Discovering DAM apps, Another round with MPro?
Once again as my other DAM (ACDSeePro) doesn't support IIQ files, I was on the prowl for an alternate DAM, and in the works of possibly using IDIMager, I decided to take another look at Media Pro. I left it, as it was clonky, and froze up at times, and I honestly forgot. I do remember I had major issues with TIF which may have resolved with WIC, but I still left it behind to fall back on ACDSeePro5.
So far I tried/tested and ruled out Extensis Portfolio as the interface is too limiting(preview within same window). I didn't have easy access to what files should display, and no way of having different "Terms" or distinctions show at same time etc...most issues one faces without a Browser window, although MediaPro does have a clever way around this. I still prefer a Browser with folder list.
IDImager looks good, but limited file types. It is a top contender.(ACDSee having the limit of no IIQ prompted my search).An Adobe product LightRoom(while not a true DAM) doesn't even support PDF or InDesign files(both Adobe formats), while MediaPRO does!
So I look at MP again as a contender.... By the end of today... How easily will I get around to organizing and seeing results;
This includes looking at either C1 Tethered images, or off a CF card. and placing them in the pre exisiting folders. Then, launching specialty apps, or making LR edits, then Photoshop edits, saving back to MediaPro, and seeing results, then using MediaPro to make smaller Jpeg version of that with a watermark and saving to a Jpeg/Email folder and then having the front desk use that file as an email sample? Once approved, within MediaPro launch InDesign, and making a PDF final.
That is the daily task here. As many others doing this if working with clients or magazines.
We don't need access to MediaPro and catalog at the same time as there already is a Folder stucture that can be accessed via ANY BROWSER. So if Tom, or Harry, Dick need to send a file to client, they have access to EMAIL folder of the clients files, and can do so from any computer!
On that bomb shell, I think this is what all these DAMs boil down to in capability, and writing this helped me realize that!
lets see how it pans out. So far the biggest issue I still see is this PSD, WIC PSD Decoder, Photoshop differences. Hope this is a redundancy I can ignore without issues.
So far I tried/tested and ruled out Extensis Portfolio as the interface is too limiting(preview within same window). I didn't have easy access to what files should display, and no way of having different "Terms" or distinctions show at same time etc...most issues one faces without a Browser window, although MediaPro does have a clever way around this. I still prefer a Browser with folder list.
IDImager looks good, but limited file types. It is a top contender.(ACDSee having the limit of no IIQ prompted my search).An Adobe product LightRoom(while not a true DAM) doesn't even support PDF or InDesign files(both Adobe formats), while MediaPRO does!
So I look at MP again as a contender.... By the end of today... How easily will I get around to organizing and seeing results;
This includes looking at either C1 Tethered images, or off a CF card. and placing them in the pre exisiting folders. Then, launching specialty apps, or making LR edits, then Photoshop edits, saving back to MediaPro, and seeing results, then using MediaPro to make smaller Jpeg version of that with a watermark and saving to a Jpeg/Email folder and then having the front desk use that file as an email sample? Once approved, within MediaPro launch InDesign, and making a PDF final.
That is the daily task here. As many others doing this if working with clients or magazines.
We don't need access to MediaPro and catalog at the same time as there already is a Folder stucture that can be accessed via ANY BROWSER. So if Tom, or Harry, Dick need to send a file to client, they have access to EMAIL folder of the clients files, and can do so from any computer!
On that bomb shell, I think this is what all these DAMs boil down to in capability, and writing this helped me realize that!
lets see how it pans out. So far the biggest issue I still see is this PSD, WIC PSD Decoder, Photoshop differences. Hope this is a redundancy I can ignore without issues.
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I came up with a new idea today regarding a third-party-DAM-software-workflow:
I would have a catalog with raw files only and do the tagging here which I will have saved as xmp sidecar files.
In capture one I will assign the rating.
The processed jpegs with the metadata now embedded I will load into another DAM catalog which I will actually use for browsing and grouping both processed images as well as any other files not derived from raw imagery I would want to be included.
This way I am independent from MediaPro yet can return to it any time since the XMP files stored with the raw files are always up to date.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Bastian0 -
I think, if you want to do that, you'd better not use MP. I know this is a MP forum. You'd better then do your keywording/rating in CO7.
But, while MP 1.3 doesn't show the CO7 edits today, a new version is up and coming. Let's wait to see whether this brings back integration (for which i purchased MP/CO as well), before switching to totally different workflows.0 -
[quote="HCS" wrote:
I think, if you want to do that, you'd better not use MP. I know this is a MP forum. You'd better then do your keywording/rating in CO7.
But, while MP 1.3 doesn't show the CO7 edits today, a new version is up and coming. Let's wait to see whether this brings back integration (for which i purchased MP/CO as well), before switching to totally different workflows.
I agree. While I'm disappointed that a new version hasn't shown up yet, I know it will. I just don't know when.
I have learned to live with it in it present state - which is still better than Lightroom, imo.0 -
Phase One has missed a huge marketing opportunity with the discontinuation of idImager.
A lot of idi users are looking for suitable alternatives and in all the online chat I've seen, only cursory reference has been made to MediaOne.
I, for one would, love to know what the long term vision for M1 is. But Phase One doesn't respect their paid user base enough to be honest and forthright with them.
I actually bought a copy of LR and used it for a short time only to remove it from my computer. I'm a Nikon user and use Nikon Capture NX almost exclusively for my post processing. LR makes this almost impossible.
There are many others out there, like me, that want a good, robust, well supported DAM app. M1 is close, but as above, I have no comfort where P1 is going with M1.
I migrated from iMatch to EM2 and that was a major effort, and frankly, I'm not done. I was hoping to see more robust hierarchical keyword support in EM/M1, but there has been little development since I migrated over. So, I've really stopped using HK. One of the reasons I left iMatch was the inordinate amount of time required to assign keywords and such, and honestly M1 is a little better, but not much.
So I, like many others, stand idly by waiting for the"killer DAM" app to arrive. Unfortunately, in my opinion, neither LR or M1 is it.
cheers,
Chris0 -
great read, all. I'm in this situation right now.
I actually use LR (now using v5) as my DAM and it works well for me, as long as I stay on top of keeping things keyworded. But it is limited in that I want to be networked, and it doesn't play nice like that. I haven't used Media Pro since it was iView. I still intend on using LR as a raw processor, so I really need something for my retoucher and studio manager to search for files.
needs to be on a MAC. looked at extensis portfolio server, but seems a bit behind the times. Like it hasn't been updated in a while. About the only thing I like about it is the fact that it has a network version. I saw a few recommendations for Daminion, but its PC only, so forget that (yes I know it can run in parallels or fusion, but that it a whole headache in itself).
What has the OP settled on?
I wish I were a programmer. That way I could roll my own...0
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