Tell me about your organization...

W

wvasweetness

New member
I got my new External HD last night... so I'm just wondering how you girls do it. I figure I can reorganize, and then reset paths in iView Media Pro so that I don't have to retag.

Sooooo, how do you organize your actual files (not within ACDSee or another program), but the actual file structure.

Do you organize by designer? Theme? Shop where you bought the item?

Do you separate the kits, or keep them together?
 
I do mine by store>by designer. A few months ago, I decided to try other people's way, which was to do just by designer, and I got totally overwhelmed, and I couldn't seem to find anything.

The store>Designer works for me, when/if the designer switches stores, I just move them to their new store. Also, I have a separate CT folder, and my designers that I CT for are in there. So if I already have a folder for them (most likely LOL) in the store, then I just move their folder to my CT folder. Like, last week I got on La's team, so I just dropped her folder from the Sweet Shoppe folder, to my CT folder.

ETA I keep everything together, I don't separate anything. If I ever get around to tagging, that wouldn't be necessary anyway.

Pretty basic set up over here! I just found this works better for me, but most people do by designer I think. I just found it hard for some reason! LOL
 
I so needed a thread like this.
Im still rather new at this and my stash of kits is getting larger and I wanted to put some organisation to it before it gets out of hand.

I have a question if you dont mind. How do you guys tag your files? Is it easier to find things if they are tagged?

I like your idea about store>designer. I might give that a try.
 
I currently organize by designer, like this...

Designer ->
A-C ->
Acauan, D
Alpuche, L
Altmann, F
Argile, T
Aspens, A
....

D-G ->
Desjardin, L
Farrer, R
Fenwick, M
....

So far it's worked fairly well, but I was getting overwhelmed by the number of designers I had. But now that I know my style, and buy a lot of things from the same designer, I'm not adding a lot of new Designer folders to my stash.

Brooke - I don't use ACDSee, but I do use iView Media Pro and tag items in it. I spent hours tagging all of my "old" files, and now tag new ones as soon as I load them. Yes, tagging makes it SOOO much easier!! If I need a yellow ribbon, I can click on 'yellow' and 'ribbon' and find exactly what I need.
 
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I have one file per designer, and one file per shop for collab kits. Before ACDSee, I used to rename every part of the kit with some sort of description: for example button round red.jpg... Do I need to tell you how boring a job this was??? LOL But I could easily find all red buttons with Windows Explorer's search engine.
 
In my monster digi scrapping folder I have folders for -

each designer I CT for (so I can easily find their stuff)
page kits (general bulk folder that holds my stash that I've used)
templates (holds all those)
alphas and embellishments
albums (quick page albums I've purchased)
actions
brushes

and then I have my new purchases folders - basically I like to keep my new stuff separate for a bit so it doesn't get lost in the volume of stuff I have. So I have these folders:

CT to do (kits I get from my designer go directly there)
new non-ct kits to use

every few months I move my used kits to the bulk storage folder of "kits". Typically just before or after I do a big shop (NSD, black friday etc)

I don't tag my stuff in PSE or in acdsee - I've tried and it's just not for me.
 
Which would you recommend to a beginner? ACDSee or iView Media Pro?
I need to tackle this now I think before it gets too hectic.
 
brooke22 said:
Which would you recommend to a beginner? ACDSee or iView Media Pro?
I need to tackle this now I think before it gets too hectic.
Click to expand...

I think the general consensus around here (since most girls are on PCs), is that ACDSee is the way to go. I use iView Media Pro b/c I'm on a Mac and ACDSee isn't available for Mac (although I continue to beg for a Mac version each and every day!!!!!) If I could use ACDSee, I would.

Good luck organizing! The fact that you're thinking about this now before you get overwhelmed with stuff means you are already ahead of the game! LOL!
 
I'm a mix of by designer and buy store. There are some stores where I only buy from one designer, so instead of a store, there's a designer folder. Other stores I buy from a few designers, but not frequently enough for each designer to have their own folder.

I have a huge digi-scrap folder, and then a pictures folder.
Inside digi I have a LO's folder, folders for each of my CT's, and then designer and store folders. For instance, Holly Designs from SPD has her own folder, but Amy Martin from The Lilypad doesn't, and she's in the TLP folder.

Within store folders, each designer has a folder. If I buy collabs from there often enough there's also a collab folder, if I don't buy often then it either sits out on it's own or goes into a designer folder within the store folder.

SSD has folders for each designer that I have purchased from as well as a nice big Collab folder where are all the 2 scoops and Triple Dips go. Perfect Pairs go in the SSD designers folder (ie the Dani Mogstad Shabby Miss Jenn collab is in Dani's folder, not the collab folder).

Sounds confusing probably, but it works for me. Like Jamie, if a designer moves to a new store, I just move their folder where it needs to go. Or if they go to a new store where I don't purchase from and probably won't purchase from other designers there, it gets it's own folder.

I *have* ACDSee, but I'm not very good at tagging. I *should* just start by tagging the new things I buy, but I'm slightly OCD in that I want EVERYTHING by a designer tagged all at once so I don't have to deal wtih it after that, lol. I was going to tag last night, but I did some backing up instead. I'll probably bring my EHD to NY this weekend and try and tag while up there.
 
I'm in LOVE with ACDSee, I couldn't imagine scrapping without it! The first tagging is overwhelming if you already have a lot of stuff, so that's definitely a good thing to start thinking about organisation before getting too much! I'm in the process of tagging everything but that's looooooong! LOL
 
I have 3 main folders:

1) Layouts
2) Pictures
3) Scrapping

I will say upfront that I am an ACDSee girl. So all my tagging is done in ACDSee.

1 --Layout is pretty self-explanitory. I have one folder for the layered files and one folder for the web version. At the end of each month, I delete the web version (my own little form of house cleaning :) ). I leave the layered file on my ehd until I print. Then I burn it to DVD and remove it from the ehd.
2 --Pictures have a folder for each year. Within each year I have a month. I've been through Stacy Julian's Library of Memories, so this is my "category drawer" stuff. I use tags to tag all my photos. I only keep 1 prior year of photos on my ehd. Everything else is stored on a second ehd. When I want an older photo, I just plug it in and grab it from there.
3 --Scrapbooking. I organize by designer. I have one folder for New Stuff, with sub folders for each designer. This is where I put new kits that have not been backed up. Once I have backed up, then I move the files to the designer's folder in the main area. I also keep one folder for stores that do collabs (Like SSD). If there is a Two Scoops or Triple Dip, I just pick one of the designers to put the file in and call it good. Again, since I use ACDSee, a lot of times I'm using that to look for specific pieces, rather than looking for a kit.

I try to tag my kits as I unzip them...this leads to less frustration down the road when I can't find something I know I have ;) I think you are wise to think about organization now, before it gets out of hand. I still have some designers that are not tagged, but I'm working my way through it.
 
I have a main scrapbook folder under it I have folders for:
complted pages
alphas
Doodles & Stamps
embellishments
kits
pictures to scrap
stitches
templates
word art
new untagged stuff

Each of those folders has subfolders like
alphas - >rounds, fabric, glass, paper, stickers& stamps
embellishments -> ribbons, frames, glitter, stars & flowers, tears & folds

The kits folder is divided into
new
used once (I make myself get two uses out of a kit before I buy a new one)
not new
unlikely
Xmas.

The 'not new' folder is divided up by designer or store. My CT stuff sits in the 'new untagged stuff' until I have used & tagged it.

I tag everything in ACDSee so it's easy for me to find specific stuff or if just browsing the folders doesn't turn up anything.
 
I organize by designer only...by store was just SO confusing for me (especially since when I started, designers moved around a LOT, sold in 3+ stores each, etc - which doesn't happen as much anymore).

My files look like this:

Digi Stuff
--Designer
----Kit
----Kit
----Kit
--Designer
----Kit
----Kit

And so on. :) Recently I moved my CT files to a separate folder...well, actually 2. CT Current Kits and CT Retired Kits, so I could figure out what to use and when, etc. Some designers I've been with for years and their folders had a LOT in them, lol!
 
In the past I've organized by both store and designer and I just found that it didn't work for me. I'm very much a "if I can't see it, I won't use it" kind of person so I'm working on a system that will easily allow me to see everything I have.

I had ACDSee when I was still on a PC and I didn't find that I ever used it. I mostly just used Windows Explorer so now that I switched to a Mac that's how I've been organizing. On my main HD I have a folder for new purchases and then a folder for to-use CT products.

On my network drive I have another folder full of used-CT stuff organized by designer and then a folder for all my other purchases scrap stuff that looks like this:

org-1.jpg


In the elements folder everything is broken down in to other folders. So far I really like it. It's still a work in progress but it works better for me than ACDSee ever did.

A question for all you ladies with newer MACs, have any of you attempted to organize using Spotlight and Smart Folders? It looks like you can add tags to files but I'm not sure if that would work or not. I know it doesn't appear to allow you to add tags to anything off the main HD but I could be wrong.
 
Well, on my EHD, I use the Gina Miller method. I have folders for just about everything! LOL
 
I sort by

Designer
--Kit name
---Papers
---Elements
---Alpha
(I LOOOOVVVEEE when the files come zipped like that)

I found when I first started scrapping, designers used to change stores a lot...and sorting by store confused me

I do sort the big collab kits by store and I do have a collabs folder for 2scoops and pairs etc
 
This is how I do it.

First I have all my digiscrapping stuff in a folder called
My scrap kits
Once you open that you see it all organized by designer
org1.jpg


If you opened a designers folder its all organized by name of product
org2.jpg


As for tagging the 2 things I always tag is ct kits I tag the preview in my need to scrap category
org3.jpg


Once I have scrapped that product it goes into my kits scrapped category
org4.jpg
 
Nettio said:
A question for all you ladies with newer MACs, have any of you attempted to organize using Spotlight and Smart Folders? It looks like you can add tags to files but I'm not sure if that would work or not. I know it doesn't appear to allow you to add tags to anything off the main HD but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

I tried Spotlight before I got iView Media Pro, and even though my computer is not slow - it took FOREVERRRRRR for the thumbnails to load! I got very frustrated with it.
 
I keep it all by designer and burn them to disk. Then, on my flash drive, I have folders divided by element (buttons, ribbon, etc). I make sure each file is still named with the kit it came from and then move them into those categories (all mixed together).
So I always have the kit as a whole on CD and then I scrap from my flash drive and when I need a ribbon I just go to the ribbon folder, etc.
Usually when I first buy a new kit, I keep in on my Hard Drive until I have used it once or twice, then burn it and split it on the flash drive.
I like some of the other methods on here as well...but this is what has worked for me so far :D
 
my ehd looks like this...

Pictures - with folders inside.. monthly and then special stuff like wedding, baby pics, etc.
Scraps

Then inside scraps there is
CT's
Designers 1
Designers 2
Designers 3

Then they go by designer, in order of how much I use them. All the SSD designers are in folder 1, the others tend to not get used. I have a folder just for SSD collabs, all other collabs are in folder 2

Inside the designer folders are indiv folders. For kits, I have a folder for paper and a folder for the alpha and then elements are in the kit folder. Drives me nuts to have them any other way, I don't know why. LOL
 
Sara that's too funny, cuz it drives me insane to have the elements all scattered willnilly in the folder. For me they have their own folder, just like alphas and papers, lol. The only thing not in a folder is a TOU and a preview (renamed "folder" so when I forget to open ACDSee and use windows explorer I can still it all).
 
For those that use ACDsee do you have to retag everything you upload into it? Or is the tagging that the designer does good enough?
 
ajf9597 said:
For those that use ACDsee do you have to retag everything you upload into it? Or is the tagging that the designer does good enough?
Click to expand...

That's not actual tagging. Since not everyone names buttons, buttons, kwim? So yea, you rename everything.

I tag everything by the designer. Then it's either a paper, alpha (which I use ACDSee to make a contact sheet and then only tag that), or element. Everything gets tagged with its color(s).

So a blue button by Traci is tagged Traci + blue + fastener + button.
A red and white swirly paper by Dani is tagged Dani + red + white + paper + swirls.
Etc, etc.
 
ok - I didn't read all the posts ... but this is how I have my EHD set up.

Artist Folder (where each designer has their own folder, in that folder each kit, or element pack, or alpha has it's own folder)

Each of my Personal CT's has a folder outside that Artist Folder (with each kit, element pack, or alpha has it's own folder - FWP albums go in with the kit)

SSD also has it's own folder with the rest of the Designer Folders for those that I am not on their personal CT - each designer has a folder so it is easily moved if needed.

I am also on the Bella Scraps magazine team and every month there is usually 2 designers that we work with. The stuff for that month stays in the BSM folder till I complete my assignments, then it moves to the Artist Folder.

I also have a "Collab" folder where charity kits and large multi designer kits go (like the MSA NSD kit and the Celebration of Life)

After a recent project I also have a Quick Page folder right now - where I put every square (8x8 or 12x12) quick page in so I had easy access. They might do back in the designer folders, it might stay - I am not sure LOL.

Last but not least - my pictures .... which I have organized my year>month>date/activity
 
My system is pretty basic,lol.
scrap stuff
next,if freebies, then it's by site name
ptu folders-Shop>designer
My photos are in my public files> photos> date entered

my needs are simple, what can I say,lol?:p
 
I have a folder named Scrapbooking supplies, within that folder, I have folders by different stores/shops and within those folders I have them by Designer, then by Kit name. I have a separate folder for all my templates. I also have separate folders for my brushes, shapes and styles/effects for PSE.

When it comes to LO's, I keep all my original 12 x 12 layouts in one folder. For the layouts I resize and share to the web, they are separated in to folders by challenge. Since I really only participate here at SSD, those folders are in a folder I named SSD challenges.

Right now, I use Adobe Bridge to tag/keyword all my scrapbook supplies, so if I am looking for a certain element, or certain paper, they are easier to find.

Tracey
 
On my first EHD, I have Kits, Elements, & Layouts. On my second is Photos, Collections/CDs, & Layouts (a duplicate of the pages on the first HD).

I have always organized my kits by designer, not store. I have a really good memory, so I just remember where they sell at and if there ever came a time when I couldn't remember... it would prolly be b/c I hadn't used their stuff in forever and then why would I need to buy more?? Generally, papers are in the kit folder with nested folders for alphas and elements, but I don't care enough to change it if the designer has it unzip another way.

On my laptop HD, within the My Pictures folder, I have separate folders for each CT I belong to and all new stuff I get from them as well as any new things I buy get unzipped into the My Pictures folder. I make a copy of each CT kit/element and drag one copy into the designer's folder and leave one within the My Pictures folder. This way, I can see at a glance the new things I need to scrap for my CTs and once I do so, I delete the kit/element from the designer folder. Once every couple weeks, depending on the load, I tag all my new CT and non-CT product in the My Pictures folder and then move it within ACDSee to its appropriate place on my EHDs. This way, I know that everything on my EHDs has been tagged and everything that needs to be tagged and moved is in one separate spot.

I am a very visual person, so this system works best for me and makes the most sense to me.

HTH!
 
Okay totally embarresed to admit this but I am SO unorganized! I do have a seperate folder for ct stuff but other then that things are just in different folders!! I am seriously ready to buy something to store it all. I do have a seperate hard drive for my scrap stuff though. I also keep all my photos on my ehd.
 
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