

I think it’s a horrible way to do things however because you’re then dependent on a catalog separate from the original location of your images. I think of the word ‘cataloging’ in a different way as making an actual catalog the way Adobe Elements does. I recently updated a post I wrote back in 2008 on a selection of commonly known ones although I’m not saying much there that I’m not saying here. GeoSetter is all round much better as a metadata writer although my favorite is Photo Mechanic ( ) which I use extensively but it’s not free. It’s excellent for searching, viewing and displaying metadata. XnView is not my favorite for large amounts of metadata because the template system is clunky but I do use it as my default photo viewer and for occasional metadata entry. Picasa for instance that’s also very limited in metadata possibilities generally.
BEST PHOTO CATALOGING SOFTWARE FOR MAC FREE
( ) There’s lots of free ones that work only with JPGs. It can be exported as XMP to a text-file and then presumably saved that way, for what use I don’t know.įor free metadata software the only ones I know worth their salt are XnView and GeoSetter. It’s metadata I put there with other software but as far as I can tell there’s no way to add it, edit it or search it.

I had another look at the Gimp and I can see metadata for an image I opened using File/Properties under the Advanced tab.
BEST PHOTO CATALOGING SOFTWARE FOR MAC PORTABLE
For smaller collections, download and try free demos of some of the programs listed here until you find one that makes sense to you.įor information on choosing a portable scanner, click here. It’s worth the investment in time and money. My recommendation for choosing image management software for large or complex family photo collections is Photoshop Elements. Acorn ($30) – “The Image Editor for Humans” has a simple and elegant interface with tools for viewing, converting, and adding metadata, text, shapes, and effects.GraphicConverter ($40) – Excellent all-round image editing program for viewing, converting, and adding metadata to 80 image file formats stable, reliable, and much simpler alternative to Photoshop with a long track record.CNet review here.įor Macintosh OS X users, besides Photoshop Elements also consider:

XnView (free) – app provides image browsing, viewing, cataloging, and converting.GIMP (free) – open-source app that stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program clean interface and easy to use for viewing, converting, and cataloging.IRFanView (free for non-commercial use) – image viewer, editor, organizer and converter program for Windows.GPS mapping feature in Photoshop Elements Earlier versions are available for sale online at big discounts. The current version of the software is 2018. Tip: Adobe releases a new version of Photoshop Elements every year, usually with only small changes between versions. A 30-day demo is available for download by clicking here. Has powerful image editing capabilities, including GPS and facial recognition easier to use than Photoshop but still has a learning curve. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018 ($69) – think of it as Photoshop Lite.So an alternative to Photoshop is a good idea.įortunately there are several lower-cost image management applications available that are easier to use. It also has a lot of sophisticated features geared to graphic designers that genealogists will probably never need or learn to use. Use special functions, such as creating albums, employing facial recognition or adding GPS linkingĪdobe Photoshop is the leader in this category, but it’s extremely expensive and complex to use.Search for images and retrieve them using keywords.Add information to digital images using metadata.Make changes to many photos with a batch edit.Edit photos to resize, crop, and alter master digital files.So let’s take a look in this blog post at some of the software options. Being able to insert searchable information inside digital photographs is incredibly helpful. This is an essential step, and one that I cover in more detail in my e-book, Cataloging Family Photographs & Records. One of her steps is choosing image management software to better organize her family photos. My good friend and fellow genealogist Judy Webster has started the new year with some resolutions about organizing her research using a “ source-based incremental fix,” rather than a giant do-over approach. Looking for a better way to caption and organize family photos? Choosing image management software is a key step to getting organized.ĭo you have the right tools to add names, dates, and places toįamily gathering photographs or complex documents like wills? Read on if you’re looking for a better way.
