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PC's and Photo Storage/Albums

jk703

jk703

CEO of Anything and Everything, Everywhere
Pollywog
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Sep 17, 2012
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Hi Everyone....

I'm soon going to be switching over from a Mac to a Windows based computer. (I just ordered my new laptop!!!!!) So, on my MBP, I have used software called Photos. I import my images, make an album, and then I'm done. I have two libraries for my photos - one for scrapbooking supplies, and one for my actual photos. When I need to use the scrapbooking supplies or photos, I just export and use them in PS.

I don't know what I will need to do in Windows, what software I should be using or anything. I'm sorta stumped. :giggle

I will be getting Photoshop CC up and running, styles and actions all loaded, and I have to get my RadLab figured out, too! Then my next step will be transferring my scrap supplies, my photos and files.

Any suggestions and help is appreciated! I'm kind of nervous, but excited.
 
A new laptop - how exciting!! :-) Isn't it crazy how nerve wracking it can all be though?!

I just switched over to Windows 10 (instead of getting a new pc, the local computer guy that has worked on computer before said its such a big powerful machine I didn't need a new one ... saved me over $1000 too!) - I back everything up on to external hard drives. I don't think I have any special software ... the downloads go into a downloaded file and then I move them to the EHD ...

I hope it is hassle-free for you Jenn! Have fun!
 
Thanks, Jill! So, you just use an EHD for your supplies and photos? You don't have a way to view them, like scrolling through albums or such? Do you keep them separated? Sorry for so many questions.... lol!
@JillW
 
I used PCs from the 90's until 2011 when I got my iMac. I never even started using the Photos app because it annoyed me. I wasn't even using Lightroom yet, so it's not that I had a better program. I was just used to navigating through the file system I'd set up on my PCs. I have a Photos folder with subfolders for every year, with subfolders for every month, with subfolders for each day. I still use that file system today, even with Lightroom, and when I'm scrapping I don't open Lightroom to get my photos. I open the Finder and drag pictures from there onto my scrapbook page in Photoshop.

I don't remember all the details about how the Windows file system worked since it has been nearly 6 years since I used it, but it was easy to view the pictures. I believe there was a view format that shows an image in one column when you've clicked on its file name. I think there's a viewer too, similar to when I click on a file in Mac's Finder and hit my space bar, it opens up the file large so I can see it well.

As for importing, I know part of the time I was using a PC, I used Photoshop Elements to import my photos. I'd just set it up to put them in a new folder following my system of year-month-date. But I know I was importing photos before I even got PSE. I think Windows recognizes a memory card inserted just like it would recognize a thumb drive or external hard drive, and I just dragged photos from my memory card and copied them to the new folder on my computer that I created.

So no, you don't need any special software. And I'm sure you won't miss Photos. I only use it on my phone because I have no other choice; on my Mac I'd rather just organize my photos myself, in the Finder (or via Lightroom).
 
Oh, Jenn! Good luck to you on the switch. I tried to switch back a few years ago when I won a PC and I couldn't do it. I couldn't find where my things went after downloading. Windows totally baffled me. I finally gave up and gave the PC to my SIL and he loved it.
 
I don't have any special software, either. My photos are not worth pulling into Lightroom to make pretty but you could use that for your photos & supplies if you really wanted to.

I just keep everything on my EHD and use the default Photos viewer to look at things. I drag 'n' drop into PSCC when I'm scrapping.
 
If I am understanding you right (since I have no experience with Mac) you are wondering what app you will need to preview your photos/supplies in order to select which ones to pull into Photoshop? Windows allows you see previews of items in folders, in WIN10 it is easy to select your view style. There is a menu at the top to select the size (small, medium, large, extra large). I keep mine set on large which makes it easy to scroll through a folder of supplies and pick which ones I want. I usually hold my ctrl key down and select several and then just drag them into my open photoshop program. You can also do a preview pane view. So on the left are your thumbnail images and when you click on one, it puts a larger preview of it on the right of the folder view. I like this for quickly seeing details. I hope this helps
Capture_zps2twv9pg7.jpg
 
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Thank you all!


@LeeAndra When you say default Photos viewer - does that have the ability to have albums? and then albums within albums? Thanks in advance!

@mollyc Lightroom - I've never ventured to this software. Is it possible to have albums? and then albums within the album? Thanks in advance! I'm still sad to leave Mac, but I can't go smaller in screen size, and I don't use the iMac we have. :(

@Teri Thank you! I cannot see your picture, but would really love to! Could you re-add it?
 
@jk703 I think you should be able to see it now, I can...

With Windows file viewer, it is not really albums you are viewing, it is folders. On the picture (which hopefully you can see now) you will see how I have my scrapbook supplies organized Store>Designer>Kit>element/paper. So it is just folders nestled into folders. My photos are organized by year>month>event
 
Thank you, yes, I can see it! Do you have an app or something you use with photos or just the finder? @Teri
 
@jk703 no app, it is just the Windows file explorer that is part of Windows 10. I will say that I have been pretty happy with windows 10. I skipped the Windows 8 update because of all the negative feedback it was getting, even removing it from a new laptop and putting windows 7 on it. I was hesitant to move to Windows 10 last summer, but so far it has been fine, and I like the navigation with file explore better. It is very easy to switch between views and get to folders that you use frequently (you can have those shown along the left had side of your window, they are in my picture, but I scrunched the view panel way down for the screen shot). I am sure you will need a little adjustment period moving from the MAC to PC, but I am sure you will master it soon enough.
 
Earlier on you asked about the external drives. When you plug that into your new Windows laptop,click on any file menu,doesn't matter if documents or photos,or downloads ) give it a second and it will show up on your left as a name. ( there is a list there of everything, If you click on that you have a full and itemized view of what is on your drive,you can choose to preview that.
You can have as many folders as you want and folders within folders,until it comes like a Russian doll. Lol
You don't need apps. In fact don't get the extra photo app because it comes as a package with video editing and it takes space.
Import photos directly from the card,and use default .
Shout if you need help. Enjoy...
 
Jenn, I just use Windows Photos viewer. I'm pretty sure every PC I've owned is set up to open a .jpg file in Photos if you double-click it. (So, when I'm scrapping I drag/drop papers into PS.) You can even do a little editing in it. Here's a screen shot to show the program and a tiny bit of my folder, where I store photos to be backed up. My system is to keep photos to be backed up in my DS folder. Then it's YEAR > MONTH. So the total folder breakdown is Documents>DS>Pics to back up>Year>Month. Once things are backed up (year>month in my Photos folder on my EHDs), then I just drag/drop the whole folder into my regular PICTURES folder on my PC. [And I cross my fingers that Backblaze then mirrors the change, but at least everything is backed up onto my EHDs.] Your PC should come with that same PICTURES folder. There's also a VIDEOS folder too.
You can have more than one Photos screen open at a time, so sometimes I'll compare pics using 2 side-by-side by snapping one to each side of my screen. (There are tips online about how to do this.) I added dots to show the folders I mean (my DS folder is in Docs.)
I hope this helps a bit. It'll be easier once you see the program in front of you. DH has a MBP (it's very old) for home and a PC for work, so he might have a better understanding of your dilemma; I can ask him if he has anything to add about the Mac-to-PC transition. :)
ScreenShotPhotos.jpg

You can choose to open the pic in another program right in the Photos app. So I'll look through my pics, find something I want to scrap, and then click the 3 dots at the top-right of the screen (not shown, sorry!) and choose "Open with" and then choose Photoshop. You can also click "file info," which is what pulled up all this info on the left:
SS2.jpg

ETA: I use the Properties to add tags/comments to my pics. I don't use LR or Bridge. I tried Bridge but my laptop at the time just couldn't handle the software. :( I gave up and kept doing Properties. IDK if that matters to you, but I thought I'd share.
 
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jk703 said:
Hi Everyone....

I'm soon going to be switching over from a Mac to a Windows based computer. (I just ordered my new laptop!!!!!) So, on my MBP, I have used software called Photos. I import my images, make an album, and then I'm done. I have two libraries for my photos - one for scrapbooking supplies, and one for my actual photos. When I need to use the scrapbooking supplies or photos, I just export and use them in PS.

I don't know what I will need to do in Windows, what software I should be using or anything. I'm sorta stumped. :giggle

I will be getting Photoshop CC up and running, styles and actions all loaded, and I have to get my RadLab figured out, too! Then my next step will be transferring my scrap supplies, my photos and files.

Any suggestions and help is appreciated! I'm kind of nervous, but excited.
Click to expand...
Jenn, I keep my scrap suplies photos and scrapbook pages I make all on my EHD. I have a 2 TB EHD and it works well for me.. I dowload from my phone and the internet and then when I get a lot in my download (even though I have gazillion amt of storeage on my lap top, I don't) I file to the various folders I have in my EHD and then delete what is in the download.

Happy for you re your new laptop!! I got mine in October!

PS @jk703 Jenn, you can browse your photos / files when you use File>Place into your worksheet/layout in Photo shop.. it will open up your folders for you and it will also keep that name in the layer palette, and allow you to manipulate the photo as it brings it in (or the paper/elements ) into photo shop as a smart object.

The only thing you will not be able to see is your working PSDs.. you will get the PS Icon for that, so use bridge if you want to see any working/in process PSD files.
 
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Oh, and of course you can view DS stuff this way, too. Double-clicking a (JPG) paper or journal card will automatically have it "open" to view in Photos app. I have PNG files set up to open with PS if I double-click them, so I just right-click and then choose "open with Photos" so that I can quickly look at a kit's contents up close. You can then "scroll" through a kit by paging right or left.
 
Yes... thank you everyone!

I think I use things very simply, and don't have a new EHD at the moment. My others are for back ups. I may look into Lightroom, but I will wait a short time, only so I can get used to scrapping on the new computer. I have a PC at work, so I know the basics, but have never had photos or digital scrap supplies at or on my work computer, lol!

@Tree City Sorry... I have lots of questions for you.
I think this Photos app might be what I need to start with for my items. Do I DL it or does it arrive already loaded? Would you be able to show me the "albums" that you have when you open to look at your images? Are albums and folders words that are interchangable?

When you drag them out of the Photos app to PS... does it lose quality? Does it make a copy of the item and leave the original in Photos? Can you see a whole kit's images together in a folder in the app? Then can you see a whole slew of kits in their own "albums?" So in my mind, I could have all of Amber's kits, with each kit in it's own album, and then the same for other designers. These albums/folders would be under a general Scrap Supply Album/folder.

@cfile
When you say File > Place... is that to being items into PS. I know I'm a weirdo. I use my desktop as a hold all elements and papers in thumbnail size... (I need to be able to "see" everything) so I usually have the items I'm working with on my desktop, and then drag into PS. Maybe I will eliminate this if the File > Place allows me to see everything I open at the same time.



I'm so sorry if I sound overly confused. I have just only worked on a PC, never scrapped on one since I started 7 years ago. I'm a bit nervous!

Also.... do downloads extract themselves?

@Nemla Thank you! Is that the File Explorer?

@scrappyjedi Thank you! I will look into Lightroom after I'm settled. Perfect, cause I forgot Cheryl did those classes! I might watch at lunch!
 
jk703 said:
Also.... do downloads extract themselves?
Click to expand...

No, unfortunately. But I didn't even know that was a feature of using Macs until after I got mine, and while I was using an unzipping program on my PC I don't recall having any trouble with it. I forget the name of it (and maybe it isn't even available anymore after 6 years anyway) but if I remember correctly it was a free download and it was pretty quick to open zipped files with it.

And now that I've typed all that it occurs to me that in the 6 years since I left PC maybe they have made zips extract automatically like Macs do. They've made other similar changes. Like the side panel Teri mentioned above that makes it even easier to navigate between folders sounds like an improvement since I used PC.
 
@jk703 Jenn, To answer some of your questions: YES, it comes preloaded. If you want to try at work, right-click on a jpg and see if "Open with Photos" is an option. Then you can quickly check out the app at work. As for albums and folders being interchangeable... IDK. I think so? What can you do in an album on a Mac? And NO, you do not lose quality. The Photos app is a way to view/quickly edit images; if you decide to use a pic in PS, then you can just choose to open it in PS and the image then loads in PS. The image is not "harmed" in any way, nor is the quality. Now, you can choose to quickly edit the pic in Photos app, so that'd affect the file of course!
And YES, you can have an individual folder for each kit and have all of those folders in an "Amber" folder.
OK, I found this from PC mag. And this CNET article should help with the folders/albums question. And I got this info from Microsoft's own website:
Features
  • Brings together photos from all your devices in one place using OneDrive.
  • Browse through your photo collection by date, album, or folder.
  • Create your own albums, view your albums from OneDrive, and share albums.
  • Albums are created for you automatically, and you can edit them to add a personal touch (PC only).
  • Enhances your photos with improvements to lighting, color, contrast, red-eye, straightening, and more. Compare the enhanced image to your original to see what you like best.
  • A range of editing tools let you do everything from basic fixes to vignette framing, filters, and other effects.
  • One app for both PC and mobile, adjusts to give you the best view for each device.
  • What features would you like to see next? Let us know in Settings > Send feedback.
Here's a screen shot of My digiscraps' KITS folder. If you clicked on one of the kits, then all of its contents would be in there (alphas have their own subfolder inside the kit's folder). I arrange my kits by name, not by designer. So I have a biiiiig kits folder and it's arranged alphabetically (except for that first folder: it has shortcuts to recently purchased kits so I remember to use them asap!).
SSKitsfolder.jpg

Here's a shot of All Wrapped Up - Winter, a kit in my KITS folder (folder icon unseen in above SS--sorry, I cropped it out but it's there I promise lol):
SS-PSFolder.jpg
 
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