Photography cataloguing and network accessibility - PhotoCamel

JimAuburn · 06-23-2007

I need to find a fast way to catalogue and make network accessible a photography collection that exceeds 1 terabyte. This is in a small network in which four computers need fast access to the photos, centrally stored, and access to a database that contains keywords, etc.

Can anyone recommend approaches to accomplishing this? I need to know how to attach the photos to the network (via a computer, hard drive?) and the best applications that can handle this type of acessibility.

Thanks.

cyclohexane · 06-23-2007

At work, we have a server with all our photos, and we use Photo Mechanic (camerabits.com) from our other computers to view, tag, search, edit meta data, etc. I haven't found anything better than Photo Mechanic, despite the hefty price and subscription fee for updates.

JDArt · 06-23-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

At work, we have a server with all our photos, and we use Photo Mechanic (camerabits.com) from our other computers to view, tag, search, edit meta data, etc. I haven't found anything better than Photo Mechanic, despite the hefty price and subscription fee for updates.

When I looked at this software, I believe it would not display PSD files. Which formats do you work in? Most of my good photos are saved as PSD (photoshop) files.

cyclohexane · 06-23-2007

JPEG for capture and web display, TIFF for printing. No RAW because our server's too small (public education, LOL).

Photo Mechanic's updates are pretty drastic and extensive in terms of changes; I don't know if they added the ability to display PSD files...

JDArt · 06-23-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

Photo Mechanic's updates are pretty drastic and extensive in terms of changes; I don't know if they added the ability to display PSD files...

I just looked at this program again. Unless something has changed, it doesn't show PSD files. That rules it out for me.

Lightroom is looking promising at the moment, but it doesn't seem to want to work over a network, so it wouldn't do for the OP.

cyclohexane · 06-23-2007

Just found the answer. PSD file support was added in version 4.1.2: Rob Galbraith DPI: Photo Mechanic updated to 4.1.2

We're on version 4.4.3 now, I think.

eClix · 06-23-2007

I'm pretty sure I have looked at PSDs' on my photo mechanic

. And really the price isn't too bad really for what it is. It the best image browsing tool ever!!!

tfiorda · 06-23-2007

Jim,

Look at Extensis Portfolio. It has the DB that you are looking for, but may be single threaded unless you use Portfolio Server. I know the Server solution is not cheap and may not be aimed at the small network. But I use Porfolio in a stand alone setup and like it. I put the DB on a shared space and open it from other computers, granted one at a time, but it can work over a network. I think MS has an app that is similar.

Tony...

billkay · 06-25-2007

We used Merlin and Extensis Portfolio.

06-23-2007	#1
JimAuburn Guanaco Posts: 356 CamelKarma: 331 Gallery \| Blog	Photography cataloguing and network accessibility I need to find a fast way to catalogue and make network accessible a photography collection that exceeds 1 terabyte. This is in a small network in which four computers need fast access to the photos, centrally stored, and access to a database that contains keywords, etc. Can anyone recommend approaches to accomplishing this? I need to know how to attach the photos to the network (via a computer, hard drive?) and the best applications that can handle this type of acessibility. Thanks. __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Forum, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.

06-23-2007	#2
cyclohexane PhotoCamel Supporter Photocamel Master Location: SF Bay Area or Los Angeles, California Posts: 5,442 CamelKarma: 1642 Editing OK?: Ask first Gallery \| Blog	Re: Photography cataloguing and network accessibility At work, we have a server with all our photos, and we use Photo Mechanic (camerabits.com) from our other computers to view, tag, search, edit meta data, etc. I haven't found anything better than Photo Mechanic, despite the hefty price and subscription fee for updates.
	__________________ -Michael "Remember, the 'P' mode on your camera is for 'Professional'!"

06-23-2007	#4
cyclohexane PhotoCamel Supporter Photocamel Master Location: SF Bay Area or Los Angeles, California Posts: 5,442 CamelKarma: 1642 Editing OK?: Ask first Gallery \| Blog	Re: Photography cataloguing and network accessibility JPEG for capture and web display, TIFF for printing. No RAW because our server's too small (public education, LOL). Photo Mechanic's updates are pretty drastic and extensive in terms of changes; I don't know if they added the ability to display PSD files...
	__________________ -Michael "Remember, the 'P' mode on your camera is for 'Professional'!"

06-23-2007	#6
cyclohexane PhotoCamel Supporter Photocamel Master Location: SF Bay Area or Los Angeles, California Posts: 5,442 CamelKarma: 1642 Editing OK?: Ask first Gallery \| Blog	Re: Photography cataloguing and network accessibility Just found the answer. PSD file support was added in version 4.1.2: Rob Galbraith DPI: Photo Mechanic updated to 4.1.2 We're on version 4.4.3 now, I think.
	__________________ -Michael "Remember, the 'P' mode on your camera is for 'Professional'!"

06-23-2007	#7
eClix Guanaco Posts: 351 CamelKarma: 16 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Photography cataloguing and network accessibility I'm pretty sure I have looked at PSDs' on my photo mechanic . And really the price isn't too bad really for what it is. It the best image browsing tool ever!!!
eClix Guanaco Posts: 351 CamelKarma: 16 Gallery \| Blog

06-23-2007	#8
tfiorda Vicuna Posts: 87 CamelKarma: 36 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Photography cataloguing and network accessibility Jim, Look at Extensis Portfolio. It has the DB that you are looking for, but may be single threaded unless you use Portfolio Server. I know the Server solution is not cheap and may not be aimed at the small network. But I use Porfolio in a stand alone setup and like it. I put the DB on a shared space and open it from other computers, granted one at a time, but it can work over a network. I think MS has an app that is similar. Tony...
tfiorda Vicuna Posts: 87 CamelKarma: 36 Gallery \| Blog	__________________ Tony...

06-25-2007	#9
billkay Vicuna Posts: 124 CamelKarma: 112 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Photography cataloguing and network accessibility We used Merlin and Extensis Portfolio. __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Forum, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.

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