Keeping information with Scanned Family Photos

ogee · #1 06-09-2007, 02:06 PM

Does anyone use or has anyone developed a system for keeping information about a scanned photo with the photo...the equivalent of writing on the back of the photo with a pencil.

I'm planning on scanning a number of old family photos to preserve them...and I would like to find a way to keep the information (names of people in the photo, place, year, etc) so that it goes with the new digital photo even if the file format is changed.

I realize there are a multitude of programs to organize your photos, but these programs need to travel with the photos so viewers in the future can read the file.

Anyone have any suggestions other than adding a text box to each photo?

Jerryb · #2 06-09-2007, 03:42 PM

hi,
I use a shareware program , GWSPRO, now it has a lot of features but one of the things it can do is that you can add a caption, caption is part of the picture but it located at the bottom of the picture Not on the picture....

you can put in up to about 256 characters...
yo can download the demo version, fully operational and no time limit, from alchemymindworks.com ..... and see if it works for you..

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogee

Does anyone use or has anyone developed a system for keeping information about a scanned photo with the photo...the equivalent of writing on the back of the photo with a pencil.

I'm planning on scanning a number of old family photos to preserve them...and I would like to find a way to keep the information (names of people in the photo, place, year, etc) so that it goes with the new digital photo even if the file format is changed.

I realize there are a multitude of programs to organize your photos, but these programs need to travel with the photos so viewers in the future can read the file.

Anyone have any suggestions other than adding a text box to each photo?

ogee · #3 06-11-2007, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerryb

hi,
I use a shareware program , GWSPRO, now it has a lot of features but one of the things it can do is that you can add a caption, caption is part of the picture but it located at the bottom of the picture Not on the picture....

you can put in up to about 256 characters...
yo can download the demo version, fully operational and no time limit, from alchemymindworks.com ..... and see if it works for you..

Yes, thanks I've downloaded the latest version and there doesn't seem to be any limit on the "evaluation" version.

Jerryb · #4 06-11-2007, 01:26 PM

hi,
your welcome..... as you noticed there isn't any limitations at all including time.... the only thing is a nusance screen and that it... although I didn't need to , I like it so much that I bought it...!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogee

Yes, thanks I've downloaded the latest version and there doesn't seem to be any limit on the "evaluation" version.

ogee · #5 06-11-2007, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerryb

hi,
your welcome..... as you noticed there isn't any limitations at all including time.... the only thing is a nusance screen and that it... although I didn't need to , I like it so much that I bought it...!!

I found it bit disconcerting that, when using the captioning feature, you don't see the photo you are working on, but a photo that comes with the program (In my version a red car).

What font size do you find works the best?

Jerryb · #6 06-12-2007, 10:01 AM

hi,
I know what you mean on the red car.. smile... the first time i used I thought I had tag the wrong picture...lol .....

I guess the intent of the programers is just to give you a rough idea what the text looks like in relation to a "startard" size picture.

but what bothers me in that regard is when I have a very narrow picture.... the display doesn't give the correct perspective of the text.... sometimes i go back have to change the font size ...

on font size... depends on picture and in some cases how it going to be used... and your own preferences .
1. myself on most pictures I will use a 25pt and check mark bold... I find for me this is easily to read and it works great for me in most cases...
2. but i will go to a smaller font size if I am dealing with a very narrow picture and I want to make sure certain info gets on a single line....
3. but when doing special projects like a album or for webpage... then anything goes.. because your looking at the rest of the text on the pages, plus your font style and such...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogee

I found it bit disconcerting that, when using the captioning feature, you don't see the photo you are working on, but a photo that comes with the program (In my version a red car).

What font size do you find works the best?

Doug Nelson · #7 06-12-2007, 10:13 AM

You can also use the metadata area of a file. Open this file in Photoshop and use the File Info command (under the File menu).

ogee · #8 06-12-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Nelson

You can also use the metadata area of a file. Open this file in Photoshop and use the File Info command (under the File menu).

Doug, there doesn't seem to be an attached image...

Doug Nelson · #9 06-12-2007, 03:02 PM

It's just a small, white image. Rightclick on the thumbnail and save it (that's the entire image).

ogee · #10 06-12-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Nelson

You can also use the metadata area of a file. Open this file in Photoshop and use the File Info command (under the File menu).

Thanks Doug
But does this method put the information on the photo so that it is visible when the photo is printed?

Swampy · #11 06-12-2007, 04:15 PM

No it does not... Here's the screen capture Doug was shooting for.

ogee · #12 06-12-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swampy

No it does not... Here's the screen capture Doug was shooting for.

Thanks Swampy...I didn't think that it did what I wanted. I think a similar thing can be done with any windows file, but I want the information to go with the photo so that future generations plowing through my digital "shoebox" of family photos can tell who the people are with any other technology.

ogee · #13 06-12-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerryb

hi,
I know what you mean on the red car.. smile... the first time i used I thought I had tag the wrong picture...lol .....

I guess the intent of the programers is just to give you a rough idea what the text looks like in relation to a "startard" size picture.

but what bothers me in that regard is when I have a very narrow picture.... the display doesn't give the correct perspective of the text.... sometimes i go back have to change the font size ...

on font size... depends on picture and in some cases how it going to be used... and your own preferences .
1. myself on most pictures I will use a 25pt and check mark bold... I find for me this is easily to read and it works great for me in most cases...
2. but i will go to a smaller font size if I am dealing with a very narrow picture and I want to make sure certain info gets on a single line....
3. but when doing special projects like a album or for webpage... then anything goes.. because your looking at the rest of the text on the pages, plus your font style and such...

Thanks for the information and help

Jerryb · #14 06-12-2007, 09:50 PM

hi,
your quite welcome... may want to look at all the other features of the program there quite a few interesting one.... have a goodevening

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogee

Thanks for the information and help

Swampy · #15 06-13-2007, 06:57 AM

I have a digital database of photos for my household insurance. I used FileMaker Pro which let me set up a searchable database with comment and photos.