Cataloguing photographic collections - What software do you use?

[Richard Mahoney]

I've recently been looking for cataloguing software that will help me to describe and keep track of the film in my filing cabinet, the scans on my hard drives, and the associated prints and so on. I've settled on using the Java SEPIADES software tool:

Download SEPIADES tool version 1.1
http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/sepia/workinggroups/wp5/download.html

This free open source application, which seems to run under most operating systems, was produced to satisfy guidelines set by a working group from European libraries and museums concerned with how best to catalogue their photographic collections. The software and their guidelines are especially well documented:

SEPIA Descriptive Models and Tools
http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/sepia/workinggroups/wp5/cataloguing.html

Although I did need to revalidate some of the XSL files used for exporting records to Dublin Core, I am very happy with what this system provides. It should enable me to keep track of all the images I produce *and* all the different manifestations of the original images.

Still, all this leads me to wonder what others are doing. How do you approach the problem of keeping track of your photographs, digital images, and prints etc.?


Best,

Richard

[Riverman]

I just use Adobe Bridge but my arhive is pretty small and I still have hundreds of 35mm negatives that remain unscanned. I like the idea of having a sort of integrated digital archive but scanning is so tedious!

[Sean Galbraith]

Lightroom. Love it.

[paulr]

Richard, do either of those software packages deal with analog stuff? My computer handles my digital images just fine, but records of the negs and prints that came out of my darkroom are harder to wrangle.

[Richard Mahoney]

Richard, do either of those software packages deal with analog stuff? My computer handles my digital images just fine, but records of the negs and prints that came out of my darkroom are harder to wrangle.

Paul,

The short answer is absolutely. The system is designed to foster the effective cataloguing of photographic collections whatever form they may take. I won't hold forth here as the documentation gives a decent overview.

An summary of the whole framework is given in the following, esp. from pg. 9

Documents :: SEPIADES. Recommendations for cataloguing photographic collections
http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/sepia/workinggroups/wp5/cataloguing.html

An intro on using the software to implement the framework is given in this:

Technical documentation :: User manual SEPIADES tool version 1.1. (in PDF, 2.1 MB)
http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/sepia/workinggroups/wp5/download.html


I did find that a couple of the XSLT files needed correction and revalidation so that export to Dublin Core worked correctly. I'd be happy to send the new files to anyone who wants to use them. Please just mail me:

mailto:contact@indica-et-buddhica.com


Kind regards,

Richard

[Nathan Potter]

Microsoft Excel provides all I need from image taking to processing to filing the film to scanning to printing or photoshopping to storage. I don't think I would need anything else unless I'm missing something.

OTOH maybe a universal cataloguing system dealing with subject matter and other data using standard keywords would be useful for museums etc., but that can also be managed using Excel.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[Ed Richards]

Lightroom. I scan every negative and store a small reference file, even if I do not think the negative merits saving a full rez file. I do not inventory prints, but print them on demand.

[sergiob]

Lightroom. Is definitely a great solution to database management. Though there are many powerful options out there such as portfolio and iview and so on, LR has everything built into it, making it a complete solution. I a little under 400K images in my database and it works like charm.

[mdd99]

Whatever you choose, keep things as simple as possible or you'll end up spending more time at the computer than you do behind the camera.

[mdd99]

I've always admired the products these folks put out, though they can get pricey.

http://www.hindsightltd.com/

[jonathan_lipkin]

Another vote for LR, though I find it sometimes doesn't recognize some tiffs. Haven't explored carefully enough to understand why. It's great with DNGs and flat TIFFs. I'd also recommend reading Peter Krogh's book on digital asset management which covers naming techniques, drive configuration, backups, etc.

I don't keep track of prints, but if I had to I'd use a simple database program like Bento.

[Richard Mahoney]

I've recently been looking for cataloguing software that will help me to describe and keep track of the film in my filing cabinet, the scans on my hard drives, and the associated prints and so on. I've settled on using the Java SEPIADES software tool:

Download SEPIADES tool version 1.1
http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/sepia/workinggroups/wp5/download.html

This free open source application, which seems to run under most operating systems, was produced to satisfy guidelines set by a working group from European libraries and museums concerned with how best to catalogue their photographic collections. The software and their guidelines are especially well documented:

SEPIA Descriptive Models and Tools
http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/sepia/workinggroups/wp5/cataloguing.html

Although I did need to revalidate some of the XSL files used for exporting records to Dublin Core, I am very happy with what this system provides. It should enable me to keep track of all the images I produce *and* all the different manifestations of the original images.

It has just been mentioned to me that the SEPIADES tool appears to be no longer available at the above address. I'm pleased to say that it is now being hosted on the International Council on Archives site (http://www.ica.org/). Here is the new address:

ICArchives : PAAG Resources : SEPIADES. Recommendations for cataloguing photographic collections
http://www.ica.org/7363/paag-resources/sepiades-recommendations-for-cataloguing-photographic-collections.html

Here are direct download links to the software itself and the associated recommendations:

SEPIADES. Software tool (ZIP file)
http://www.ica.org/download.php?id=1265

SEPIADES. Recommendations for cataloguing photographic collections
http://www.ica.org/download.php?id=1266


This page listing resources on archiving photographic materials may also be of interest:

ICArchives : PAAG Resources : Publications for archivists managing photograph and film collections
http://www.ica.org/?lid=5671&bid=744


Kind regards,

Richard

[I Am Luna]

Lightroom fullfils all of MY needs when it comes to cataloging and archiving photography files.