Image Management

Last month I wrote about the necessity of organizing all of your digital images.  I mentioned if you do not start an organized and orderly method of data acquisition and filing at the beginning of your digital camera ownership, you will be overrun.  Once your image files become spread all over your computer it becomes a quagmire to locate any one individual file.  Once it appears to be out of control, most abandon all hope.

The homegrown filing system outlined last month is certainly better than chaos, but leaves a lot to be desired.  When we get caught up in the day-to-day pressures of making a living, spending time with the family, mowing the lawn and then trying to enjoy our photography, asset management may be the last thing on our mind.

If photography is more than just a hobby to you, the lack of organization may be costing you money.  If it is difficult to locate a file or set of images that have potential as income, it is like throwing money down the drain.  A well-organized archive dramatically boosts the potential of your image assets.

With a better way in mind, this month I introduce to you the incredibly powerful Portfolio 7, a full image control system from Extensis.  With Portfolio 7, creativity knows no bounds.  New automated features provide for more intuitive and streamlined cataloging and a suite of new workflow optimizing tools makes organizing, accessing and sharing your digital files easier than ever before in a digital asset management application.

With a newly redesigned, single-window "workspace", Portfolio 7 makes it easier than ever to organize, create and access your catalogs and subsets known as galleries.

Galleries (or sub-groups) in Portfolio can be set to automatically find any cataloged file that meets your pre-determined criteria. This ensures that your galleries are always updated without you having to lift a finger.

You can also collect files, create a catalog, add a copy of Portfolio Browser and burn a CD/DVD in one simple step.  This provides you with a new option, which allows you to collect original images or low-res JPEG previews together for distribution.  This new archiving feature lets you automatically change path of cataloged files to destination disk, allowing you to move content offlinewithout having to manually re-link files.

pictureline has Extensis Portfolio 7 in stock and waiting for you now.  Here is a whole list of features from the new Extensis Portfolio 7 that will help you with your image management.

PORTFOLIO 7 Features

Built-in Image Conversion

Save time by converting cataloged images (individually or as a batch) to JPEG or TIFF format within Portfolio 7. Define resolution, size, and color mode.

Roundtrip Metadata

Now you can write Portfolio metadata (keywords, descriptions, custom field content, etc.) back into your image files, so the information travels with your files, independently of Portfolio. Includes EXIF, IPTC, and XMP.

Saved Cataloging Options

 A great timesaver! Portfolio allows you to create multiple, automated "workflows" that do all the work of cataloging, keywording, renaming, even archiving for you. You can also save your cataloging option presets, so they can be used again at any time.

Full-Screen Previews

Create low-res JPEG previews up to 2,000 pixels in size and instantly view your files full-screen no matter where they are stored.

Email or Burn Low-Res Previews

Portfolio makes it easy to email proofs to clients, partners, etc. by generating low-res JPEG previews and allowing you to email them directly from within Portfolio. Portfolio also makes it easy to burn JPEG previews to a CD/DVD.

Enhanced Custom Views

Major enhancements allow you to create elegant custom views of your images with a rich variety of formatting options.

Contact Sheet Printing

Print customized contact sheets quick and easy. Simply choose the number of images per page and Portfolio will size and arrange the images in a grid, ready for print.

Web Page Creation Wizard

Portfolio 7 dramatically simplifies the process of generating high-quality web content-even if you don't know HTML. For more robust web publishing capabilities including the ability to offer multiple concurrent connections, check out Portfolio NetPublish or  Portfolio NetPublish Server.

Customizable Toolbar

Create a customized workspace by adding or removing buttons from the toolbar, placing frequently used commands right where you need them.

Ready-to-Use EXIF Support

View or search EXIF data from digital cameras. Portfolio 7 can extract the data by default, with no set-up or configuration required.

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