Digital Scrapbooking 101

Review: Any File Lightroom Plugin

I've had quite a few emails these past few months about a nifty little plugin called Any File Lightroom Plugin.  The promises of this plugin sound fabulous - "import any type of file into a Lightroom 3 catalog and manage the files just like photos..."

I should preface this post by saying a few things (disclaimers): 

• I LOVE Lightroom because it is fast, quick and gets me what I need in seconds.

• I am passionate about organizing my digital files for the LAST time - that means the metadata I do write to the files stays INSIDE the files.  This way problems with catalogs or files getting jumbled up and disconnected won't cause me to lose all my work.

So with that in mind, I decided to give the plugin.  I recently downloaded The Daily Digi files and hadn't processed them yet.  I imported the elements from one of the kits using the Any File Lightroom plugin. 

 The first thing that I noticed is that the import process took about four times what it usually does.  However, one thing to consider is that the Any File plugin was building JPEG proxy files for each PNG files, so that is understandable.  When it was finished, this is how the thumbnails looked in my catalog:

The AF overlay delineates that these files are proxy thumbnails.  If you right click on the file and choose Show in Finder, you will find that the AF plugin has created proxy JPEGs right next to their PNG counterparts:

Keeping in mind my usual workflow, I gathered a bunch of supplies for a layout in my "current layout" collection in Lightroom and then opened them up in Photoshop using the Lightroom Edit In > Edit in Adobe Photoshop CS5 > Edit Original command in Lightroom.   I ended up opening the JPEG proxy files in Photoshop...

Ack! I should have read the instructions beforehand.  So this time let's follow the instructions from the AFP Website that say, "To open files in their default application, as configured by Windows or Mac OS, select the files and do Library > Plug-in Extras > Any File > Open (keyboard shortcut ALT+L S O on Windows)."

So I follow the instructions... and I get the spinning beach ball.  I also learned that my "default application" for PNG files is Preview...

At this point I decide there has to be a better way.  I change the global file association for PNG files on my Mac by right clicking on the file and choosing Get Info.

In the Get Info I scroll down to the "Open With" pane and use the drop down menu to select Photoshop:

That works great for this file, but I want this to be the case with ALL my PNG files:

Clicking the magical "Change All" button does that!  Now when I open the PNG files with the plugin, I get this in my chosen PNG program, Photoshop:

Now, we are good to go...  Technically the plugin is allowing me to write metadata to the JPEG proxy file. I can also use the plugin to open up my PNG files in Photoshop.  I should be happy, right? I'm not.

If the goal is to get organized for the last time, you need to remember the PRENUP.  If you lost Lightroom or your catalog tomorrow, and your files got jumbled from here to Hades, what happens then?  You spend hours trying to reconnect everything together.  Not fun.

Also, once you bring in files through Any File, you can't ever move them like you do regular files in Lightroom.  You have to write metadata to files, remove them from your Lightroom catalog, then move them in Windows Explorer or Mac Finder and then reimport them. It can be done, but it takes a lot of extra time.

The way Any File works is by adding extra JPEG files of your PNG images and then writing metadata to the proxy files.  In my opinion, you might as well save yourself the time and just convert to TIF and TRULY IMPORT your files into your organization software.

Even for those who want to use Lightroom to organize and like opening images up as Smart Objects it still makes sense to convert to TIF, import to Lightroom, add your keywords, and then opening files with the following steps: Right-click to choose SHOW IN FINDER - then drag your files to Photoshop.

The goal is to organize your files for the LAST TIME.  It is really hard to do that without writing metadata to your files.  You need a file format with the closets to store metadata, a program that truly writes to the files and a backup system off site and on-site that protects those files.

Quite honestly, I can't see using this plugin long term.  I think it is great for the casual organizer that doesn't care if they have to start over from scratch if they lose their catalog, but for those who truly want  a long term solution, I'd choose another route that truly brings the original file into Lightroom.

What do you think?  Are there Any File Lightroom Plugin users out there that can help me see what I'm missing?  

P.S.  I'm also including file association instructions for Windows users...you can use this to change associations so that with or without a plugin when you open a PNG, JPEG or other file type it automatically works with your favorite editing program.  Hope you find it helpful. 

Notes for Windows Users:

1. Open Windows Explorer by right-clicking the Start button, and then click Explore.
2. Click a folder that contains a file of the type that you want Windows to open in a program that you select.
3. Right-click the file and, depending on the programs installed on your computer, complete one of the following steps:
   • Click Open With to choose the program that you want.
   • Point to Open With, and then click Choose Program to choose the program that you want.
4. The Open With dialog box is displayed. Use one of the following methods to select the program that you want to use for this file type:
   • In the Programs list, click the program that you want to use.
   • Click Browse, locate and then click the program that you want to use, and then click Open.
   • Click Look for the appropriate program on the Web to browse the Internet for the program that you want to use.
5. Click to select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box if it is not selected.
6. Click OK.

 

 

Reader Tip from Carla Skipper

Having a hard time seeing those white on white elements in Lightroom?  Check out this fabulous tip from Carla Skipper along with some time saving actions -

 

***UPDATE***  Because Carla was so generous to ask and I had so much fun answering, I sent her a sneak peek on this tutorial - I do that for those of you who send me ideas! (Provided I have your email address).   Anyway, Carla shared the following with me after viewing this tutorial and I think some of you will also find it helpful.  

"One more thing I found helpful - I found a few items in my stash that were both a white word & had a mask.  If I save those w/ a black background, I loose the mask but can see the word.  To solve this I made a 2nd action to save w/ a medium blue background.  Now I can see both the word & mask.  :-) "

 

Getting to The Point with Lightroom & OnOne

Selective focus is a pretty cool tool in a professional photographer's bag because it makes it easy to see the story in an image.  

For example, in this senior shoot I focused on one of the subjects to draw the viewer's eye exactly where the story of the photo can be told.  It says a lot about how much fun she was having. 

P.S. you can get the fabulous overlay I used on this image here.

 In this photo, the focus tells you that the story in the image isn't about the people - it's about what is being done -  

What happens when you don't have the time to selectively focus a shot?  Seriously, sometimes you are chasing a toddler's fleeting smile or capturing a hug and you just don't have the time to think - only to grab the shot.  What do you do?

Fix it in your post processing using a fabulous Lightroom plugin! For this sample image I was literally chasing ducklings. I didn't have much time to selectively focus.  I love that even though I don't have a fancy artistic lens or the time to play with the most creative focus I can get it after the fact with Focal Point.  

If you want another trick in your post-processing handbag, take a look.  You can find the plugin here. 

**UPDATE** It never hurts to ask. :)  The folks at OnOne have setup a special discount for my peeps - they just lowered their prices for the summer and are offering Digiscrap101 readers an additional 10% discount using the coupon code Digiscrap101. 

 

Afterthoughts:

There are focal points that can be created in your photos using blur and vingetting as we've shown here and then there are layout focal points which are created based on the placement of elements and photos.  

One of the most helpful books I've ever come across for scrapbooking design is  The Simple Secret to Better Painting: How to Immediately Improve Your Work with the One Rule of Composition .  It made not only my photography better, but also my layouts.  

Hopefully you'll find it inspiring as well.  You may also want to check your local library for a copy. 

 

Reader Q&A: Lightroom Ratings and Labels

Krystal in AZ asks, "I am curious if you have found an effective way to use the colored flags, and if you ever use 4 & 5 stars?  Also, how do you track which photos have been printed or scrapbooked?  I've looked through the content quickly and not seen where you might have addressed these . . . I'm working backwards through my massive collection of photos, and wishing there were a way to "flag" entire folders so I could remember where I left off lol.  Only about 40,000 pix to go!"

Great questions!  If there is one thing I have learned over time it is that simple is better.  My goal with my photo system is to keep things as simple as possible so they are easy, repeatable and sustainable.  It is really easy for me to overcomplicate things so I constantly work to simplify.

• I don't currently use 4-5 stars because over time my library is going to grow and I want to have the room to expand - to always be able to pull the needle out of the haystack so to speak.  Over time my library collection of 2 star images is going to grow to the point where it is difficult to find what I need by choosing keywords and 2 stars - I think I am about 10 years away from that but still.  When it does, I'll move a select few of my 3 star images to 4 stars and then only pull out my true favorite 2 star images and make them 3 stars.  Not using 4-5 stars right now is giving me the freedom to expand later.

• It is easy to track which photos have been printed or scrapbooked by simply adding a keyword to the image.  Currently I don't use either in my system for photos.  I've moved away from worrying about whether or not a photo is scrapbooked or printed because most of my photos are never printed until they are in a layout.  I do share them - but mostly digitally on Facebook and slideshows for grandparents.  

• Lightroom keeps track of everything in Facebook for me through the Publish Services (I spoke about this in a very recent video tutorial on this blog).  However, when it comes to my layouts I do add a keyword to delineate if the layout is printed and if it is published.  This just helps me to keep track.

• I realize that for a traditional scrapbooker it may be more important to keep track of your photos being printed as that is how they are scrapbooked and catalogued in your system - so it is all good! :)

Lastly, if you are organizing those folders of 40k pictures in Lightroom it is very easy to flag the entire folder to know where you left off - 

• Click the folder you want to flag on the left side of library and press "G" to make sure you are in Library mode.

• Press CTRL/CMD + A to select all the images in that folder.  Right click on one of the thumbnails and choose Set Color Label and then the color label you want to differentiate which photos you have worked on and those you haven't.    You could repeat this for every folder that hasn't yet been processed.

• When you are done working in a color coded folder, select the group of photos processed and then set the color label to none. This way when you return to the folder it will be very easy to see where to start working again! :)

Hope the answers are helpful to you in your Lightroom workflow - happy Lightrooming! :)

Reader Q&A: Lightroom Publish Service vs. Export

Today's question comes from Carm,

"What is the difference with publish service and export with presets?" 

 This is a great question because the way Publish Service and Exports work in Lightroom are very similar.  In this video I cover the differences and a little of how I use each - there are very good reasons to use both at different times in your workflow.

Also, a few reference links from the video:

• 2011 Spring Lightroom Class
• Lightroom Publishing Video 

 

Why Your Photo Library is More Important than Scrapbooking

I am still organizing my photos.  I keyword and caption images at least weekly, daily if I can find the time.  I also have a backlog of photos and information dating clear back to the 1800's to scan and organize.  It may seem overwhelming, but one step at a time I am making progress.

I love this system!  Every time I go through a month's worth of photos with captions, keywords and ratings - I feel relief.  I no longer feel the stress of trying to stay "caught up" with all my scrapbooks.  

The reality is that when you record the caption to a photo - the memories and the why - along with keywords to identify Who, What, Where and When - you have almost everything anyone will need to know why that image was important to you.  Ratings are icing on the cake - they will tell future generations which photos you liked the most while the captions will tell them why.

Honest question - if you could be given ten scrapbooks with 25 layouts each, and a decent amount of journaling OR a digital library of 21,000 images (each with journaling, keywords and ratings) which would you choose?

I can see the appeal of the scrapbook and yet I would choose the digital library EVERY TIME.  Let me explain.  

This layout was created a year ago with lots of different photos of mine and my best friend's children.  It is a layout that captures the essence of the many things we did that day and it basically says that time with friends is wonderful.  

Yet when I peek into my photo library I learn much more...

The story behind the milk cow that inexplicably licked my friends daughter over and over.  My feelings about a friendship of over 20 years, the reason one child isn't smiling in a photo, thoughts on the bond between my twins, and more.  There are literally 9 different stories for the photos in this layout.

I may not have the time to scrap 9 different stories right now, but with captions recorded in my photo files in my photo library, I am ready to do so with the "in the moment" thoughts of my heart thanks to my system.  It takes a LOT less time to record the caption to a photo than it does to create a layout.

Now don't get me wrong - there are a lot of layouts I have that document the story -

This layout tells the story of the first day of school.  I love it.  However, if I adopted the workflow that all my stories should be told in my scrapbook layouts, I'd lose the opportunity to preserve those stories with the photo files.

So yes - it is WONDERFUL to tell your stories in your layouts.  However, I think we sometimes forget that scrapbooking is  a CREATIVE PROCESS.  You can alleviate a lot of the stress of being creative while trying to find space for journaling by simply recording the stories in your photo files. That way when your creativity is sparked - you can go back to your photo library reservoir of memories and tell the story just like it happened yesterday or leave the journaling off the layout and save it to the file in other ways.

A lot of people tell me I think to far in the future.  I have to say it is because of this woman:

This is my great-great-great Grandmother Mary Taylor Simmons Robinson.  I first heard her story when I was 18 years old.  She traveled from England all the way to the United States and walked across the plains until her legs were frozen black all the way to her knees.  Along the trail she lost a child, her husband, and her parents.  

I often have wondered what kept her going.  For years all we had of her were a few photos like the one above and this photo of the tiny cabin she lived in next to my great-great grandfather's home.

Yet even with these photos (where everyone was identified in the photo), I still was left to wonder until 2002, when an amazing set of circumstances led our little family to stay with my grandmother for five months.  In those five months I was given more pieces of my family history  - which included several handwritten letters to my great-great grandfather from Mary in the late 1800's.

Having these letters is like having crayons to color in the pictures from a coloring book.  I learn details of Mary's health, her love for her children, her spiritual strength and more.

The photos are beautiful, but it is the details recorded in these letters that are the treasure to me. Stories of the everyday - recipes for herbal remedies - thoughts on daughter in laws and more.

So yes, I may look too far in the future but how can't I?  Looking back to my family in the 1800's has given me a perspective I can't shake.  I think of the questions I would love to ask Mary if I had twenty minutes.  Am I answering them today for those who will follow  me?  Keeping a photo library with detailed captions, ratings and keywords with BACKUP seems to be a wonderful way to do just that.

Don't get me wrong, I still scrapbook quite a lot - and yes I still tell my stories in my layouts. However, with the way my workflow is now, I don't stress quite as much about journaling in my layouts when the stories are embedded in my photo files with my Lightroom Library.  I am FREE to create layouts however I want - following my heart.

When I follow my heart there is bliss in creativity.  How about you? 

 

Lightroom Photo Keywords

An insightful student recently asked me for my photo keyword list.  I thought for sure I had already shared it in the Lightroom class.  Not so.

So, thanks to Kimberly, I'm sharing the inside scoop to my keywords list for you all here today. You can find more about Lightroom photo workflow in this post.

Now first things first - go here to download the text file of keywords (take note of where you save it to on your computer).  To import this keyword list to your catalog, open your Lightroom catalog and choose Metadata > Import Keywords then navigate to where you saved the downloaded keyword list and import it.

Once imported, you can begin to refine it and make it your own.  To change the name of an existing keyword, double click on it and then type the new name and click Edit.

Now to answer a few questions about the keyword list.  I've stripped it of a lot of names and given generic names to help you form your own keyword list.  For example, under Friends.

Now in my personal catalog things look like this:

When it comes to Family Friends - where our family is friends with their entire family, I create a keyword for the entire family with sub-keywords - last name underscore and first name.

When it comes to friends that are just friends of one member of the family - I use initials - i.e. KJL are my initials then create subkeywords under those initials for each of my personal friends - last name underscore first name.

Hopefully this information is helpful to you as you work on your photos.   As you all know, I am still organizing my photos.  I'll be sharing another post soon on why I believe your photo library is more important than your scrapbooks.

In the meantime, please feel free to comment with questions - hope you all have a wonderful day!

Lightroom Class Index of Posts *Update*

***Update:  This content and blog will be removed August 31, 2011.  Thanks for your time and understanding.***

Here is the final index of posts.  Thanks for tuning in!  Have a wonderful summer!

Digital Supply Module

• Welcome
• Setting Lightroom Preferences
• First Lightroom Import
• Lightroom Class Q&A: First Day of Class

• All About PNG
• PNG Conversion Information
• PNG Conversion in Bridge
• PNG Conversion in PSE
• PNG Conversion in Image Converter Plus

• Lightroom Class Q&A: Catalogs and More
• Clarifying the Digital Supply Organization Process
• Lightroom Class: What about "one kit wonders," deleting and PNG/TIF?

• Importing Converted Files
• A Note on Importing Supplies
• Keywording Designer Kits and Batch Renaming
• Creating Your Keyword List
• Keywording and Staying Organized

• Lightroom Q&A: TIFF folders, Add-Ons, and Separate Catalogs 
• Want To Be More Creative? Just Organize!
  
• Brushes, Styles and More
• Handling Misc. Files
• Lightroom Q&A:  Custom File Renaming After Conversion Tutorial with Screenshots

• Understanding Collections, Sorting and More
• Searching Like A Pro in Lightroom: Text Filters
• Searching Like A Pro in Lightroom: Attribute Filter
• Searching Like A Pro in Lightroom: Metadata Filters and More
• Quick Note on Opening Supplies in Photoshop

• Lightroom Organizing by Sharon
• Lightroom, Flickr, and Online Layout Galleries
• Some Great Info on LZW, TIFF and Templates
• File Size Before and After PNG conversion
• Lightroom Math
• Organizing Class Materials in Lightroom
• Selecting Items in Lightroom's Library Mode

 

Photo Organization Module

• Introduction
• It's Never Done...
• Photo Library Workflow
• The Beginnings of Photo Workflow I
• The Beginnings of Photo Workflow II
• Lightroom Photo Basics
• Lightroom Class: The Import
• Changing the Date of Images and Scanning Tips

• Photo Stacks 
• Organizing Scrapbook Layouts in Lightroom
• Life Is Too Important To Be Overwhelmed With Photos

 

Non-Destructive Editing

• What Is Non-Destructive Editing?
• The VERY Basics of Photo Editing in Lightroom
• Crop, Red Eye, Adjustment Brush and More
• All About Presets & Snapshots

 

Creative Projects/Sharing

• Scrapbooking in Lightroom
• Digital Templates in Lightroom:  Creating Your Own
• Lightroom Publishing Services
• Having Fun with Slideshows
• Sharing online: Protecting Your Privacy

 

Why

• One Last Request

 

 

Are You Still Here????

So I guess this is the part of class much like the point in a movie where you see the credits but you stay in your seat thinking the true end to the story comes with the little credit vignettes, right?  

I bet a few of you are thinking I'm going to announce a new Ebook with all my Lightroom content or some new online education site you can all sign up and pay me for....

The truth is, this is the end of the road for me here, I'm serious.  The closer I got to this point this past year, the more the positive energy has been building.  In fact, since February, I've felt like a snowball rolling down hill.  It's been exciting and creatively freeing.

I am also looking forward to spending more time in my role as MOM - I have the privilege of having some pretty amazing kids in my home right now and I want to live with no regrets.   I doubt most of you will miss my musings here, however,  just in case, here is my unregularly updated blog chronicling my unprofessional adventures in motherhood.

I've been cleaning out closets, computer files and more - preparing for a new direction in my life.  I've been selling off some of my favorite books via Amazon and I'll also be starting some fun EBay auctions soon.  It feels so good to be clearing out the clutter and moving on.

My mantra since January? "Have less, do less, be more."    Ending this blog is a BIG step for me in having less, doing less and being more to those who matter most.

Now for those of you wondering about the Lightroom class content on this blog.  It will stay up until at least August 2011 (that's about how long the Google ad revenue generated will pay for the hosting fees).  At that point, we will see what happens.  I have had people express interest in purchasing the Digiscrap101 domain, content, etc.  but I won't be making any final decisions until August/September 2011.

So there you have the rest of the story - thanks for being a part of this!  I wish you all the best in your memorykeeping!

 

 

One Last Request...

I have had a lot of people ask me WHY I shared this class content so freely.  Quite honestly, it has been amazing working in this industry with so many kind, wonderful and giving people - the best of whom are my readers and students.

I wanted my path on this road to end with the best gift I could imagine giving.  I was inspired by a post from one of my mentors where he said,

"The cool part, the punchline, is that giving a gift for no reason and with no transaction contemplated is actually incredibly powerful. It changes your approach to the market, it changes your relationship with the recipient and yes, it changes you."

So I am leaving you all with the best gift for no reason I can imagine giving.  I have shared with you as I would a friend and I have been so blessed that you have accepted my gift and allowed me to be your teacher.

Seriously - being able to teach and help others use technology to digitally enhance and tell the stories of their photos  - I am just grateful to be a small part of that.  

So many of you have emailed your thanks and worried about my compensation.  To you I answer that sometimes it is a gift to be able to share and give.  

I love this quote:

"You are one individual on a small planet in a little solar system in one of the far-flung galaxies, but you can still make a difference."

 --Unknown

If I could leave you with one last request it would be that you take a few quiet moments and think about your gifts and talents.  I would encourage you to share them.  

Even though it may be a small thing to you - it might be everything to someone else.  Pay it forward and HAVE FUN!  I believe in YOU and your ability to make a difference.  

xoxo,

Kayla

**Photo by D Sharon Pruitt