This has nothing to do with capture, but I didn't know where else to put it. I was just curious as to how people here process their files for work and storage. This is my set up for processing and storing files:

Files captured on CF card or scanned
External "RAW" drive - this is where all my 'straight out of the camera files go' from the CF card or scanner
Immediately back up all these files to a CD/DVD
Delete the files on the external drive after a few months or so
Copy all the files to one of several "WIP" drives
Do all my manipulations using this drive
External "DONE" drive - this where all my finished/completed files go, from my WIP dive
Immediately copy all my DONE files to a CD/DVD
Delete the files on the external after a few months or so

I label my folders: YYYYMMDD Project/Model/Subject/Client
I label my RAW files: as they are straight out of the camera
I label my DONE files: YYYMMDD "Project/Model/Subject/Client" [PRN or WEB] [Attribute or version]

I always make a different file for the web than the one for printing. All my files for the web are 400x400px/60%/sRGB. I never use the file for printing on the web. Oh, and all 5 of my drives are external and labeled.

How do you guys process your files for working and storing?

Regards, Art.

Art,

My process is similar. After capture I make two copies on CD or DVD if it is from a digital camera. I don't backup scans anymore. Seems a waste of time and CDs.

I use external Firewire or USB drives to hold images I am working on and scans that still need to be processed.

My Done files go to a Network Attached Storage (NAS) RAID device and are backed up to DVD as well. The NAS holds 4 drives and is expandable by hot swapping in larger drives.

One thing that is very important with hard drives is cooling. None of the external drives I have purchased have a cooling fan. I believe this is the cause of what I consider a very high failure rate for these drives in the last several years. Out of 4 drive purchased 3 have died. I replaced the drives in the enclosure and currently am using two of them. In that same time I have not lost any of the 4 internal drives which are well cooled.

My file names could use some work. Currently I use the names from the camera, or the file number for scans.

Larry