Best Practices in Digital Asset Management

 

  Best Practices in Digital Asset Management Presented Peter Krogh E.P.Levine Waltham MA – May 25, 2011

Sponsored by E.P. Levine and Wiebetech

 

Best Practices in Digital As Asset set Management - Peter Krogh at Fotocare 9/29/10

1. Best Practices in Digital Asset Management

What we Cover Description of the dpBestflow project and website Understanding workflow Workflow tools Putting it all together Introducing Shutha.org Free training for multimedia journalists in the Majority World.

2. Lifecycle and Workflow

What is Workflow?  A normalized normalized set of steps from from the camera, camera, through through output, output, into the permanent permanent home for your images. Benefits of Normalization Saves Time Increases Security Lets you add team members

Workflow Components / Image Lifecycle Capture Camera Format Exposure and White Balance Multi-capture Ingestion Download Rename  Add Bulk Metadata  Add Develop Develop Settings Settings Backup Send to Viewer Visual Inspection Working  Additionall Grouping  Additiona Grouping Rate for Quality

 Adjust Create Master Derivative Files

!

 

 

#

Archive Stable Scalable Easy to Backup Easy to Migrate Easy to Validate Output

File, Screen or Print Fulfill Client Expectations The purpose-driven workflow

Workflow Examples: Event Photography  Capture: Raw or JPEG Ingest : Download Rename  Add bulk metadata  Add develop develop settings settings Backup Send to viewer Visual inspection Working :  Additionall grouping  Additiona grouping Rate for quality  Adjust Output  Archive: Final folder arrangement Backup (x2)

Workflow > Batch Output Workflow http://www.dpbestflow.org/batch-output-workflow   Corporate/Advertising Photography Capture: Raw Ingest : Download Rename  Add bulk metadata  Add develop develop settings settings Backup

Send to viewer Visual inspection Working :

 

Best Practices in Digital As Asset set Management - Peter Krogh at Fotocare 9/29/10

 Additional grouping  Additional grouping Rate for quality  Adjust Proof output  Archive: Final folder arrangement Backup (x2) Working/Delivery : Create derivative master file Output delivery file  Archive: Final folder arrangement Backup (x2)

 

Workflow > Optimize Image Workflow http://www.dpbestflow.org/optimized-image-workflow  

Which one works for me? It Depends…..

Shoot Objectives (Quality, Quantity, etc.) Budget Skill Level Deadlines Client Expectations Tolerance for Risk

3. Workflow Tools

Workflow Tools Non-destructive image editing %&'

Catalog MetadataSoftware Ingestion Software Data Validation

Non-Destructive Image Editing So What’s Destructive  Image Editing? Image editing where the original pixels are altered. Image editing there the file is altered. Fully Non-Destructive Workflow Source file is never changed It is only reinterpreted  parameters   Image editing is controlled by settings or parameters

$

 

 

Parametric Image Editing Source image Settings Software rendering engine  Adjusted image Different for each program Parametric Rendering Pipeline Sliders create instructions Examples of PIEware  Adobe Camera Camera Raw Raw and Lightroom Lightroom  Apple Aperture Aperture Bibble Capture 1 Nikon Capture, Canon DPP Raw Developer, DC RAW, Silkypix Why do I care? PIE workflow adds flexibility PIE workflow adds security PIE workflow saves time PIE Adds Flexability Preserves original data Can reprocess from the original Can make multiple interpretations from a single file Can use multiple programs or program versions PIE Adds Security Unchanging data is the easiest to preserve Source images don’t change, and can be archived quickly Image edits can be archived separately PIE Workflow Saves Time No penalty for quick work Batch adjustments can be applied to multiple images Tips For Good PIE Work Take it as far as possible in the workflow Learn how to use it Use current versions of software Make presets for starting points Not just for raw files anymore “Unbaked” Renderings Are Fragile If any element changes, the rendering changes Understand the elements and how to preserve them

(

 

Best Practices in Digital As Asset set Management - Peter Krogh at Fotocare 9/29/10

Best Practices > Image Editing > Parametric Image Editing http://www.dpbestflow.org/image-editing/parametric-image-editing  

DNG Profile Editor Profiles are used by PIEware to decode raw images Profiles can be created to correct for a particular camera This can provide a better starting point for adjustment It can make two cameras look more similar

Custom profiles are created by shooting a target and running the photo through a profiling application • Adobe DNG Profile Editor • X-rite Color Checker Passport • Capture One and ??? Warning If the profile gets separated from the file, the rendering will change with no warning

Best Practices > Color > Camera Profiling http://www.dpbestflow.org/color/camera-profiling  

DNG  An image file format built especially especially for for parametric parametric image editing editing What’s in a DNG? The original sensor data and metadata (EXIF) User-created metadata  Any PIE instructions instructions Profiles and decoding tools  A JPEG of the adjusted adjusted image image  A data validation validation tool The original raw file itself (optional) dpBestflow Recommends DNG  Openly documented Bundles up metadata, profile, etc. Can be machine verified Makes rendering portable DNG Drawbacks It’s an extra step in the workflow Can’t be read be all software Some EXIF data may become unreadable

)

 

 

*

Best Practices > File Format > Raw File Formats  http://www.dpbestflow.org/file-format/raw-file-formats  

Catalog Software  A Browser Browser shows you what what is in a folder folder or folders folders Catalog software remembers what’s in those folders Advantages of Catalog Software Offline access Helps in the event of a storage problem Can let you group images more effectively Manage your collection Lets you archive ever-changing metadata separately Catalog Software The Prenup Can export metadata Metadata can be seen by other programs Catalog Software Expression Media idImager (PC) iMatch (PC) Extensis Portfolio (Not for raw/DNG) Catalog PIEware Lightroom  Aperture Bibble 5 Catalog PIEware Advantage One-application workflow Image editing combined with picture selection

Simplifies saving image edits Can archive image files earlier Easier to preserve (re)adjustments to images More supported formats Smaller catalogs Better organizational tools Faster to save, backup and transfer Better for Archive management

Metadata  Automatic – Camera applied Bulk – Ingestion or afterwards • Contact and copyright  • Other batch annotations  Custom – via Catalog or Browser

 

Best Practices in Digital As Asset set Management - Peter Krogh at Fotocare 9/29/10

• Ratings  • Custom keywords and other groupings  • PIEware settings  Most Valuable Metadata Contact and Ownership Date Location Event Ratings Custom groupings

Best Practices > Metadata > Metadata Overview   http://www.dpbestflow.org/metadata/metadata-overview  

Ingestion Ingestion Software ImageIngester Pro Photo Mechanic Downloader Pro

Lightroom Bridge  Aperture Expression Media idImager Ingestion Tasks Download Backup Rename  Add bulk metadata  Add develop develop settings settings Send to viewer

Image Validation Ingestion - Must include visual validation Transfer - Should be managed by software • Chronosync on Mac  • SyncBack on PC  Storage - Periodic validation • DNG Converter for Raw and DNG  • ImageVerifier for TIPP and JPEG 

Best Practices > Data Validation > Data Validation Overview http://www.dpbestflow.org/data-validation/data-validation-overview  

4. DAM Configurations

+

 

 

Platform Data Storage Backup Configurations Hardware Configurations Directory Structure

Understanding Primary vs. backupStorage Rolling Backup vs. Disaster Recovery Rolling Backups • Protect against loss of current work  • Backup should be “close” in space and time  Disaster Recovery • Protect against total loss  • Backup should be separated in space and time 

3-2-1 Backup 3 copies of the data 2 different media 1 stored offsite

Hardware Best Practices > Data Storage Hardware > Storage Hardware Overview http://www.dpbestflow.org/data-storage-hardware/storage-hardware-overview  

Best Practices > Data Storage Hardware > Disk Configurations http://www.dpbestflow.org/data-storage-hardware/disk-configurations   Best Practicies > Backup > Backup Overview http://www.dpbestflow.org/backup/backup-overview  

Directory Structure File naming  Folder strategy File Naming  Create unique file names 31 character max Letters, numbers, - _ , and .ext only

 Automated  Automated Use date string Originator string

,

 

Best Practices in Digital As Asset set Management - Peter Krogh at Fotocare 9/29/10

Content optional Examples Krogh_100208_1234.dng PHK_100208_1234.dng PHK_100208__job#_1234.dng Derivative File Names  Append to original original name Save original name if full rename is needed

Examples Krogh_100208_1234_Master.dng Krogh_100208_1234_CMYK.dng Krogh_100208_1234_Print.dng Krogh_100208_1234.jpg Folder Strategy

Standardize Use metadata for organization Use folder structure for storage Working vs. Archive folders Archive Folder Structure Prepare for orderly expansion Sequential folder structure Easy to confirm backup Easy to restore from backup Size-limited buckets Working Folder Structure

Gather all working files together Don’t put graphics in your user folder Create a “pipeline” for workflow Standardize across multiple machines A Caveat  A one-computer one-computer user user may be able to ingest ingest straight straight into the archive archive

-.