling; font scripty and so on. Then even if I don't come back to the layout for ages, I still know which font it is that was used...I used to keep them in a notebook but of course couldn't find the page I wanted so would have to spend ages trying to work out what possible font it could have been lol. Now it's a breeze.

Emma

08-22-2007, 09:53 AM

in PS and PSE when you try to open a layout w/o a font installed it will pop up a warning will pop up saying XYZ font is not installed and will be replaced. Just click No, then when you go to edit the layer the same warning will pop up. As long as you don't want to edit the layer, it's fine. If you do edit the layer, it tells you the name of the missing font so you can go install or open or however you do it in order to edit that layer. In PSP it won't let you even open the layout w/o the font installed, tells you the name of what's missing, asks with which font you want to replace it. You go install that font, hit Cancel, then open the layout again.

Also, in PS, PSE, and PSP if you click the font tool to edit a font layer the name of the font will appear in the font box if it's installed. The only reason you need to remember the font is if you rasterize/simplify the layer (change it into regular pixels). Don't forget the File>Info dialog where you can enter in facts about the layout like products, fonts, etc while it's still fresh in your memory!