Software for archiving negatives?

Bob Carnie

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 18, 2004
Messages
7,735
Location
toronto
Format
Med. Format RF
AllenR and Matt
this is why I like APUG, I was thinking lately of the same thing as matt and now a link has been provided.
 

rbarker

Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2004
Messages
2,218
Location
Rio Rancho,
Format
Multi Format
A potentially less expensive option would be to give serious thought to how much time you want to spend maintaining the image-description database, recognizing that any wavering of dedication renders the database almost useless. An ancillary question relates to the longevity of software and operating systems.

As you might guess from my gloomy attitude toward the subject, I've tried this a couple of times, and eventually decided it wasn't worth the time or effort - for me. I now use a naming scheme for images and the PrintFile sheets that gets me to the subject matter or location quickly, grouping them by general category.
 

Wally H

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
160
Location
...
Format
Med. Format RF
I use Commence by Commence Corp, (a Personal Information Manager first marketed by IBM as Current). Commence has design software that make it easy to create databases, reports, displays, etc., based upon my own requirements and desires. I've been using it for over 10, maybe even close to 20 years.
 

BradS

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
8,120
Location
Soulsbyville, California
Format
35mm
I use an old film box and a handfull of 3x5 cards.
 

roteague

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
6,641
Location
Kaneohe, Haw
Format
4x5 Format
rbarker said:
A potentially less expensive option would be to give serious thought to how much time you want to spend maintaining the image-description database, recognizing that any wavering of dedication renders the database almost useless.
Click to expand...

A few years ago, I started writing my own program to maintain my image database. After about a year of working on it, I realized I was spending all my time writing the darn thing, and not enough time photographing. During this development process, I realized that it was going to require more time to maintain the database than I was willing to invest. I also found out that I have a good memory for images, so I keep my images in print file sleeves and just take them out and put them on the light table when I need something.

However, I do use a computer system for some aspects of my business. It is custom written, runs on a Windows web server, using Microsoft SQL Server.

Robert
 

roteague

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
6,641
Location
Kaneohe, Haw
Format
4x5 Format
jvarsoke said:
VI + grep.

(it's a unix thing)
Click to expand...

Yeah, but they can't tell me how much income a particular image has made over a period of time and in what size.
 

Gary892

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 14, 2004
Messages
262
Location
North Orange County, CA
Format
4x5 Format
Like roteague (Robert), I too have spent a lot of time writing a database application to manage my images. I am a database administrator and I have discovered my original image management system of 3 ring binders and print file sleaves seem to work best for me.
The conclusion one might take from both of our experiences is, if two people who know how to build a software program for managing images, rely on an analog approach then that might be the way to go.
However, each one of us needs to find what works for them.

Just my opinion.

Gary
 

Michel Hardy-Vallée

Membership Council
Subscriber
Joined
Apr 2, 2005
Messages
4,793
Location
Montréal, QC
Format
Multi Format
For now the only system I have develop is to give a unique ID number to each of my film rolls (I don't shoot sheets) and write the label on the printfile and on the back of the contact sheet. That way I keep each separated but it is easy to find what I need. When I can, I also write down the frame number at the back of prints, so that I know the exact roll and picture # of my pictures. I was thinking also about a database system, but what good would it be without scans? Then how will you relate your database to your physical negs? I think the only DB that would be useful for me is for storing developing + printing information (dodge/burn, etc).
 

roteague

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
6,641
Location
Kaneohe, Haw
Format
4x5 Format

You don't necessarily need a database system that matches scans with image data - although there are many such programs available, mainly geared towards digital photographers. The system I was developing, was only supposed to help me find the the images in my files, based upon keywords. I still needed to pull them out and put them on a light table. With 20,000+ transparencies, I don't see much use in a database application that displays thumbnails - that is way too much overload.

FWIW, I know that Jack Dykinga uses the Agave SPS Stock Photography management software. http://www.prenticephoto.com/Agaveweb.htm . I've looked at it; it is a bit outdated, but has a lot of useful features.
 

Bob Carnie

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 18, 2004
Messages
7,735
Location
toronto
Format
Med. Format RF
does anyone have an idea what this new Apple program Apeture can do for organizing ones work???
 

OldBikerPete

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
386
Location
Melbourne, A
Format
4x5 Format
Try looking up EndNote. It's a database system intended for indexing reprints of scientific literature and has excellent searching facilities. You would need to assign a reference number to each piece of film and store the pieces in order so that you could immediately locate a piece identified by a software search.
 

Rick Haug

Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2005
Messages
93
Location
Minnesota
Format
Multi Format
A couple years ago I spent some time in the winter creating a database for my photographs and then entering the info for twenty years worth of transparencies. As others have already mentioned it can be time consuming and needs to be continually updated as new photos are taken. In my case the time and effort expended have been worth it. My transparencies are stored chronologically in file sheets. They are in a great enough number from a long enough span of time that I just can't remember all the whats and whens. On several occasions the database has allowed me to quickly locate the right images when I get a call requesting certain subject material and they want it yesterday. I used AskSam, a free-form database program, but any database program allowing you to create an entry form customized to your needs will work.
 

roteague

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
6,641
Location
Kaneohe, Haw
Format
4x5 Format
Rick Haug said:
In my case the time and effort expended have been worth it. My transparencies are stored chronologically in file sheets.
Click to expand...

I do something similar, but I store my my images not only chronologically, but by location. So, HI1000 would be image #1000 in Hawaii, AU1000 would be image #1000 in Australia. The first two letters being a country or state code. The numbers themselves are meaningless. Eventually, I may put them into a database by location and keyword, but who knows.... I have a pretty good memory for locations, which is probably why I am a color landscape photographer.
 

Rick Haug

Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2005
Messages
93
Location
Minnesota
Format
Multi Format
Robert,
I've prided myself on good memory of what photos I've taken, but as the images have accumulated over the years I find I no longer have total recall.
I use to have a subject-oriented code for each image but there were many that would logically fit under more than one of my categories. When I created the database I first re-named all images with a chronological code. A letter for the year, followed by numbers indicating the roll of film and exposure number, then a letter indicating the orientation. For example, A75-10h means taken in 1984, 75th roll of film (numbered sequentially as they are started), 10th exposure on that roll, horizontal orientation. This is the coding for 35mm slides. 4x5 transparencies have a 45 before the letter.
 

roteague

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
6,641
Location
Kaneohe, Haw
Format
4x5 Format

sanking

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2003
Messages
5,437
Location
Greenville,
Format
Large Format
Matt5791 said:
Thanks for the replies everyone - very helpful.

I am thinking I might try a manual system now - I think it is going to be easier initally

Thanks,

Matt
Click to expand...

I thought about using a software to keep inventory but decided this would not be very useful for my specific needs. What I decided to do is make digital contact sheets of my negatives, which I can then file separately from the negatives, with a reference number back to them of course. You can do this simply by placing the negative in standard 8X10 negafile sheets and scan all of them at once. You print this out and have a ready guide to all of the negatives on the sheet, with some indication of how they will print -- though that will depend on process.

I have started to do this with ULF negatives as well, though these obviously have to be done one at a time. One you scan them you can print a contact sheet proof from Photoshop. I archive these scans, which can be fairly large, on DVD.

Personally I find this approach fits my needs much better because the contact sheets provide both a reference to the original negatives, plus a visual guide that is very useful in helping me decide if the negative is worth printing, and if so, what kind of contrast and tonal controls need to be used.

Sandy
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…