Think Fixed Tech: Digital Asset Management

Yeah, you probably have some system, right? Some way of cataloging. But if youre a normal human being, your beginnings were humble and probably predate the many choices you have today. Here is a general rundown of available cataloging tools, or Digital Asset Management. The field is crowded and the product you choose needs to be tailored to your needs and budget. In rough order of power, features and cost:

iphoto - Comes bundled with the Apple iLife suite. The 08 version can archive thousands of pics and has basic editing functions. Category: You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat Cost $80 * you also get iMovie, iWeb, GarageBand and iDVD. Cant beat it for the price but like I say: "If you have an $80 photo library, get an $80 tool to manage it.

MS Expression - The borg takeover of this software leaves me feeling very uneasy but it was a great product as iView Media Pro. Category: Nervously pessimistic Cost: $300 As is typical of microsoft, there are about 50 different versions to choose from. Best of luck.

Extensis Portfolio - Good brand name, scalable product to allow all levels to enjoy. RAW support and a 30 day free trial. Category: Too Good to be True? Cost:$200

MediaDex - The Cumulus single user product. Dont know a thing about it but Cumulus is a very powerful DAM thats not limited to photos (or you might say, not specializing in photos). Category: Dark Horse for Starters. Cost: $80

Cumulus: A real heavy hitter, probably overkill for all but the largest companies. Category: Grandaddy. Cost: Not Sure

Aperture 2: What a laugher V.1 of this was. Dont we expect better from Apple? Well, how about this? Not only offering powerful image cataloging but also a mid range adjustment function (Photoshop lite?). Maybe trying to do too much and no server option. Anyone try it yet? Category: Getting There? There? Anyone? Cost: $200

Montala - I say Montala, you say HUH?!. How about I then say 'free"? Yeah, this may just be the future but youre going to need a code monkey to start it up (easy) and maintain it. But you can also add in functionality to customize it. All web based, so theres no install and you can use it on any machine. Category: The Future is Now Cost: You Heard Me

AS is evident there are plenty of solutions out there at really reasonable costs. If you have specific experience with any of the above (and indeed any I may have omitted) please post in the comments. There is a lot to learn here and I think for the photographer of any level its only second to having a proper back up strategy.

Geof Bowie
www.thinkfixed.com

Comments

[ribbs]

thanks a ton.

[ribbs]

Windows XP is the most popular OS, eh what? Whatever, there is some sense in trying others versions too. For this moment it is Windows 7 (see the link http://rapid4me.com/?q=Windows+7+Build )

[RamziD]

Hi,

"Mediadex... Dont know a thing about it"> few details regarding MediaDex software:

MediaDex is the entity that took over Cumulus Single User (since September 2005). Based on the Canto Cumulus Digital Asset Management technology, it is the continuation of Single User versions with enhanced functionalities (more files supported, new information fields,..) and technological improvements (in particular, MS Windows vista and Intel Mac support). Technically, MediaDex 2.0 could be considered as a Cumulus 7.1 version. Thus, it's possible to migrate Cumulus SU 5.x and 6.x catalogs.

MediaDex 2.0 is available in two versions: Standard and Professional. While the basic functionality of both programs is the same, MediaDex Professional includes advanced support for Microsoft Office documents and digital camera proprietary RAW formats. A fully functional demo of Standard or Professional version from http://www.mediadex.com/us/downloads.htm ; registration on Internet required to use full features.

Software licenses could be purchased from MediaDex website, Standard version is available for 49.95 EUR/USD, Professional version for 79.95 EUR/USD (http://www.mediadex.com/us/purchase.htm).

Interesting volume discount for purchases of multiple licenses are available; for example 10 Professional version licenses will cost 55.95 EUR/USD each instead of 79.95 EUR/USD (for detailed list, see http://www.mediadex.com/mdxFor/viewtopic.php?t=380).

If you have other questions feel free to contact me.

Ramzi Dziri
Business Development Manager
MediaDex FZ-LLC

[Ira Block]

I've been working with the new Expressions 2 and really like it. They've fixed a lot of the issues in the first version. The new version has a separate window for the light box function which can go on a second monitor, which makes a great tool for editing. Version 2 also populates a lot faster, which is great for large catalogs. I feel keywording and captioning is a lot easier than Lightroom. Also in Lightroom you can only have one catalog opened at a time. In Expression you can have multiple catalogs open and move photos from one to another and paths to the original files will stick.For now i'm staying with Expression for archiving and editing.

[Andrew Condon]

I do it all thru the filesystem on OS X using Lightroom catalogs as the basic units and making three copies of each.

I export a Lightroom catalog for each year (I only keep about 20,000 fotos from the year so each one is not that large). My main catalog consists of a superset of all these smaller ones. I back up the catalog file, without the images of course, for this master catalog on a weekly basis.

I have my doubts about any more automated system because I have had plenty of bad experiences with backup software and systems in my life.

If you implement a simple system that you can fully understand and if you have three copies including at least one offsite copy then you are in good shape I think.

[Stephen Alvarez]

So far Expressions Media 2 (beta) has worked really well for me. I use it in the field to rename, caption and tag my raws then I use it the office to edit and catalog.
One of the good things about Microsoft buying iView is that the program should be around for a while.

[Ian Butterworth]

You missed one which is quite a low cost Windows only program: imatch at photools.com. I've used it a bit though I'm currently behind on my full catalog. So for now I'm putting the metadata in via Lightroom and making sure I save an XMP up to date for each photo in my archives. My long term strategy for backup is to save my better photos (3 stars and up) as DNGs and save them online with Jungle Disk. Though I still need to check if the DNG from lightroom has the metadata ebedded. I think the answer is yes.