New to Capture One questions
I'm new to Capture One Pro 7 and I have few questions. Windows
Preserve disk space strategy. I use a SSD for programs and a HDD for files. I have hundreds of raw files on my HDD, each grouped in a separate directory, such as, Donny Wedding. If I want to start an edit session through CO, should I import my existing files as a Session or New Catalog?
I created two directories on my HDD: ( D:/ )
Capture One Backups-I use this for backup prompts as I exit CO
Capture One Catalogs -I use this for new catalogs and sessions.
My thinking -when I start a new session and name it (importing existing raw files on my HDD) I path the new session to D:/capture one catalogs/<session name>
Am I wasting disk space? I cut my computer teeth on DOS, so I think in terms of directories and subdirectories when organizing my hard drive. Catalog filing throws me off. 😕
Preserve disk space strategy. I use a SSD for programs and a HDD for files. I have hundreds of raw files on my HDD, each grouped in a separate directory, such as, Donny Wedding. If I want to start an edit session through CO, should I import my existing files as a Session or New Catalog?
I created two directories on my HDD: ( D:/ )
Capture One Backups-I use this for backup prompts as I exit CO
Capture One Catalogs -I use this for new catalogs and sessions.
My thinking -when I start a new session and name it (importing existing raw files on my HDD) I path the new session to D:/capture one catalogs/<session name>
Am I wasting disk space? I cut my computer teeth on DOS, so I think in terms of directories and subdirectories when organizing my hard drive. Catalog filing throws me off. 😕
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[quote="NN635399624147588750UL" wrote:
I'm new to Capture One Pro 7 and I have few questions. Windows
Preserve disk space strategy. I use a SSD for programs and a HDD for files. I have hundreds of raw files on my HDD, each grouped in a separate directory, such as, Donny Wedding. If I want to start an edit session through CO, should I import my existing files as a Session or New Catalog?
I created two directories on my HDD: ( D:/ )
Capture One Backups-I use this for backup prompts as I exit CO
Capture One Catalogs -I use this for new catalogs and sessions.
My thinking -when I start a new session and name it (importing existing raw files on my HDD) I path the new session to D:/capture one catalogs/<session name>
Am I wasting disk space? I cut my computer teeth on DOS, so I think in terms of directories and subdirectories when organizing my hard drive. Catalog filing throws me off. 😕
I am a new user to Capture One Pro 7 as well, and am facing the same issues. For what it is worth, here is what I have concluded so far.
Sessions vs Catalog
From what I can see is that Sessions are ideal for a pro doing for example weddings. One session would be one wedding. It is a fairly simple system, and from what I can see more stable, as Catalogs are new in version 7. A session appears to be a folder named by Session (Jill&Jack's Wedding). Under that a set of folder are automatically set up, with the basic purpose of using them for culls, keepers, and final fixed versions. Looks like it would be perfect for a wedding pro, or studio pro. However, you cannot seem to search across sessions, or group photos across sessions etc. Seems not too friendly for an amateur. While I have some hesitation, I think I will use the Catalog system. It is complicated but flexible. Probably will avoid Projects, but will use the Groups, and Albums...
File Locations
So far I have left all my images in their original folders, as I am from the DOS days too, and really only trust real folders. I absolutely will not allow C1P7 put all my images into the Catalog file, and I don't need the flexibility that gives you. I'm not real pleased with the fact that C1P7 does not use individual sidecar files like Adobe Camera RAW, but don't see any practical way around it. My basic strategy and has been for many years is to keep all general images under My Pictures, with a folder for the Year, and then subfolders to that by download date, which are named so they will sort in date order. Special events, Scans, and images from others get named folders. My suggestion is to put your house in order -- your Windows folder system before you create the catalog. That could be your current system, if you like it. But if you want it changed it is better to do it first.
Backups
Backup of the Catalog file is really important, as well as image files of course. However if you lose your Catalog file, you have lost all your adjustments for all images. While if you lose an image file, you just lose that image. I use a Western Digital My Book Live 3 TB network connected disk to back up all data on my internal hard drives. It does it in real time, so I see no real need to manually save more backups. Have to figure out if I can turn that reminder to back up, off. I keep all my images and the catalog on internal drives for speed. O/S and Programs are on SSD.0 -
Thanks. Looks like I'm on the right track.
Now....I need to figure out why this forum assigned me this looooong user name. 😜
Thanks again
Bill0 -
[quote="NN635399624147588750UL" wrote:
Thanks. Looks like I'm on the right track.
Now....I need to figure out why this forum assigned me this looooong user name. 😜
Thanks again
Bill
You need to go to PhaseOne.com, sign-in, then click on your name at the top of the screen, then your account, Profile, and set your forum user name...0 -
Ron AKA made some really good points.
C1 does use sidecars but they are in hidden subdirectories. Sidecars for images edited for sessions... You may know this and wish C1 used sidecars for catalog as well? (I don't know how Lr works in this respect) For images edited in catalogs, the edits are stored in the catalog for both referenced (image itself not in catalog) and... I-forget-the-name of the other catalog method but it incorporates the image as well.
I am also wary of catalog db. My work is manageable in sessions so I use them. Plus the all-in-one / lose-it-all-at-once worry... Although I chose to not use this strategy myself, I think backups with edits/sidecars can be extracted from the catalog. This is different from backing up the catalog itself...
For a referenced catalog, if images+edits are exported, there will be two copies of the images but only one copy of the edits (those exported). This is discounting the catalog itself and considering only things db-free. The catalog db could be considered a second copy on the premise it will not corrupt/fail at the same time as the media storing the exported edits... Plus the catalog itself can/should be backed up.
So, catalog backed up to WD Live = edits in db copied.
Referenced images in directory structure backed up to WD Live.
Catalog edits exported with image to whatever-media = 2nd copy RAW, 3rd copy edits... For this to really be a 2nd/3rd copy, it should be to another physical HDD than working HDD or WD Live. Maybe stored offsite and all the other typical recommendations..!
Of course, it is good to have a copy of your RAW file that is not in use and being accessed/edited by C1 whether session or catalog. It is just stored and untouched.
I think the edits must be exported from catalog bundled with image as a 'package'.
Not sure so might be worth checking out.
No clue how fast the export process is so this is a consideration...
Not really recommending this if you are happy, as I am, with sessions.
No, you can't search across them...
I see some benefits to catalogs but I like my files all out of the db and the benefits don't really make a big difference to me and the stuff I do.
As an alternative, I tried a 'master' session idea. I have several sessions for holidays. I created a session to reference the Selects folder for each of those sessions. The Selects folders from each Holiday session is not moved but is only referenced as Favorites in the 'master' session... There were some teething pains doing this. Although only 10 Selects folders to reference and not many images, really, there were some troubles when it came to filters by country or whichever. I just went back to swapping from session to session. I may revisit the idea... The idea being my images and edits remain in the sessions I made but I have an.. umbrella session to look through them all.0 -
[quote="NN635399624147588750UL" wrote:
...
I created two directories on my HDD: ( D:/ )
Capture One Backups-I use this for backup prompts as I exit CO
Capture One Catalogs -I use this for new catalogs and sessions.
or
...
Am I wasting disk space? ...
I don't think you are wasting disc space. A backup is good but it isn't as effective if it is on the same HDD. You do have a copy if the file corrupts.. But no copy if the HDD fails and no copy stored away from the computer to help if some virus or some weird ransom-lock thing happens. Or, if you computer just gets stolen!
I don't usually ever store anything important on C:\OS partition. If I use 'my documents', I redirect it to another partition. This may not be such a.. necessity now, but I have had bad results with Windows becoming corrupt and not booting. I tried 'repairing' a Windows installation and it was all gone. I didn't have another machine to put the HDD in so I could get the files off before 'repair'. I took 'repair' to be different from 're-install' or whatever... Bad news. Mostly crud that didn't matter in Win 95 or 98 times. Still, a habit now.
I have an 'Images' partition and a 'Backup' partition.
But they are each on a different physical drive.
I need to work out a way for off-site storage... I know...0 -
If you like DOS structures and mostly shoot self contained events - like Weddings - stick with Sessions for a workflow.
If you later want a global catalogue once you are happy with the results of the shoot you can create on at that point. I don't for my sessions but the option is there. I have looked at creating a catalogue of the finished output files and that works well. With careful folder based structuring - as you probably already use - is also gives you a reference to the original file should you ever need to go back to it.
You don't need to import files to a Session - you can just navigate to a folder containing files and start working on them. C1 will add the subfolder is needs for the edit files, preview files and so on.
However if you use the Import process it will allow you to set naming preferences, apply some preferred settings (Styles and things, etc. and create all the files and folders it will need in a batch. For a complete shoot this Import would typically be the way to go for most people - it is more like a workflow, especially for Event type shoots, and also allows you to backup the original files as you go should you wish to.
You can import form anywhere the computer has reasonable access. So copy to an existing drive and import or import straight from a card or from another network address, the camera, whatever. I guess maybe even the Cloud these days.
If you want optimal speed (and you SSD is suitable fast) work with the files on the SSD and use your other drive as a first level backup. Copy the Session to the HDD as and when you feel a need to.
Don't worry about disk space. Disk, even SSD based, is not expensive these days.
HTH.
Grant0 -
I just moved from v6 to 7 express and need to figure the best way to use the new import system.
I too had been using a DOS style organization top level camera name, then year then folders for each day or shoot.
Last night in eagerness to use v7 I ad hoc added a camera level folder as a catalog.
But now I am not sure if I should use catalogs and how to back out of this catalog I created. Certainly I'd want tidy up the file structure a bit before I do and also determine what level of directory/folder the catalog contains.
I prefer to have access to files and the location of the CO associate files remain as in v6.0 -
I am still struggling a bit with this. I've 'imported' my images that were already on HDD and selected option to keep them local, but the setting files are not being updated locally as they were in v6, where are they? I need them to archive my setting with the images.
How do I just go to my folders as they exist in my file system? I've imported my image folder, but it has over 80k images and v7 is struggling timewise to catalog them.
Also I am constantly changing my file structure (as I have over 15yrs of images in various file organization system) and it seems CO7 can't keep up with my changes and I have to manually re-import.
Another issue is my RAW image directories have sub directories of processed files - I do not want these cataloged, so I have to manually 'delete' them from catalog from many hundreds of directories.
7.2.3 express is much more stable when editing images (never a crash as I got all the time in v6) but when I click on the 'All Images' in the catalog it crashes after generating a few previews. Doesn't do this with any of the folder views. I know i will need to contact support to get help on this, but it is not a priority as I have no need to see all images, just the ones from my latest project.
Finally one small item is that the window size, tool bar location (left vs. right) is not being retained on program restart - other settings are.0
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