Asset Management software

[BobSmith]

Originally Posted by Paul Kuroda

Hi Bob,
Just wondering why would you want Lightroom to reside on a networked volume?

I don't want the program on a server, but the catalog files. By keeping the catalog on an a central server I can open it from either of a couple of workstations in the studio (only one at a time) and know that I'm always using the most updated version of a catalog. Keeping key data on a server makes it easy to back up routinely. I don't have to worry about keeping data files synced between multiple computers. I currently use iView catalogs stored on a server... as well as most all of my other routine business data.

IView catalogs start to get flaky as you get close to a 2GB catalog size or over a certain volume of images. I can't recall exactly what that volume is supposed to be. I have about 27K in my 2007 catalog. With few files that have large previews it's catalog is just over 1GB and is very stable. Storing lots of large thumbnails and large previews will grow the catalog quickly. IView makes it easy to rebuild thumbs and previews of selected images. You can build big ones for a job your sorting and then delete previews for all except high rated images when you're done. That keeps the catalog size modest while still holding a large number of files. If the images are available while using the catalog you can see them just fine without previews, its just a bit slower.

IView as a more mature program has better tools for diagnosing and fixing things when errors occur than Lightroom has at this point. However if I was a betting person I'd be putting my money on Lightroom as the better way forward in the not too distant future. Adobe seems really fired up about improving Lightroom at a reasonable pace and they certainly have the track record with other products. We'll see.

Bob Smith

[Paul Kuroda]

Thanks Bob,
I'll experiment more with Iview. The one that is crashing has 32,000 files cataloged, that is mixed with all kinds of asset media. Catalog size is less than a hundred megs though. But, yes, this may be an operating system thing. With this many files...do you find the thumbnails slow to rebuild when opening? Perhaps I'll divvy up my catalogs.

I went back looking at Cumulus, which I used many years back, but apparently they don't sell single user software anymore.

Still testing Lightroom....definitely not a true asset management software. Every copy and deletion must be done within the program.

[Kevin_Bishop]

I too am looking at a solution. I used several versions of Cumulus at my last job. The single user version that uses the Cumulus engine is

MediaDex

http://mediadex.com/us/index.htm

Just started looking at it so I do know much yet. Also, I am looking at Extensis Portfolio.

Kevin

[Paul Kuroda]

Mediadex doesn't list compatibility with Phaseone RAWs and I don't want to go back to the old days of rendering out jpegs just for cataloging (yes...it's always something). I bought Extensis before....but for some reason....I never used it. Can't recall now....perhaps didn't work with Phaseone Raws too and the things about the interface....perhaps I'll revisit.
Thanks Kevin.

[Kevin_Bishop]

Yes, it is always something. I don't know why the companies cannot make exactly what I want.

If Cumulus has the filter you need, I will bang an email to the MediaDex folks and see if they can implement it. I know the old pricing structure for Cumulus always had some options. (obviously to get more of your money) Maybe they have a plug in that will work with MediaDex since Cumulus supports Phase One Raw.

Kevin