New to digital photography. Ques. regarding Download Manager.
Do Photoshop Elements5, PSP9, or iPhoto include Download Managers? Before finding this website and reading Pesto Photography Work flow, I downloaded pictures from Nikon D40 to iPhoto, then tried transferring to PhotoShop Elements5 and its daunting trying to organize them.
I have a Scandisk Reader I have never used because Nikon D40 instructions don't recommend using a card reader. I'm confused Any explanation of download management is welcome. Thanks

hm you just need one type of software to work with to organise your photos - how and what you use depends on what works best for you.
You can use iphoto or you can use the organiser built into PSE5 or some other software.
Either plug you camera in or use a card reader ( card readers are about the cards not the camera so I dont know why it would be recommended not to use one)
You should have some type of organisational set up on your harddrive in IE so download the photos to the appropriate folders (again how your organise is up to you)
Launch your chosen software and then you can begin the task of organisation within the software such as renaming, catalouging, rating, deleting etc.

I hope that helps - if you have more questions please ask - every ones process is a little different - the above is what i teach my students

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Like SR mentioned, you will need to find a workflow that works for you. A simple one for jpg photos would be:
1) download the photos from your memory card (never use the camera.. always use a card reader... the camera method is slower and wastes your camera batteries!) using an organizer like elements or ACDSEE, picasa ,etc.

2) review the photos.. delete blurry ones, keyword and rate, add metadata (copywrite, location info). Be sure the data you add is then written back to the jpg (very imporatant step that most people ignore... then regret when their computers crash or the want to move to a different software package!)

3) Archive and backup.. DVD, EHD, etc.

4) Print, create a web gallery, add photos to your blog, edit in photoshop/paint... enjoy!

Everyone has a method that works for them. The key is having a system that makes sense to you, that you will keep up and protects your photos from loss.

I download to my computer, burn a backup or two, add copyright info, rename but keep the original name on there for cross reference, and then tag, rate, etc.

This works for me and it is pretty easy. I do suggest getting in the habit of burning a backup as soon as you download since you could have something happen and you could lose whatever you didn't backup already. If it's not alot you can use a CD but if it is alot you can use a DVD.

Since I design Ivery rarely delete photos (even bad ones) since you never know what you can get out of them.

I hope that you find something that works for you.

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Serena Thomas