Labeling pictures in a photo program

Back to photos, and the programs we use ...
I am a devotee of Jasc Paint Shop Pro, and have been for years. The learning curve was pretty steep, especially if you wanted to to some graphic manipulating, but I have used various versions for almost ten years.

Like Anita, I keep mine in folders that 'display' the contents of the folders pretty readily. I will admit though, that sometimes I get so rushed and forget where I put a particular photo. Then, wouldn't you know it, that's the photo I need!

The Picasa folders show the contents, too, so that's not the problem for me. Maybe encroaching senility (or humidity) is taking a toll on me. Some photos just need two names and even that I can live with but it's mass confusion unless I label each one (even a few in one group) and get them into folders that's so time consuming and yet there is no other way of organizing them.

I really like PhotoShop Elements, I can edit in photo very quickly in it.

I had that - which won't reload for me - and I just couldn't get comfortable with it. Then again, I basically don't manipulate the photo's much except for cropping.

Anita:

Don't fret, and I am sorry that Photoshop won't reload for you. Have you tried re-installing the program? It takes a while to 'get the hang' of a lot of photo editting programs, so don't get frustrated - just get in there and play around. You will probably learn a lot more by trial and error than you would with a manual. Just MHO

I agree. Anything I do with a photo can be undone so easily. I often enlarge just to see a name tag and then cancel out what I've done and can label the photo accurately.

For whatever reason, Elements won't install from the disc. I've had it for awhile. Again, I don't feel I'm missing out on anything.

I'm glad Anita. I'd hate for anyone to miss out because of a faulty program.

What I don't think anyone mentioned is that with Picassa (free download from Google) you can put multiple tags on your photo. So you can file the actual photo under the date - I choose to put every photo I take in the month of August under "08August", doesn't matter what year, they all go into the August folder. Then I can compare from year to year how the garden looks in August, and if you want to know what year, the date is of course attached to the file. Then in Picassa you can check several boxes - annual, zinnia, orange - whatever you want. And you can then look at every orange flower you have, no matter what folder it's physically filed in. I really like this feature in Picassa.

I couldn't figure out what software Candyce uses to put the text on top of the pictures, if you are still out there, can you tell me?

Thanks Cindy. I have Picasa but have not used it in a while. Does it still shrink all photos to a standard size?

Cindy:

I use jasc's Paint Shop Pro version 8. The text on top of the pictures is done with layers, kinda like putting a clear sheet of paper on top of the photo and writing on that.

My photos are labeled by plant name or subject of pic. Have a new folder or album for each year. Whole garden shots are labeled by garden name. Other than that it is by subject, for example colorful foliage,turkey, dragonfly etc. I use Kodak to download and edit then move to IPhoto to sort and label. The original pic is deleted to save space. If I want to find a pic, I put in a key word and they all pop up from whatever album (year) I want or I can search all pics. If I want to find echinacea "Ruby Giant' from "07 I would click on '07 album, then enter key word Echinacea 'ruby by then all the pics are there to view. I can add the date for each pic if I want to know when something first bloomed or was planted, but I search for things by the subject of the pic.

Victor - is this what you mean by shrinking?

I remember not having the ability to resize the photos.

ngam - I'm just not confident that in 5 years I'll recall that '07 was the year I took the shot I love of 'Ruby Giant'.

I do think arranging photos takes concentration and total focus - both excellent brain exercises.

With the photo I posted each JI (Japanese iris) is listed with the height and the way they're pictured, from left to right, is the way they're planted.

With Picasa I can just type in "JI" and every JI in every garden will appear so if I've forgotten a name I can scroll through the names on the left or the pictures to find it.

Picasa automatically resizes them.

Pirl, I can put in just echinacea and all pics of every one will pop up or search a certain years album or particular cultivar to narrow the search. I use the pics to keep track of all the names because there are getting to be so many different ones to keep track of them all is difficult. It is a backup to plant tags that I use now instead of writing everything down. I do need to download the older years pics to a disc to save space pretty soon.

I am still working at organizing my photos. I have slowly been adding them to my external hard drive. I compensate them not being labelled well by having each plant have it's own subfolder so I can choose them visually easier when using.

You're right, ngam! I can do that, too, but insufficient morning coffee has muddled my brains. Sorry!

Good thought, Victor. It does take more time than I'd have thought but it's worth it.

LOL pirl, see I had an edge, I already have had a cup of tea and two coffees. :)

Now I'm on the third cup and thinking more clearly, thankfully. I just did some labels for photos but DG keeps luring me back.