Organizing Digi Supplies

TracyBurtt said:
I'm also on a Mac and use tags, I love them, so easy! I add the tag ToBeUsed to everything (well, each kit and template) so that I can search for only things that I haven't used yet first, I remove the tag when I've used it so I know if it doesn't have that tag, I've used it at least once... should probably start adding tags Used2021, etc.
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I find I have more I haven't used than used, so I started adding "z-" to the start of the folder name, it naturally brings the used things to the bottom of finder, and as I usually copy/paste the kit name, I'm already in the 'renaming' phase to add it.
 
Oh boy, do I love organizing!

I organize digital supplies in Lightroom. I did use ACDSee for many years, but one too many times losing my catalog and I was done. I switched to Bridge, but it was such a resource hog. Since all my keywording was in the metadata, I was able to pull in all my supplies into Lightroom and all my keywording/tagging came along with the supplies.

A couple of people mentioned the Excel file I use to organize what photos need to be scrapped and what's already been scrapped, so I thought I would share if anyone wants to download it.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/liteh0uefmut5l9/2003 Calendar of Events & Layouts Completed.xls?dl=0

I use Lightroom to keep track of what photos I've scrapped as well as completed layouts. I mark my photos that I've already scrapped with the color purple. That way, at a quick glance I know what has already been scrapped. Before I used Lightroom, I had started changing the name of the photo file by adding SCRAPPED at the end. Like 2018-01-02_SCRAPPED.jpg.

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I keep an Excel file with the dates I took photos, what transpired that day, and then tuck in a thumbnail of the completed layout. When I'm done with a particular day, then I fill that row with a medium gray so I know that event is scrapped. This is SUPPOSED to help me when it comes to printing and/or finding particular layouts. I find it quite satisfying to see the rows of completed layouts. LOL

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Hope that helps someone and if you have any questions, I'll be happy to do more screenshots or explain further.
 
Cheryl....that is awesome.:wub: I just downloaded your spreadsheet. This will be a great starting point for me. I so need to get my albums I'm wanting to create organized,

I think I might not realize what a resource hog Bridge is because I do have quite a bit of RAM on this computer. (64G) I haven't tried to run it on my laptop, which is 12G. I don't store my photos or supplies on that one so no reason to really.

I really like how you tag your pictures purple that are scrapped. I might have to do something like that...I have all my photos and all my daughter's photos downloaded to my computer and imported into Lr.

You have given me a ton of ideas and lots to think about!
 
just_jo said:
Cheryl....that is awesome.:wub: I just downloaded your spreadsheet. This will be a great starting point for me. I so need to get my albums I'm wanting to create organized,

I think I might not realize what a resource hog Bridge is because I do have quite a bit of RAM on this computer. (64G) I haven't tried to run it on my laptop, which is 12G. I don't store my photos or supplies on that one so no reason to really.

I really like how you tag your pictures purple that are scrapped. I might have to do something like that...I have all my photos and all my daughter's photos downloaded to my computer and imported into Lr.

You have given me a ton of ideas and lots to think about!
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So glad I could help. Lightroom Classic has red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. I just recently discovered that not only can I mark the photos with purple, I can add a color label to an entire folder. So if I'm scrolling through, it shows up on the left side and I don't even need to access that folder.

I use red to mark layouts that have already been printed. And I use yellow, green, and blue when I'm marking photos for projects.
 
I feel like I've stumbled upon a treasure chest with this thread! SO much useful and helpful information!

My supplies are sort of organized but I feel like I could make it work better for me.
 
I actually use Elements Organizer for all of my kits. I'm like Cheryl I LOVE to organize.

Basically, my hubby is in IT and we have a server, so everything is stored by designer on the server - meaning it's all somewhere safe.

Adding them to Organizer means I can keyword tag everything because I am a kit mixer. It's labour intensive, BUT for me, it works.

As a project manager and a time management trainer, I always advise people to find something that works for them. Trying something that someone else does can lead to frustration.

I don't upload psd's - only the previews of templates, meaning I can browse template images when considering how to make a layout.

I am on a PC and I think on Macs there are definitely easier systems to use.

When I started scrapping a year ago I read a LOT about organizing and where I have landed is a hybrid of the many things I saw that I liked, but I wanted a similar system to the one I have for all my cardmaking stamp sets. I LOVE to keyword search. It cuts down the time for me and leaves more time for crafty stuffs. So for example if a challenge has 'use hearts' I just select SSD + Hearts tags and voila! all my available SSD hearts pop up - this SO works for me. And this is identical to the system I use for my cardmaking stamps - that I store on Google Docs - I have a folder and I add the stamp set image and add the keywords, so I can search for 'sunshine' or whatever at a later date.
 
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My Disney and travel kits are organized by theme, but all others are organized by Designer.

Disney is by characters, areas of the parks, parks, food, travel, templates, alphas, word art, etc. Some downloads fall into a few different categories. Travel kits are organized by beach, cruise, hiking, camping, nature, travel (air/flight/driving), food, countries etc.
 
I use the store/designer/kit format but I use Lightroom to organise everything. When I feel the inclination I tag things under different categories and I always tag the previews from each kit. This makes it really easy to find anything I need.
 
Dalis said:
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I am with Dalis, lol.

I organize by store and designer on my computer. BUT I also have a themes folder on my EHD as well as store and designer for the not a theme kinda kit.

I love to mix and match but find crediting a page is too hard so I don't usually post them. I can never remember gallery policy so I find I don't post much beyond my CT work.
 
I organize in folders by store and designer. I also tag everything in ACDSee, which is time consuming but useful. I like browsing and opening my scrapping supplies from a different software (ACDSee) than my photos (Bridge) so I can easily go back and forth (or have both open on my screen).

I do clear things out (a little) from time to time.
 
I'm going to go back and read more responses but I don't tag anything LOL! I basically keep everything in my "downloads" folder until it gets moved to my SSD folder :p...I don't shop anywhere else so it's easy for me to have just an SSD folder:
1. Digi Kits Folder
2. -SSD folder
3.--folders by theme...animals, all boy, all girl, Disney, templates(broke down by number of photos), birthday, summer, beach, road trip, etc

and that is it......when I want to scrap something, I either scrap based on the kit I want to use or I scrap based on the pics.....

Find pics to scrap then find coordinating kit/template to work with
or
Find kit to scrap with then find pics that work with said kit

I find this much easier and less stressful for me :) I use to have designers/CT requirement kits/unzip/unsued/etc and that caused me too much anxiety so many years ago I decided to do everything by theme and it has always worked for me :) even though I have more digi supplies than I can count, I have a pretty good idea of what I have in my stash so I just go find it LOL!
 
nun69 said:
Ieven though I have more digi supplies than I can count, I have a pretty good idea of what I have in my stash so I just go find it LOL!
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I’m finding I know I had some products and even found layouts I’ve scrapped using them, but the actual products are no where to be found. :D:mad:
 
I've been following this post from the beginning and have really loved reading how everyone organizes (or doesn't :D ). I LOVE organizing. It's relaxing to me.

I totally agree with Claire; do what works for you.

I've tried the PSE organizer and ACDsee. I tagged, and tagged, and then, like Cheryl, lost my catalogs too many times, and that was it.
I thought about using Bridge, but, thanks Cheryl for mentioning that it's a resource hog! I won't be doing that.

I have everything in folders by store/designer/kit. I rename everything when I download. I know, it sounds crazy, and there are busy times like iNSD where I won't rename until after the event. But, it really helps when I'm looking for specific things. It doesn't help with colors, or narrow down my search when I look for a "flower", but it saves my sanity because I won't "lose my catalog" again.
This is what a kit folder looks like. All the papers are together at the bottom which makes it easier when I scrap.
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I have toyed with the idea of going back to tagging, but it makes my brain hurt. LOL!
 
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