Organizing papers and kits?

[luckygirl07]

Hi,
I'm pretty new to digital scrapbooking. What's the best way to organize my papers and things I download? I'm already starting to forget what I have when I go to do a layout and I can only imagine it will get worse the more I download.

Should I leave the ones I get as a set together (so everything matches) or separate them into different files for paper, elements, alphas, etc? And do I just store them as "files" in my hard drive or is there a better way? I would really like to be able to "see" everything when I open a file... is that possible? Do I need another program to do that?

Thanks!

[Bayla]

I use ACDSee to organise my scrapbooking supplies. I tag everything into different categories - according to designer, previes, colour, brushes, frames, templates, papers, elements (& subdivide so I'll have a category for brads, bows, ribbons etc.) Some items end up being tagged about ten times but in the end it makes it easier to find specific things for any particular LO.

Bayla

[msbrad]

I am hoping to get going with ACDSee this summer,but for now...I am happy with the method I am using.
All my scrapbooking supplies are on a large drive and the folder is called
scrapbook stuff.
then inside there is a folder per site where I have obtained the kit.
Then a folder per designer, and each kit is in its own folder.

I also have a notebook with my kits all backed up on CD. Each designer has her own CD (or CD's). The notebook is divided by site too.

[SharLamb]

Sheesh. I just mentioned it on another post, so hesitate to do so again (I'm not getting anything for plugging it!!! HONEST!), but what helped me SO MUCH was Patty Debowski's, "Digital & Hybrid Scrapbooking & Card-Making with Photoshop Elements." I bought the version with the Organizing Disk, and it has made a HUGE difference to me. You can check it out at her web site:

www.TheDigitalScrapbookTeacher.com

Of all the books I own on PSE, this is my favorite by far...easy to read (no techie talk), thorough, and in an order that makes sense. Awesome index. It's not just for scrappers either. She is very good at explaining the basic workings of PSE for photo editing. It's a little pricey, but IMHO, money well spent...an INVESTMENT.

Shar

[cats4jan]

Shar - that's a great site for templates for both pages and cards - thanks

[Karin Sue]

You might want to consider setting up a separate catalog for all your scrapbooking elements. Then you could leave them in their sets and apply various paper, elements, alphas, et. tags and categories.

I believe I've seen threads here that discuss using the Organizer for this.

[nkeevers]

I use ACDSee and am so happy with it! I can find anything at the drop of a hat! I can even see all my fonts! I do have all my scrapbooking files under one folder though (and then separated by kit).

[Mommygirl]

I have a question about ACDSee. I have been using the Organizer in PSE4 and it really slows down the speed and last summer my computer crashed but luckily everything was saved to an external hard drive BUT the organizer was on the old computer. I spent days and days and days (hate to admit it but could have been weeks!) tagging and organizing my kits and I can't seem to recover any of it. It has become so frustrating that I gave up.

So does ACDSee work outside of PSE, like off my external hard drive? and does the speed of PSE improve if I use this program?

Thanks Marcy

[hukari]

Marcy, ACDSee has to be installed on your machine, but the database can be put on the EHD. An EHD can fail, too, though, so if you lose the database, your tags are lost too if you haven't done a backup. I have the database on my EHD so I can share between laptop and PC. Each machine must have ACDSee installed on it. You can, however, do the same with the Organizer; keep your files and catalog on the EHD and just have the program installed on your PC.

There is great info about organizing with ACDSee here:
http://www.digiscrapinfo.com/dsiwiki/ACDSee_Photo_Manager

Luckygirl07, there is also inof at the same site about various organizing styles with ACDSee. You can even download the categories to use on your PC. I personally make a designer folder for each designer and categorize accoring to type of element(paper, alphas, etc.) and color. I also categorize the papers according to style(stripes, plaid, floral, etc.)

ACDSee is also great because you can view and categorize your PS brushes and Windows fonts.

[kimh]

I also use ACDSee. Can't imagine not having it!
Kimh

[hukari]

I have to add one more thing. DO tag your commercial use things as such. I didn't and am kicking myself for it now. You think you would never make anything to sell, and then a situation comes up and you don't know what you can safely use without digging around for the TOU.

[luckygirl07]

Ughh... looks like Acdsee is only for windows! (I have a mac)
Thanks for all the suggestions though!

[Bayla]

Ughh... looks like Acdsee is only for windows! (I have a mac)
Thanks for all the suggestions though!

On another forum I frequent I know that a lot of Mac owners are using Shoebox (http://www.kavasoft.com/Shoebox/) for organising their digital supplies....

Bayla

[farmwifek]

Sheesh. I just mentioned it on another post, so hesitate to do so again (I'm not getting anything for plugging it!!! HONEST!), but what helped me SO MUCH was Patty Debowski's, "Digital & Hybrid Scrapbooking & Card-Making with Photoshop Elements." I bought the version with the Organizing Disk, and it has made a HUGE difference to me. You can check it out at her web site:

www.TheDigitalScrapbookTeacher.com (http://www.TheDigitalScrapbookTeacher.com)

Of all the books I own on PSE, this is my favorite by far...easy to read (no techie talk), thorough, and in an order that makes sense. Awesome index. It's not just for scrappers either. She is very good at explaining the basic workings of PSE for photo editing. It's a little pricey, but IMHO, money well spent...an INVESTMENT.

Shar

I totally agree. I am reading it now and going thru highlighting things. I had ordered a CD set from Scrapgirls but I was so confused I couldn't get past the 1st tutorial. This book is awesome. I have the organizing CD as well but haven't done anything with it yet. I'm just trying to get through the book and learn PSE 5.

I would definately recommend this book to anyone.

[SharLamb]

Just remember that when you use any organizing system, you MUST STORE YOUR ELEMENTS ON YOUR HARD DRIVE, NOT JUST IN THE ORGANIZER. The organizer is simply a pointer to where your things really are. If you forget to file them on your hard drive, the next time you turn your computer on, they will all be gone (disconnected) with no way to get them back without reloading them. -------My copy of Patty's book has so many sticky flags in it, and highlights, I wouldn't begin to try counting them! :D -------Shar

[CarolLHB]

Whoa, Lucky-you have iPhoto for that!

I have separate albums for all my stuff, papers, metals, ribbons, etc. I make sure to write in all the info in the comments section as suggested when I download.

It looks like this:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1S1TI64N6rYYjPIBE5Qc0uRkTefQqA0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1S1TI64N6rYYjPIBE5Qc0uRkTefQqA0)

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

As Carol said us Mac users have iPhoto (which is an organiser) and it comes free with the Mac along with iDVD, iMovie etc.

Wendy

[mschall]

Just remember that when you use any organizing system, you MUST STORE YOUR ELEMENTS ON YOUR HARD DRIVE, NOT JUST IN THE ORGANIZER. The organizer is simply a pointer to where your things really are. If you forget to file them on your hard drive, the next time you turn your computer on, they will all be gone (disconnected) with no way to get them back without reloading them. -------My copy of Patty's book has so many sticky flags in it, and highlights, I wouldn't begin to try counting them! :D -------Shar

Thank you! I was wondering that exact thing. I've been storing on my hd and ehd just in case the organizer didn't really store. Sounds like I need to buy another book. Is it really worth that much $$?

[SharLamb]

IMHO, Patty's book is the best money I have spent on my digi-scrapping hobby. I have spent other very good money...especially Linda Sattgast's DVDs and Premier membership as well as the PET membership, and some Scrapgirls tutorials. But the book is something I ALWAYS have at my left hand, and when I need a quick reference, it is right there...very handy...very easy-to-understand language. For instance, I'm always forgetting how to make a stroke outline on a separate layer (I also always have to look up my cell phone number when asked for it!), and with Patty's book, instructions are instantly available to me (the book almost automatically opens to that page now!). When I was learning how to make templates, I read the step-by-step instructions without having to flip from screen to screen...it was beside me...."beside" being the operative word. If I could take only one book with me to a desert island, it would be Patty's. (Yes, I know, there wouldn't be any electricity on the island, so I couldn't do digi-scrapping there anyway.) And the book is so big, it cannot get lost on my messy desk...the cherry on the top of the whipped cream!---------Shar (who gets no $$$ for this plug) :D

[mschall]

WOW what a testimonial. Guess I'll have to save my pennies for that book. It sounds like it is geared more to digi-scrapping than the 2 books I've already purchased. I have the Dummies book and Teach Yourself Visually. I, also, prefer to have a book rather than have to flip through screens. I've been printing tutorials which is using way too much ink that I need for printing my layouts. I can relate to having to look up cell phone number. We moved from MI to SC last summer and I almost know all our new data.

I am waiting for my first issue of Photoshop Eements Techniques to arrive. Does that mean I have PET membership? What is Premiere membership?

[Storm]

Shar-[quote] [/Just remember that when you use any organizing system, you MUST STORE YOUR ELEMENTS ON YOUR HARD DRIVE, NOT JUST IN THE ORGANIZER. The organizer is simply a pointer to where your things really are. If you forget to file them on your hard drive, the next time you turn your computer on, they will all be gone (disconnected) with no way to get them back without reloading them. -------My copy of Patty's book has so many sticky flags in it, and highlights, I wouldn't begin to try counting them! :D -------Shar QUOTE]

Are you referring to just the Organizer that comes with PS Elements or do you mean any organizer including ACDSee ?
Thanks Storm

[MazG]

Shar-[quote] [/Just remember that when you use any organizing system, you MUST STORE YOUR ELEMENTS ON YOUR HARD DRIVE, NOT JUST IN THE ORGANIZER. The organizer is simply a pointer to where your things really are. If you forget to file them on your hard drive, the next time you turn your computer on, they will all be gone (disconnected) with no way to get them back without reloading them. -------My copy of Patty's book has so many sticky flags in it, and highlights, I wouldn't begin to try counting them! :D -------Shar QUOTE]

Are you referring to just the Organizer that comes with PS Elements or do you mean any organizer including ACDSee ?
Thanks Storm

Elements organizer always has an original file as part of it's organizer system (although it can be offline, for e.g. on a CD ROM) it simply remember the location of the file. ACDSee works in a similar way to Elements, the files are physically located on a hard drive somewhere (I'm not sure if it allows offline storage, I'd have to check).

This is why in both ACDSee and Elements, if you move a file using a tool that isn't your organizer (e.g. using Windows Explorer) the link will become broken in the organizer and the file will appear to be missing. Elements is a bit smarter than ACDSee in this respect because it will allow you to reconnect. ACDSee will simply allow you to remove and re-add the file but you will lose all your associated tags unless you have embedded them at the file level in the metadata.

[SharLamb]

Storm, I don't know about anything but the Organizer with PSE. That's all I use, and I love it (version 5). With it, and Patty Debowski's system, I can't imagine wanting/needing anything else, but it could be that ignorance is bliss for me. I keep reading from others who can't imagine living without ACDSee and others.

Shar

[Storm]

Thanks Shar & Marina.
Storm