Organizing (but not what you think :D)

[guitargirl]

I am looking for some ideas for organizing my finished layouts. I've been filing them by theme (various vacations, LOs for classes, SNL, pages of my cats, holidays, etc.). But, I can see that as I start sending them out to be printed, I'm going to have a hard time keeping track of what has been printed and what hasn't. Any suggestions for how to keep track?

Thanks!

[Kathleen]

Hmmmmm ... I tend to print as I go (or 4 or 5 at a time). I have a working folder that things in process get saved it. Then, once printed, I file flattened JPGs in one folder, and PSD files get filed by year. All my layouts are name with a file format like 'YYYY_MM Event Name', for example a Halloween scrap would be named '2008_10 Halloween'. That way no matter what folder they end up in, they get saved in order.

If you are wanting to send your files off in batches to be printed, I would probably tend towards either a spreadsheet to keep organized what has been printed or something written down. I actually have a scrap notebook that I keep ideas, tips and tricks in (way better than the little pieces of paper that get lost everywhere), and you could try something like that to keep a running list of completed pages and check them off when they get printed.

[Margie]

i have a 2print folder, then a finished one. when i get the fancy to print, i print a batch then move them to the finished! i name them all by date and theme or place or whatever so they all stay in order if i actually print enough to do a whole album. i usually get distracted first and forget though. :)

[sherryva]

I file everything by timeline- so I have a folder for each year, and a subfolder for each month, and various folders within the month by subject. I keep all my original psd file layouts with the original pictures.

Like Margie I have a "to be printed" folder- it's on my desktop which has a high quality jpeg copy of the layout I want to print. Once they are printed I just delete them from that folder since they are already filed with the original info. Like Kathleen I tend to print as I go so it isn't a large file, but easy for me since I dont have to keep a list.

I am also working on several shutterfly books, so I keep a folder for them on my desktop as well with copies of the layouts- when I am done, I just upload that folder for printing, when I get the book or prints, I just delete the folder, since the originals are already safely filed with my photos.

[guitargirl]

Thanks, ladies! I like the idea of putting the print jpgs in a folder until I print them. That should keep me organized. Thanks for the help!!