Cataloging images

[Phoenix830]

This is my first post and am not sure if it is in the right place (sorry if it isn't)

I have many images that i want to assign keywords to and then burn to disk with other files.

I want the disk(s) to be standalone in the sense that I can put the disk into any computer and search it by the keywords, preferably with the software burnt on tho the cd without the need of installing.

I have googled this and haven't been able to find what i am after. Can anyone recommend any software for this?


I am using Windows vista 32bit

 

[JG_Coleman]

I'm not personally familiar with any specific software. One thing you might consider is using webpages burnt to the CD instead of actual software. I'm not entirely sure if webpages can be created to run keyword searches on the disc contents, but it's at least one possibility to take a look at. You should be able to "auto-start" just about any type of file on the disc, and pretty much every computer has at least one web browser installed.

 

[The_Traveler]

do you mean you want keywords in the metadata?

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Lightroom 3 does the best cataloging job I've seen for "many photos" and its free to try. You can keyword a single photo or batch...it works great. https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_lightroom

 

[JG_Coleman]

Lightroom 3 does the best cataloging job I've seen for "many photos" and its free to try. You can keyword a single photo or batch...it works great. https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_lightroom

It would seem that the OP is not just looking for a way to keyword photos, but for some sort of standalone software that could be packaged on the same CD as the photos (and perhaps autorun upon inserting the CD) which would allow any user that puts the CD in a drive on their computer to search the metadata keywords of all the photos and see the results.

 

[KmH]

How many is many? 200? 20,000?

You might check out Phase One Media Pro, but if you want to put the application on multiple discs you may run afoul of any cataloging application's EULA.

http://www.phaseone.com/en/Software/Media-Pro/FAQ.aspx

In order to allow you to use Media Pro on multiple machines, if required by your workflow (such as the desktop and portable computer), every user is eligible to activate the software on up to two machines, therefore: 1 License = 1 User = 2 Computers Activated

Lightroom was mentioned but Lightroom can only search 1 catalog at a time and it's full retail EULA restricts it's use.

http://www.adobe.com/products/eulas/pdfs/photoshoplightroom_3.pdf

By way of example, the foregoing does not permit you to install or access (either directly or through commands, data or instructions) the Software: (i) from or to a Computer not part of your Internal Network, (ii) for enabling web hosted workgroups or services available to the public, (iii) by any individual or entity to use, download, copy or otherwise benefit from the functionality of the Software unless licensed to do so by Adobe, (iv) as a component of a system, workflow or service accessible by more than the Permitted Number of users, or (v) for operations not initiated by an individual user (e.g., automated server processing); and...

 

[bratkinson]

I don't have any cataloging software, I simply have lots of folders for my pix and folders within folders within folders of saved pictures.

For example, in one folder I labelled CITIES, I have another labelled NYC. In the NYC folder, I have it broken down to PEOPLE, BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, SUBWAY, and others. Under BUILDINGS, I have EMPIRE STATE, UN, CHRYSLER, etc. There's no practical limit to how deep one can go with folders within folders within folders. And when it gets to the point that I have, for example, too many pictures in the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING folder, I could further break that down to 1ST FLOOR, 2ND FLOOR, DECK, or whatever.

The only limitation that I've found to this method is there's no cross-referencing. Such as, if I wanted to see all my BUILDING pictures, broken down by city. I would have to go to each STATE/CITY/BUILDINGS folder and look at the buildings in each one.

I'm sure that the various web hosting picture sites have some kind of software to catalog and cross-reference their pictures. I'd probably Google a variety of words and see what comes up. However, I see two pitfalls with this. First, is to catalog EVERY picture you have/will shoot, including the necessity to 'keep up' with your shooting. Second is to figure out what keywords would be used to search with. Such as if I had neglected to put EMPIRE in the key word list of a LOBBY shot of the ESB lobby, then it would never show up in a LOBBY search.

In short, building an index and more importantly, keeping it up to date, can consume more time than one would like.

 

[Phoenix830]

Thank you all for the quick response i will Try to answer in order

JG_Coleman

#2 I hadnt considered web pages but will look into it as it is praticle and wont need specialist software to view.

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The_Traveler

#3 Some of the images are vectors I dont think you can add metadata but I was considering converting to jpeg.

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2WheelPhoto#4 Thank you I am downloading it now will have a look at it tommorow, when I have more time

JG_Coleman

#5 That is excatly what I am looking for

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KmH

#6 I have over 100k in various folders and formats, Tring to find images is a nightmare at the moment.

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bratkinson

[FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif] #7 Thank you That is how I currently have it but It can take a long time to find a particular image.


Thank you for all the comments. I will try out the suggestions and re-post in a couple of days[/FONT]​

 

[DiskoJoe]

DuDe. Seriously!

All digital cameras mark the file with some sort of number. When you download the picture just pull them up with what ever editing software you have and mark your keywords after the numbers the camera marks them with. You already have everything you need and are working way to hard to find it.

Dont look under the street lamp when you lost you keys in the shadows just because the light is better there.