Deciding on next software for image handling

[odds]

There are quite a few applications to choose from, and there are an even higher number of reviews to read, never mind the number of tutorials on all the obvious stuff, but not demonstrating the one feature you need :-)

I am among those who think metadata is underrated by many software providers and it is hardly ever commented in reviews, other than (again) the obvious features of adding keywords and other metadata. The finer details on search functionality is left to the user to dig out.

"Metadata Matters" blogger Carl Seibert has posted articles on the subject. He rightfully points to the connection between the metadata we choose to add to what fields and the particular software we intend to use to find images in our archive via metadata. I hope it is fair to simplify his main advices to: Use sentences in the Caption field to describe image content, and add keywords as search helpers. Keep a (short) list of keywords to pick from, do not type keywords directly on an image by image basis.

What does your software actually do if you delete a keyword from your pick list? Will the keyword be removed from all images where it occurs? Or not? What is the correct way for your archive? Does your software allow you to select what to do with existing keywords?

I am not sure which Carl Seibert article I would recommend for a first read, but I think the Statue of Liberty replica goes straight to the center. What images does your application return when you search for "Statue of Liberty" rather than "Statue of Liberty - replica". Check out the story https://www.carlseibert.com/post-off...e-snafu-redux/ and pay attention to the headline Beware (approx 3/4 from the top) where he writes: “Statue of Liberty” was not a keyword. “Statue of Liberty Replica” was.

Above all, I think his message is that we need a plan for our metadata, and I believe the keywording article https://www.carlseibert.com/keywordi...rations-start/ may be a good first read on the topic.

There is a link to his blog near the top of his pages, you may well want to read more of his articles.
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Odd S.

[george013]

There are quite a few applications to choose from, and there are an even higher number of reviews to read, never mind the number of tutorials on all the obvious stuff, but not demonstrating the one feature you need :-)

I am among those who think metadata is underrated by many software providers and it is hardly ever commented in reviews, other than (again) the obvious features of adding keywords and other metadata. The finer details on search functionality is left to the user to dig out.

"Metadata Matters" blogger Carl Seibert has posted articles on the subject. He rightfully points to the connection between the metadata we choose to add to what fields and the particular software we intend to use to find images in our archive via metadata. I hope it is fair to simplify his main advices to: Use sentences in the Caption field to describe image content, and add keywords as search helpers. Keep a (short) list of keywords to pick from, do not type keywords directly on an image by image basis.

What does your software actually do if you delete a keyword from your pick list? Will the keyword be removed from all images where it occurs? Or not? What is the correct way for your archive? Does your software allow you to select what to do with existing keywords?

I am not sure which Carl Seibert article I would recommend for a first read, but I think the Statue of Liberty replica goes straight to the center. What images does your application return when you search for "Statue of Liberty" rather than "Statue of Liberty - replica". Check out the story https://www.carlseibert.com/post-off...e-snafu-redux/ and pay attention to the headline Beware (approx 3/4 from the top) where he writes: “Statue of Liberty” was not a keyword. “Statue of Liberty Replica” was.

Above all, I think his message is that we need a plan for our metadata, and I believe the keywording article https://www.carlseibert.com/keywordi...rations-start/ may be a good first read on the topic.

There is a link to his blog near the top of his pages, you may well want to read more of his articles.
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Odd S.

I've been playing with the idea of making my own program handling with keywords. And now also one for renaming my images in the way I used to do.
Using keywords should be done from a list, the only way one is sure the words are written the same way and avoiding synonyms. Building a list from a dictionary/library with the used keywords is helping you to select the right keyword in a search. Maybe there're programs that do it, I just don't own them.

George

[xpatUSA]

I've been playing with the idea of making my own program handling with keywords. And now also one for renaming my images in the way I used to do.
Using keywords should be done from a list, the only way one is sure the words are written the same way and avoiding synonyms. Building a list from a dictionary/library with the used keywords is helping you to select the right keyword in a search. Maybe there are programs that do it, I just don't own them.

George

There are indeed, George.

I've just downloaded this:

http://fastphototagger.sourceforge.net/

I'm just now starting up the learning curve which appears to be quite steep. Fortunately, data-base design was part of my job long ago so it's not all gobble-de-gook.

I started to do it in Picasa 3 but that was pretty slow work ...