Tag: image

Damn DAMs

⚠ This very old posting will have an update in the foreseeable future … until then you can take a look at the generated list at Pinboard to have a little overview about the newcomers and other related things regarding this topic.

— 2018/04/17

Besides an outdated and incorrect overview at Wikipedia («Comparison of Image Viewers» and «Image Organizer») I recently stumbled, again, about the question for the right tool to organize and tag the wrong numbers (6.000+) of pictures/images. Year by year the same, but to be honest: there is no such software and it’s a pity. Do you hear me Apple/Adobe/Google/Microsoft?

But if you really have to use a DAM (Digital Asset Management) software you have to check some points if they are valid for you:

  • high number of images to process and organize
  • read/write metadata (EXIF and IPTC/XMP)
  • tagging/keywording (IPTC/XMP and/or OpenMeta)
  • usability and workflow
  • manage «offline» media (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)
  • access and read/write images via network
  • multiple users access same «catalogue», database or image pool
  • «footprint» of management (eg. file size of cache, database or catalogue)
  • connectivity and export of files
  • system requirements and performance
  • price tag

… and after that checklist you can try, or stay away, from these DAM solutions:

Expression Media 2.0.2
  • Phase One, € 149,00 / € 99,001
  • catalogue file based

Test no. 1 : Mac Pro (2009)

  • Import 1.000 JPGs (≈ 3 GB, each ≈ 3 MB)
  • via LAN (Gigabit), AFP
  • server: Mac mini (2006), hard drive: 500 GB (USB2)
  • workstation: Mac Pro (2009), 2,66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 8 GB RAM
  • import time: 03:03
  • catalogue size: 10 MB
  • cpu load: 10%

Test no. 2 : MacBook (2004)

  • Import 1.000 JPGs (≈ 3 GB, each ≈ 3 MB)
  • via WLAN (108 Mbps), AFP
  • server: Mac mini (2006), hard drive: 500 GB (USB2)
  • workstation: MacBook (2004), 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM
  • import time: 04:04
  • catalogue size: 10 MB
  • cpu load: 20%

Pros

  • good performance on high number of images to process and organize
  • wide file support: JPEG, PSD, PNG, TIF, EPS, RAW, PDF, any QuickTime supported files (MOV, MP4, etc.) etc. – and even font files and Word documents
  • metadata support (read EXIF and read/write IPTC/XMP)
  • high usability at tagging/keywording
  • sync IPTC/XMP metadata
  • watch folders
  • «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)
  • access and read/write images via network
  • multiple users can access same catalogue file, not at same time but …
  • minimal «footprint» (depends on settings)
  • «send» single image or batch to other application (eg. Photoshop, Flickr Uploader, Mail)
  • batch process images (rename, file format, etc.)
  • AppleScript support
  • free reader software for catalogue files (Mac OS and Windows)
  • Mac OS X and Windows version on one license/purchase
  • no need for high end coumputer
  • «adopted» 2010 by high professional photo software company Phase One
  • 1Upgrade Box from any Microsoft Application still available

Cons

  • unloved stepchild of Microsoft: no bad bugs get squashed for years after Microsoft purchased iViewMedia Pro from ASH and renamed it to Expression Media
  • some bugs could alter your images under rare circumstances
  • only manually IPTC/XMP sync/write («Export Annotations»)
AtomicView 1.5.3
  • AntZero, € 59,00
  • database, cache and file based

Test no. 1 : Mac Pro (2009)

  • Import 1.000 JPGs (≈ 3 GB,each ≈ 3 MB)
  • via LAN (Gigabit), AFP
  • server: Mac mini (2006), hard drive: 500 GB (USB2)
  • workstation: Mac Pro (2009), 2,66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 8 GB RAM
  • import time: 03:20
  • cpu load: 60%
  • database size: 35 MB

Test no. 2 : MacBook (2004)

  • Import 1.000 JPGs (≈ 3 GB, each ≈ 3 MB)
  • via WLAN (108 Mbps), AFP
  • server: Mac mini (2006), hard drive: 500 GB (USB2)
  • workstation: MacBook (2004), 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM
  • import time: 25:54
  • cpu load: 60%
  • database size: 35 MB

Pros

  • very good performance on high number of images to process and organize1
  • high speed thumbnail resizing
  • wide file support: JPEG, PSD, PNG, TIF, RAW, any QuickTime supported files (MOV, MP4, etc.)
  • minimal «footprint» (depends on settings)
  • metadata support (read EXIF and read/write IPTC/XMP)
  • «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)

Cons

  • 1high performance only on very performant computers
  • non-standard Mac OS X GUI; could lock down computer under specific circumstances (bug)
  • low/bad usability w/ tagging/keywording
  • multiple users can access same database file only w/ workaround
  • only manually IPTC/XMP sync/write
  • no watch folders
  • no AppleScript support
Bridge CS5
  • Adobe, part of any CS5 Application like Photoshop and the CS5 Suites
  • file system based
  • Note: «disqualified», no «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)

Pros

  • metadata support (read EXIF and read/write IPTC/XMP)
  • batch process images (rename, file format, etc.)

Cons

  • no «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)
  • low/bad usability at tagging/keywording
  • low speed access and read/write images via network
  • only manually IPTC/XMP sync/write
  • no AppleScript support
FotoStation 7.0 Pro
  • FotoWare, € 489 + VAT
  • file system and database based
  • Note: «disqualified», price-tag, performance & usability

Pros

  • metadata support (read EXIF and read/write IPTC/XMP)

Cons

  • price-tag
  • no «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)
  • low/bad usability at tagging/keywording
  • low speed access and read/write images via network
  • no AppleScript support
Picasa 3.8.1.267
  • Google, freeware
  • file system based
  • Note: «disqualified», no «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)

Pros

  • freeware

Cons

  • outdated/limited metadata support (read EXIF and read/write IPTC/XMP)
  • no «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)
  • low/bad usability at tagging/keywording
  • overall low speed and performance
ACDSee Pro 1.3 beta
  • ACD Systems, Beta version is free
  • file system based
  • Note: «disqualified», limited to no metadata support

Pros

  • free during beta phase

Cons

  • limited to no metadata support
Photo Mechanic 4.6.5
  • Camera Bits, $ 150.00 (≈ € 117,00)
  • file system based
  • Note: «disqualified», no «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)

Pros

  • high performance viewing images

Cons

  • low/bad usability at tagging/keywording
Portfolio 8.5.3
  • Extensis, $ 262.08 (≈ € 204,64)
  • catalogue based
  • Note: «disqualified», overall low speed and performance

Pros

  • (none)

Cons

  • overall low speed and performance
  • price-tag
iPhoto
  • Apple, iLife ’09 Package
  • database, cache and file/package based
  • Note: «disqualified», limited metadata support (need to export images to write metadata)

Pros

  • free w/ consumer Macs

Cons

  • no «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)
  • low/bad usability at tagging/keywording
  • massive «footprint»
  • low speed access and read/write images via network
  • multiple users can access same database file only w/ workaround
Aperture
  • Apple, € 154,90
  • database, cache and file/package based
  • Note: «disqualified», no DAM solution

Pros

  • all-in-one digital dark room

Cons

  • low/bad usability at tagging/keywording
  • massive «footprint»
  • multiple users can’t access same database file
Photoshop Lightroom
  • Adobe, € 259,90
  • database, cache and file based
  • Note: «disqualified», no DAM solution

Pros

  • all-in-one digital dark room

Cons

  • no «offline» media support (external Hard Disks, DVDs, CDs)
  • low/bad usability at tagging/keywording
  • massive «footprint»
  • multiple users can’t access same database file