Creating multiple capture folders

For Sessions

In a tethered Session, the Next Capture Location tool can be used to create additional capture folders without leaving the Capture tool tab. Multiple capture folders are useful when you have a complex shoot and want to keep certain groups of images organized. For example, you may be photographing a large number of items for a brochure, capturing multiple images of each, and want to organize them separately by item. Rather than storing the whole shoot in the Session’ s default Capture folder, you can store each item in their own capture sub-folder.

Organizing a Session that way allows you to locate and return to a folder with ease should additional images of the item be required later. There are some advantages in performance and stability when spreading large quantities of images across multiple folders rather than storing them all in one single folder.

When capture folders are added as Favorites, they are displayed as a flat list in the Library and images are indexed in the Session database file. This makes them quicker to load and expands the search and organization capabilities of Smart Albums across each folder.

1. Follow Steps 1 to 3 from Changing location for storing captured images to create a new Capture folder. Repeat that when necessary.
   
   
2. To add sub-folders, navigate to an existing folder (e.g., the Session’s default Capture folder) and repeat the process of adding and naming New Folders where necessary.
   
   
3. When the folder structure is complete, navigate to your chosen folder in the open dialog and select Set as Capture Folder.
   
   
4. When capture folders have been set in this way, they can be quickly selected when required from the Destination fly-out menu under Recents.
   
   

For Catalogs

When using a Catalog, the Next Capture Location tool can be used to create multiple capture folders including sub-folders. Multiple capture folders are useful when you are photographing many different items during the day and want to keep the images separate. Adopting a logical folder structure can help organize the most complex shoots. Smaller folders of images can also aid the allocation of system resources, making the catalog more stable and responsive.

As there is no preset folder structure like there is with a Session, it makes sense to adopt the top-level folder or root folder as a shot-folder, and then create capture folders as sub-folders.

With Catalogs, you have a choice of using either physical capture folders or virtual folders as capture collections (i.e., albums, projects or groups). You can even combine the two methods. Anyway, you benefit from the advanced search and organizational capabilities of smart albums, but using collections allows additional control.

The complex album and folder structures can be saved as a template for repeated use.

1. To create a new capture folder, choose one of the following options:
   • Follow Steps 1 to 3 from Changing location for storing captured images. Repeat that when necessary.
   • Create and name a new folder in the Finder/File Explorer (Mac/Windows).
   • In the Library, go to Folders and click on the (+) icon or right-click on Catalog and select Add Folder... from the menu.
     
     
2. To add sub-folders, navigate to an existing folder and repeat the process of adding and naming New Folders where necessary.
   
   
3. When the folder structure is complete, return to the Next Capture Location tool and select Choose Folder... from the Destination fly-out.
   
   
4. Navigate to your new folder and select Set as Capture Folder.
   
   
5. Capture folders can now be selected from the Destination fly-out menu when required.
   
   

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