amandathor Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Well, I have organized and reorganized all my digi folders and I keep thinking there must be a better solution. I looked at Ro's organization system in the SB university, and even tried it, but it doesn't seem to be the answer for me. I'd love to know how others organize their supplies. Do you print out thumbnails so you know at a glance what you have and where it is? Do you save by website, designer, color? I'm new to all this, but I can see that I will amass quite the collection of kits...(much to my dh's chagrin) and I am sure the system I'm using now won't be efficient in the future. Any ideas would be much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwillfly525 Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 I also tried many different systems to organize my stuff. I ended up sticking with the one Ro uses. I didn’t like it at first either. But after about a month I got use to it and it seems to work for me. I made a few changes to it by adding additional sub-categories to the main ones she uses (for example, I have added summer, fall, Japanese, Chinese, travel). It takes me a while when I unzip things because I might have the same paper or the same embellishment in 4 different sub-folders. But this way when I’m doing a theme LO I can find what I need all in the same folder. I would suggest giving Ro’s system a try for a few weeks, it might grow on you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amandathor Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 Have you, or anyone else, tried Digital ScrapRoom? I've heard about it here and there but don't really know much about it. It is a program that is supposed to help you organize your supplies. Kind of like the font organizer (that I can't remember what it is called!) Do you think it is worth investing in an organizer or do you think your system works well enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wxchic Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Personally, I keep everything organized by Kit. Everytime I purchase a kit, I print out the tumbnail on a full sheet of paper and store it in a notebook. On the page I jot down the designer and name of the kit. Then if I have a photo I want to scrap, I page through my book and find a kit or kits that I think will work. It is easy to find and then I can locate it on my computer by initial and kit name. This works for me. I'm sure one day this will end up on a computer program like you say. I'd be wiling to check it out...but I don't know if I would switch unless it were spectacular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sfcgijill Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 I also print a copy of the thumbnail for a kit big enough that it takes a whole 5x7 page and put it in a binder. When I use a kit, I will also print a small copy (6 to a 5x7 page) of my page for the binder as well, because I usually modify the kit elements in my pages. As tech savvy as I'm supposed to be, I still do flip thru the binder to find a match for my pics or the ideas in my head. It's just easier and faster than clicking around on a screen for me. Plus I can take my binder with me if I don't want to be stuck at the desk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amandathor Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 Excellent! I like the ideas of printing out a thumbnail (or larger) and keeping it in a binder. Right now, each kit folder on my computer has a thumbnail on the front of the folder so I can see what's in there while "thumbing" thru my files. Another question. On your thumbnails you print, do you just print the preview of the kit? Thanks for you input. I am so anal retentive about stuff that I want everything just right--down to the tiniest, most annoying details! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syndee Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 Here is a link to a great article in Scrap Girls University about organizine your graphic files! It sure has helped me! [url="http://www.scrapgirls.com/managing_digital_scrapbooking_supplies.htm"]http://www.scrapgirls.com/managing_digital...ng_supplies.htm[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bellagirl Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 I always save everything as I download it. I open the zips and put the contents in folders and then that folder goes into a larger folder that holds all my scrapbooking downloads. I save the zips on a CD/DVD and also on an external HD. I really don`t have a problem finding what I want to work with as I have all my "stuff" in one folder and I just open it up and scroll throught it. No matter what method you use you still have to search for what you want so I guess you just have to find what goes best with your personality type. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinny Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 If you are using Photoshop (I'm not sure if Elements has this feature) you can create a contact sheet. It makes thumbnails of whatever you tell it to (I make them from a folder). You can specify how many/sheet. You can also have it show the file name, which can help find the file on your computer. I make contact sheets of my papers, embellishment & alphas, print them out and slip them in a binder with sheet protectors. It's easy to flip thru the binder and look for what I need. I also keep my files sorted by collection on my computer, because my binder is organized that way. That reminds me... I need to print out some new contact sheets and put them in my binder!! A system is ONLY good if you use it consistently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amandathor Posted July 31, 2006 Author Share Posted July 31, 2006 Thanks, Dinny. I have PS 7 so I'll have to play around and figure out how to make a contact sheet. I can see this helping greatly. Everyone's ideas are fabulous! I will be playing around with them until I get a system that works for this anal-retentive mind! [quote name='dinny' post='54287' date='Jul 30 2006, 07:57 PM']If you are using Photoshop (I'm not sure if Elements has this feature) you can create a contact sheet. It makes thumbnails of whatever you tell it to (I make them from a folder). You can specify how many/sheet. You can also have it show the file name, which can help find the file on your computer. I make contact sheets of my papers, embellishment & alphas, print them out and slip them in a binder with sheet protectors. It's easy to flip thru the binder and look for what I need. I also keep my files sorted by collection on my computer, because my binder is organized that way. That reminds me... I need to print out some new contact sheets and put them in my binder!! A system is ONLY good if you use it consistently[/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinny Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 another thing that I use contact sheets for is... archiving my finished scrapbook layouts. I gather up 20 layouts, because it makes a nice sized grid and they all tend to fit on a DVD. Then create a contact sheet from JPGs of those images to be 4.75" x 4.75". I burn a DVD of the layouts and slip the contact sheet into the jewel case. This way if I need to go back to a layout, I just look thru my jewel cases and find the layout I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CamsMomma Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 for the stuff on my pc i keep them in a folder by collection/designer. and then i also split up the collections in to a paper folder, and embellishment folder, and an alpahbet folder. i have thought about going into the sperate folders and grouping some more, like for paper seperate them in to colors, but havent had the time. also, i keep a folder of extracted zips. that way if something happens to the file, i can easily extract it again. and for each cd ive printed out a contact sheet for what is on there, also organized similarly. you can easily print a contact sheet with your photo program, or even the print wizard on most computers. [quote name='dinny' post='54296' date='Jul 30 2006, 11:18 PM']another thing that I use contact sheets for is... archiving my finished scrapbook layouts. I gather up 20 layouts, because it makes a nice sized grid and they all tend to fit on a DVD. Then create a contact sheet from JPGs of those images to be 4.75" x 4.75". I burn a DVD of the layouts and slip the contact sheet into the jewel case. This way if I need to go back to a layout, I just look thru my jewel cases and find the layout I need.[/quote] i really like this idea, i print out some of my stuff for family, and this would make it so easy for them to look through and tell me what they want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jo Dee Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I just finished organizing all my digital scrapping supplies. I used PSEv4’s organizer and tagged each individual item, so that when I initiate the tags for “green” – “brass” – “button”, it will bring up all the green brass buttons that I have (if there is such a thing). I also use a number system for each designer, and have added the #, and name of Kit to each item, so that when it pick what I want to use, all the information is there ready for me to give proper credit to the designer. It did take me awhile to accomplish this, about 3 week, I’m fairly new to digital so didn’t have too much, but like most everyone new to digital I had downloaded a ton of freebies, a lot of these I just deleted because when labeling and tagging things I just knew that I would never use a lot of those freebies. Hope this will give another idea to someone. Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Happy99 Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 As a totally new digital scrapbooker, I find it very easy to keep a notebook next to my computer and just jot down the designer and the file name, and the contents as I download or upload from a CD. I really like the idea of the contact sheet. I have PSE 3.O, would appreciate any help on how to do a contact sheet. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Happy99 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Here is a very nice little FREE program that will print your directory or save to a file: I don't recall where I got this, so I apologize for not giving credit where credit is due - I had not started my little notebook yet. JR Directory Printer [url="http://www.spadixbd.com/freeTools"]http://www.spadixbd.com/freeTools[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sfcgijill Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 I organize by kit and "feel" or theme - I don't pay too much attention to color as I recolor most elements for my layouts! And there are certain things I just keep going back to - specific textures, fonts, eyelets, brads, whatever, that stay in my "important" file so I can find them fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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