Duplication of image numbers

[cgz]

Hi,
Thanks so much for all the input. I am a Newbie in Forums and I immediately see how wonderful it is to be able to pick experts' brains in areas that we are passionate about.
I think that my initial post was not very clear but you already have given me some good advice. This is the scoop: I have 2 wonderful Nikon cameras, one of which I use more than the other. I download all images using a card reader which accepts multiple cards. One of the cameras uses an SD card and the other a Compact Flash Card. That is not the problem. I now understand that it is the actual camera that assigns the numbers to the images, and being that they are both Nikon, hence the problem. As wonderful as Photoshop is, apparently it does not notice that different cameras are being used. When I use the Downloader and select "refresh list" it only gives me "camera / card reader" which I then select. It would be so simple if it actually pulled down the actual models of the cameras I use. There has got to be a simple way of entering those cameras in that menu. (I am getting my daughter a Nikon for an upcoming trip to Japan and I can just see what will happen when she imports her lovely new images - none of them will be imported because they will "already exist" - another PC will of course solve the problem entirely, but that is not the issue here.....(my daughter would love that option - cannot let her read this...). Thanks again for all the help. I am reading all postings avidly!!
cgz

[Wendy]

Hi ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

I was sure that I seen a similar problem to your and I have now managed to find the thread ... not sure that it will help but there may be a workaround in there:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-14422.html

Wendy

[Chuck S.]

cgz: Just some more information, please.


Are you downloading the pictures into a Windows folder structure (e.g., folders named by date)?
What models of Nikon are you using? Do you know whether you can set a different sequence start number on one of them?Chuck

[quillabee9]

I have PSE4. If you download into a windows named folder, you can name the specific folder in to which you want to download at the time of download. What I have taken to doing is define a different folder by date each time I download. You could define a folder for one camera and another for the other.( Of course never the twain should meet.) Then at your leisure rename files.

[cgz]

Hi Chuck,
Here is the additional information:

1) I have a large separate partition on the hard drive just for Photoshop. When I import images into that drive I manually give the grouping of images a title and date. By doing this I create separate folders containing the images identified in the title I have chosen. I can then find what I am looking for either by folder title of thumbnail image of the folder. It works for me.

2) I have a Nikon Coolpix 8400 and a Nikon Coolpix P4. If I can change the image nomenclature in one of the cameras that would solve my problem wouldn't it?

Thanks in advance. I look forward to your comments.
cgz

[Chuck S.]

cgz:

Based on your workflow, it seems like you should be importing into Organizer from folders, not from your camera(s). Have you tried that, i.e., in Organizer, File>Get Photos>From Files and Folders?

Chuck

p.s. Yes, if you could change the numbering of one camera you'd certainly do away with any duplication of file name

[cgz]

Hi Chuck,
Thank you for your comments but I am afraid I am not as "high tech" as you may think. You lost me with your suggestion of "importing from folders instead of from the camera"? All I know is memory card to card reader to hard drive...I really have a lot to learn don't I?
Apparently, changing the numbers assigned by the camera can be done (I have to really read my manuals now...). Wendy was kind enough to include a link from another person with the same problem I am having (thank you Wendy!).
You guys are great!
cgz

[Wendy]

Hi cgz ...

Glad that you found a workaround in there :)

Wendy

[TonyW]

cgz: If it's any help here's a screen shot of my downloader screen (PSE5 - earlier versions don't have quite as many options). I do have a folder for different cameras and I do rename files on downloading but I think all you need to do to avoid your problem is to make sure that the box that says create subfolder has something other than none in it. And the options you choose are "sticky" so you don't have to enter them each time you download.

892

Tony

[cgz]

Hi Tony,
Thank you so much for your input. My PSE4 downloader screen is a bit different from yours, however, you forced me to look closely, and the answer was right there!
Under category 2) SAVE FILES there is a box to create a subfolder and another one that says RENAME FILES TO: there is a box to enter the numbers chosen and outside the box there is a +"001". I never understood what that was for. All I have to do when I use my other camera is enter that model name and then the number sequence I want - Nikon will start with DSCN and I can choose 001 or any other combination of numbers. By doing this none of the numbers assigned by the 2 cameras will match any more.
Thanks again for all your help.
cgz

[TonyW]

Glad you found it - sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words :)

Tony