What would you do...?

[Ted]

Hello all!

Well, I just got ACDSee and am about to install it. :)

Before I start organizing my elements, photos, etc... (all 6000+! ) :shocked: I thought I'd do some spring cleaning.

Looking through many of my digital scrapbooking items, I notice I have some papers, elements, etc. which I really like but I have forgotten the designer's name! :doh:

Here's what I'm THINKING about doing: Just deleting them. :(

I would like NOT to, but I don't want to use elements in future layouts without giving proper credit.

Just wondering if this has happened to anybody before (especially when you were starting out) and what you did?

Thanks for any advice!

[mcbowersox]

I don't think you're the first person this has happened to! I've seen lots of LOs where people say in the credits that they forget where they got them.

Personally, I don't think you should delete them. Hold onto them and when you use them just say the truth, you forget where they come from. I think everyone understands!

If, when you use one of them, it's really bothering you I wonder if you googled the file name if you might come up with it? I don't have any idea if that would work or not, just a thought.

Anyhow, that's my opinion. . . we'll see what everyone else says.

[Ted]

Hi Christy and thanks so much for answering! :)

I thought about that, but I'd hate to, for example, create a layout with an item from a DSP designer and write "I forgot where I got this" only to have the designer angry with me. :(

Of course, perhaps I'm over-reacting and they'd understand. :)

At my old age of 41, memory failing is NOT uncommon! :lol:

[mcbowersox]

I think they'd understand!

And 41 is NOT old!

[debilou]

IF YOU LIKE THEM KEEP THEM...

Put them in a category called... Don't remember the Designer name... or something like that...

If you bought all your supplies here... sooner or later you will come across them

Also, when you start organizing look at the contact sheet that comes with the kits and if you are missing something - go to your "Don't remember.... " category... and pull it out.

[Kathleen]

I am pack rat on my computer, although a very organized one. So I don't delete things, I just buy bigger hard drives.

Personally, I would keep them, and if you every used something, you could simple state in the credits that the items were found on the internet and you no longer have the designer's information and that if anyone recognizes them to please let you know so you can give proper credit.

Assuming you have deleted the text file that often comes with digital kits, shame on the designer for not including a TOU.

And one final thought, if these were files that were downloaded in an initial enthusiasm and now you look at them and don't understand why you downloaded them and don't find them appealing, then by all means delete them.

Luckily, I think about everything I have downloaded at DSP always comes with a TOU that correctly identifies the kit and designer!

I think I referenced this earlier for you, but have a look at posts 2 & 3 in this thread: Organazation (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35216&). The speed tagging link was crucial to me getting my initial tagging done (and I still use it a few times a year), and having an approach on what you want to tag, and making sure you know what you have tagged and what still needs to be tagged is important too.
And if you are really getting into organization and giving credit, you should check out: Giving Credit and Posting Links Made Easier (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28895)

[Ted]

Debilou and Kathleen, thanks for the added information!

I wish I still had the contact sheets or any TOUs! It was when I was even MORE a rookie than I am now (if that's possible?!) and I didn't keep these things.

I may use the advice of just stating "I can't remember, but welcome information!" in the description and hope that any designer who sees that will understand that there is no malice intended! :)

[Kathleen]

One more comment I forgot above, if and when you get to point of wanting to submit anything for publication, I would not submit something if you could not fully and correctly credit it.

[Ted]

One more comment I forgot above, if and when you get to point of wanting to submit anything for publication, I would not submit something if you could not fully and correctly credit it.


Definitely good advice! :)

Not much worries about that in the near future... I'm nowhere NEAR good enough to consider even TRYING to get anything published. ;)

But I agree with your advice wholeheartedly!

That's another reason why I'm just consider deleting everything unidentified and "starting over"... so that way I don't fall in love with the way an element or paper looks in my layout and not worry about not giving proper credit.

Does that make sense? :)

[sherryva]

I too would keep the items I like that I don't know where they came from.

Before I initially tagged my acdsee itemes I kept them by theme category- (not sure what I was thinking there...) anyway, I do have "favorite" can't live without them elements - I simply don't post those pages, I just print them out, or include them in a shutterfly book. I initially deleted some, and found myself searching for that one perfect background or tag (that I had deleted) it was very frustrating.

2 years after tagging everything in acdsee, I still have one untagged folder that contains those items I cant credit, and I intend to keep it.

Congrats on your purchase, it's a little overwhelming to get it all tagged, but Speed tagging with Kristi will save you a lot of time, and when you are done, you will be able to find everything and anything instantly- it's more fun to "scrap" than "search"... you will LOVE it when you are done.

I tag my photographs too now.. If you choose to do that at some point, do yourself a favor, and start giving the picture folders appropriate names as you upload them, it will save you time later, and decide on a naming system that you can stick with- I do mine like, "2009-03-05 travel San Fransciso"- makes it easy to sort/search in acdsee or windows, and gives me a jumping off point for batch tagging my photos so I can find them. Just a thought...

[beachin]

Personally, I would not delete them. If you post them, just be honest about forgetting where they came from. I am sure that no one would be upset with you.

Also, what happens when you have a digi set that you want to do a lo with and you want to print it or put it into a book? When you print out your los, you don't put the creator's name on your lo do you? How about in a book?

I would think that the designers would be more upset if they saw someone not trying to give credit rather than saying "sorry, I am not sure who created this'. If you put you are sorry under your lo, it gives the creator a reason to comment and say that it is hers or his.

Does that make any sense at all?

[carolyn d]

Stating that you can't remeber the creator is the best way to go. I have seen comments left by other members actually giving the store link to the kit/elememt/paper in question ! If you love the item, keep it ! When you use it, just ask if anyone knows/recognizes the item and you may be surprised !

[Robyn Gough]

As a designer I have to agree with what the others are saying. I would much rather see you enjoy the items than delete them! Crediting is an important courtesy, but everyone understands when you can't remember or find who created the items.

I would just put that you can't remember and state that you would welcome the information. Someone might recognise it and leave a comment with the details you need. ;-) Then you can always update the description later with the appropriate credits. ;-)

[Robyn Gough]

Oooh ooh I just thought of another thing, it might pay to check the meta data in those items. More and more designers are starting to add their copyright info into the meta data on their designs. I know I have started doing it. I think from memory that I remember someone saying, ACDSee reads metadata?

[Ted]

Hmm, I'm intrigued, Robyn!

How does one put information in meta data?

I'm not a designer, (by ANY stretch of the word!), but I still think I'd like to learn how to place that information in the meta data. :)

(Or is there a tutorial around that teaches the procedure)? :)

[omio]

Ted, I made this same mistake when I started. Lots of time you can post the item and ask for help. I did that quite a bit and there was nearly always someone who could point me toward the kit.

When I get new stuff now I use a rename utility and add text to the end of every file. For example, if I used Lauren's River Bank (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_18&products_id=9022) kit, every file in it would end with _LBavin@9022dsp. For A Bit More Boyish (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_18&products_id=7583), every file would end with _LBavin@7583dsp. I keep a list of numbers ending with dspf and assign those to the freebies.

I also use the free PS script AV Brothers Collector (http://www.avbros.com/english/collector/index.html) to pull everything into my main LO. I like this script because it brings layers in with their original names. So I can look at the layer name and see which kit a specific element or BG came from.

[Ted]

Thanks for the tip about the AV Bros collector. That looks interesting. :)

Perhaps I should start renaming my files with the designer's name. Currently, I just have it as the "author" in the Properties window of ACDSee.

I see you use numbers (such as 9022). How do you know that 9022 is connected with River Bank, for example?

Thanks for your tips!

[omio]

If you click on the River Bank link in my other post, you'll see 9022 at the end of the address line in your browser. That's the DSP number associated with the kit. You'll also see this number on the order receipt in your account in the store. (Also, when you post a LO, put the number followed by dsp in the keywords box. That will link your LO to the designer's kit in the store.)

[Robyn Gough]

Hmm, I'm intrigued, Robyn!

How does one put information in meta data?

I'm not a designer, (by ANY stretch of the word!), but I still think I'd like to learn how to place that information in the meta data. :)

(Or is there a tutorial around that teaches the procedure)? :)

Thanks for the tip about the AV Bros collector. That looks interesting. :)

Perhaps I should start renaming my files with the designer's name. Currently, I just have it as the "author" in the Properties window of ACDSee.

I see you use numbers (such as 9022). How do you know that 9022 is connected with River Bank, for example?

Thanks for your tips!

The 9022 is the product id of the kit in the store. Each kit in the store has a 4 (or more now as we are into the 10k product numbers!) number product id.

You can find the id by clicking on the product in the store and viewing the address in the address bar of your browser. The product id is the numbers at the end of the address. (unless there is ----- in the addy in which case it will before the ----- part.)

You might notice people using these numbers with dsp at the end of them as keywords in the gallery. This is because each product in the store has a link at the top of it's page Click here to see layouts using this product (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=10038dsp) (this link sample is for one of my products) which brings you to all layouts using that keyword in the gallery.

So in the case of the item you mention above, it's keyword is 9022dsp. If you do a search in the gallery for that keyword you will find all layouts in the gallery using that keyword and subsequently that kit.

I hope that all makes sense!? :think: I am not thinking very straight right now!! :lol:

[Ted]

Omio and Robyn, thanks so much! I'm learning a lot. :)

I guess my question is:

Let's say you use River Bank... so you have all these items with 9022dsp in the file names.

When you use one of Lauren's papers... and you see 9022dsp... how do you know it's River Bank? I wouldn't be able to remember all these numbers. Or do you come back to the DSP site and enter that keyword to see the kit's name?

In other words, how is this method more beneficial than say, having a file name LBavin_RiverBank.png, for example?

It's early and I'm probably making little to no sense!

[omio]

I keep an Excel file with a list of my kits, designers and DSP numbers. Also, since I put that tag line on the kit's folder also, I can just search my HD for the number to find the kit info, TOU, etc. I started out using the kit name instead of a number but I ended up with kits with similar names and it got too cumbersome. Also, I like to put the DSP numbers in keywords on my posted LOs.

Also, Kathleen shared a WONDERFUL Excel file that creates pretty links for you. You can download it at DSP Links to Share (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28895). I use it all the time and love it.

[sherryva]

Omio and Carloyn D-
I have been following this thread- and now I may be confused....:confused:

I name my kits in the following format:
type (pk, bg, overlay etc) + designer number + name of kit + dsp number
so for example it would be "pk 07 Riverbank 9022"
(I like them neat and orderly on my hd also, so if anything ever happened I would at least be organized enough to start over- but I am anal like that...)

I copy the file name, highlight all the kit items in acdsee window and paste as the file name in acdsee, and I also assign the designer to those items- two clicks..

anytime I find anything in acdsee I can either right click and "go to file" and see the name and number, or click on the properties and it will show in the file tab-
I also have a sub category where I can sort by designer so I don't use the author field myself- and am pretty sure I have all the designers numbers committed to memory anyway so when I look at 07 in the file name, I know it's Lauren.

I keep a layers credit on my open layouts where I just drag a copy of the kit preview, so I know what I used in the layout and can credit properly, and turn it off when I am done- I also cannot live without Kathleens excel sheet- I modified it slightly to include links for freebies, posting bonuses and blog stuff- and as long as I enter my dsp invoices right away- it has been so helpful and easy to maintain- and I prefer the "pretty links"..

so I guess what I "don't get" is what is the advantage to adding metadata? Is that something that would only be useful in PS (I use pse6 but have CS3 and am SLOWLY warming up to it) seems it would be more work- but if I am missing something I would rather know now, before I add hundreds more kits.. scripts and such are beyond me at the moment, they seem to be a photoshop thing not elements- so perhaps I should switch over quicker-:think: but is there something I am not doing that I should??

Oh Ladies, please enlighten me...

[omio]

Sherry, I'm a Mac person so I don't use ACDSee. (Tried the Beta but going to wait until it's much less buggy.) Personally, I don't assign metadata because it always seems to get lost when the file is passed to other people. Carolyn can give a better answer, I'm sure. ;-}

[omio]

Ted, Nachstern posted a link for a collage maker in the granny thread (freeware but author wouldn't refuse a little donation ;)). Great little app: Shape Collage (http://www.vincentcheung.ca/shapecollage/)

[debilou]

Omio and Carloyn D-
I have been following this thread- and now I may be confused....:confused:

I name my kits in the following format:
type (pk, bg, overlay etc) + designer number + name of kit + dsp number
so for example it would be "pk 07 Riverbank 9022"
(I like them neat and orderly on my hd also, so if anything ever happened I would at least be organized enough to start over- but I am anal like that...)

I copy the file name, highlight all the kit items in acdsee window and paste as the file name in acdsee, and I also assign the designer to those items- two clicks..

anytime I find anything in acdsee I can either right click and "go to file" and see the name and number, or click on the properties and it will show in the file tab-
I also have a sub category where I can sort by designer so I don't use the author field myself- and am pretty sure I have all the designers numbers committed to memory anyway so when I look at 07 in the file name, I know it's Lauren.

I keep a layers credit on my open layouts where I just drag a copy of the kit preview, so I know what I used in the layout and can credit properly, and turn it off when I am done- I also cannot live without Kathleens excel sheet- I modified it slightly to include links for freebies, posting bonuses and blog stuff- and as long as I enter my dsp invoices right away- it has been so helpful and easy to maintain- and I prefer the "pretty links"..

so I guess what I "don't get" is what is the advantage to adding metadata? Is that something that would only be useful in PS (I use pse6 but have CS3 and am SLOWLY warming up to it) seems it would be more work- but if I am missing something I would rather know now, before I add hundreds more kits.. scripts and such are beyond me at the moment, they seem to be a photoshop thing not elements- so perhaps I should switch over quicker-:think: but is there something I am not doing that I should??

Oh Ladies, please enlighten me...

Sherry, Metadata is extremely useful for PHOTOGRAPHY... especially for copyright information... and what happened to your file, from the moment you took the photo... and what has happened to it post production... You especially need this if you post your photo on a photo sharing site like FLICKR, Picassa, Photobucket... etc..

It's ok to use for storing information like scrapbook notes.

I would use the "NOTES" section for that Window > notes... there you can keep track of blend modes or any special "tricks", filters, plug-ins... you may have used to create an awesome page... that you may want to remember in your .psd document...

I wouldn't store it in the metadata.... but the notes section

[debilou]

Sherry, I'm a Mac person so I don't use ACDSee. (Tried the Beta but going to wait until it's much less buggy.) Personally, I don't assign metadata because it always seems to get lost when the file is passed to other people. Carolyn can give a better answer, I'm sure. ;-}

And, Omio being a MAC person myself... after getting to well over a Bunch of digi scrap elements and photos...

The Mac version of ACDSee is Shoebox... works great...

[sherryva]

Thanks for your answers ladies-
I don't think I need to worry about metadata yet- Lightroom enters standard stuff in the metadata for me already like my name etc when I load my photos- doesnt seem worth the time/effort ratio for scrapping, but I will keep it in mind for photos-

I never thought of entering the filters and techniques I have used, but the older I get, the more senior moments I suffer, so maybe I should give that one some considerable thought....
thanks again.

[Ted]

Ted, Nachstern posted a link for a collage maker in the granny thread (freeware but author wouldn't refuse a little donation ;)). Great little app: Shape Collage (http://www.vincentcheung.ca/shapecollage/)

That looks VERY cool! Thanks for sharing it!

[Robyn Gough]

Omio and Robyn, thanks so much! I'm learning a lot. :)

I guess my question is:

Let's say you use River Bank... so you have all these items with 9022dsp in the file names.

When you use one of Lauren's papers... and you see 9022dsp... how do you know it's River Bank? I wouldn't be able to remember all these numbers. Or do you come back to the DSP site and enter that keyword to see the kit's name?

In other words, how is this method more beneficial than say, having a file name LBavin_RiverBank.png, for example?

It's early and I'm probably making little to no sense!

You are making perfect sense. Technically really don't need to know the product numbers unless you want to participate in challenges that require you include them, or if you just want to help the designers and fellow members out with those layout searches from the store or gallery. (if you click on the keyword in the gallery it will show layouts using that product in the gallery search) So the keyword really is an extra to keep as well as, but not instead of the kit name.


so I guess what I "don't get" is what is the advantage to adding metadata? Is that something that would only be useful in PS (I use pse6 but have CS3 and am SLOWLY warming up to it) seems it would be more work- but if I am missing something I would rather know now, before I add hundreds more kits.. scripts and such are beyond me at the moment, they seem to be a photoshop thing not elements- so perhaps I should switch over quicker-:think: but is there something I am not doing that I should??

Oh Ladies, please enlighten me...

Unless you DON'T have ACDSee (like me!) it is probably of no advantage whatsoever. It really is just doubling up. I use it to record my copyright information which is why I mentioned it to Ted in case he was able to see the meta data on the files he couldn't identify and they had copyright information on them.

Given that I use Adobe Bridge to keep track of my files, my keyword tags are also stored within the metadata. Metadata is attached to the actual files and providing you have software that can read metadata you can view it in any program, not just ACDSee.

You can view the metadata in Photoshop and Adobe Bridge and I think also in ACDSee and probably a few other photo editing programs. Haven't tried PSE yet, must give that a go and see ifyou can view it in there.


Sherry, I'm a Mac person so I don't use ACDSee. (Tried the Beta but going to wait until it's much less buggy.) Personally, I don't assign metadata because it always seems to get lost when the file is passed to other people. Carolyn can give a better answer, I'm sure. ;-}

It probably doesn't get lost, but they may not be able to view it. Although I must admit it does seem to be a bit buggy at times so it is possible it does actually get lost! :doh:

Sherry, Metadata is extremely useful for PHOTOGRAPHY... especially for copyright information... and what happened to your file, from the moment you took the photo... and what has happened to it post production... You especially need this if you post your photo on a photo sharing site like FLICKR, Picassa, Photobucket... etc..

It's ok to use for storing information like scrapbook notes.

I would use the "NOTES" section for that Window > notes... there you can keep track of blend modes or any special "tricks", filters, plug-ins... you may have used to create an awesome page... that you may want to remember in your .psd document...

I wouldn't store it in the metadata.... but the notes section

Oooh yes I LOVE that all the camera settings are automatically recorded in the metadata.. very handy! I have set my photo downloads to also automatically apply my copyright info when the photos download from my camera as well.

Thanks for your answers ladies-
I don't think I need to worry about metadata yet- Lightroom enters standard stuff in the metadata for me already like my name etc when I load my photos- doesnt seem worth the time/effort ratio for scrapping, but I will keep it in mind for photos-

I never thought of entering the filters and techniques I have used, but the older I get, the more senior moments I suffer, so maybe I should give that one some considerable thought....
thanks again.

It is definately more useful for photographers and designers, but an option if you are not able to use ACDSee or some other organisational software. Adobe Bridge comes with photoshop which is why I never bothered getting ACDSee, but I have often wondered what it is like! ;-) But as I said earlier, worth checking if you don't know who designed something and want to find out.

[omio]

And, Omio being a MAC person myself... after getting to well over a Bunch of digi scrap elements and photos...

The Mac version of ACDSee is Shoebox... works great...

Will take a look at it. What does it do that iPhoto doesn't? Once iPhoto added events I was much happier. My main complaint with it now is the way it handles pngs -- I want to be able to see my WA in gallery view without bringing each image to full size.

[debilou]

EXACTLY, I couldn't see my .png files in I photo, I just don't think it was meant for Digital Elements..

It was great for photos... but not so good for digital stuff... And, again Bridge I thought was ok for photos, just didn't like it so much for digi elements.

but with shoebox...

I have My Designers set up as "people:
my Kits set up
and, then the elements are all in the categories...

These are all also linked to Mac spotlight feature... so if you add a key word to a kit,
say Christine Gunderson, you will find all of the Christine Gunderson's in SPOTLIGHT or within Shoebox...

And, shoebox allows you do do searches like
all of the DSP kits,
and, BRADS,

or whatever you want your search to be...

I (shh) do have kits from other sites... so this allows me to search and find just my DSP stuff...

My other big problem was I have over 6000 photos, and over 27,000 digital elements..

So, to manage it, - if you read up on Iphoto... it's made to manage MUCH smaller databases... and it very often just stopped... and I had to relaunch it...

I did try it first.. but it just didn't work for me..

If you do order shoebox...Jessica Sprague offers a discount coupon $7.00 off and FREE lessons, if you order through her site... you can get to it thru the Shoebox (or kavassoft.com site)... The lessons were wonderful..

[omio]

debi, do you use the home or pro version? I'm assuming pro since the home version only allows up to 10,000 images?

[debilou]

Had to get the pro versions... I have a FEW more than 10,000 images


Like over 3 times that