Flags, Stars and Labels, Oh my…
Programs to manage our images have a proliferation of tools with which we can rank, rate and identify our photographs. Sometimes it can be a little daunting keeping track of what the difference is in a 3-Star and a 4-Star image. What does a red label mean, a blue label, no label.
I use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® for my Digital Asset Management tool. It allows you to select three kinds of flags, 6 levels of star ratings, and 6 colors of labels. In order to remember what each of these means, I took extreme steps including:
- I thought carefully about them
- I assigned each of them an actual meaning
- I documented those assignments
- I keep the visual record as a reference on all my devices
- I stick to it
I now have a JPEG called “Rating Philosophy” floating around on all my machines via Dropbox. The doc is pictured above. It reminds me should I forget exactly what each item means. This is my workflow. It may not work for you.
Regardless of the program you use or your workflow process, think carefully about your rating/ranking system. Once you’ve thought about it, write it down and use it.
I plan to follow up this article with a more detailed explanation (video tutorial anyone?) of the why’s and where fore’s. Till then, think about it, write it down, stick to it!
Rikk Flohr © 2011
