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Best Free Digital Photo Organizer

Last Update: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:09 — tony
 
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Introduction
In this category there is one outstanding product and that is Picasa3 and in my efforts to assess other photo organizers I have used this as my benchmark. The three main contenders that came the closest are DigiBookShelf light , Studio Line PhotoBasic3 and finally as it was a joy to use was Album Burger. These were all different in the way they represented and organized your photos.
Discussion
When you first run Picasa 3 it offers to scan your whole hard drive (or designated locations) for photos and videos. Scanning is surprisingly quick and when finished you'll have all your shots neatly organized into folders on a time line basis. Now you can view your shots one at a time, in slideshow or traversing the time line.

The editing features are limited compared to professional image editors yet they provide you with every function amateur photographers need including one click red eye reduction. Similarly adding labels to photos is a cinch while a simple but effective star rating system allows you to flag favorite snaps. Individual folders can also be password protected. Facilities are provided to import your images from your camera in multiple formats including RAW. You can send photos to your choice of web printing services, cut a CD, print to a local printer or share with others via your own blog or instant messaging. It is also worth noting that you can create web albums with free online storage, backup, and automatic resizing when exporting or email etc. Simply sensational.

DigiBookShelf has been around since 2004 and it appears it has been left that way. This is no in-detriment to the software as it is in a class of its own and I enjoyed the virtual library. You do have to register to use all of the facilities, this is free. The surround of the bookshelf seems stark and cold, but don't let that put you off as you can download new skins and new books ends. Tutorials are available on the website.

Not only can you catalog your photos, you can edit them manually or automatically, resize, reformat (although limited) and download pictures from your camera straight into an album. Editing is quite comprehensive and there are filters for you to work with and if you wish you can add links to your photographic editor anyway. There are options to email, transfer to disk and print, but not just print the photo as you can make cards (very limited, but if the photo speaks volumes then you only need that picture) and create calendars. Still not enough? Well okay, you can save your albums as an executive file which is handy when creating your disks or pen drive and add text or sound to your pictures or album. You can even create a slide show or a webpage. Being a bookaholic I just love the way I can view each album on a book shelf, sad I know, but its creative and wonderful to use.

Studio Line PhotoBasic3 has many features that the other two have and don't have, but it is a large download if you have a 56k modem as it is a 56.6MB download. This 'free' version is for personal use only and you do have to register. PhotoBasic3 does everything you want and ask for in a photo-organizer, it displays the albums as you would see them in Windows Explorer and then the real fun starts as you won't need a photo editor at all with this. If you do want to use a photo editor then there is a link that enables you to do this. When opened you will see three main panels, left hand side is the Album files and boxes of editing and web galleries links, the middle is the photo display and information below (the information can be adapted to your own requirements) and the left is the information bar. Note in this 'free' version - Timeline - Image Archive Filter - Print Project Pages are not available.

The software can add descriptions to your images, send photos per email in just the right size, print, display slide-shows, publish web-galleries, safe-keep your images on CD or DVD. Download your photos from your camera and organize them into files and back up your images. The image edit facility has all that you would require to ensure that the photo is edited to your demands with the added bonus of some excellent effects.

Album Burger was a joy to work with, the inane smile of the burger icon with its tongue hanging out didn't put me off. To engage this software you have to create your first album, it will ask for a title and any other information you find important. If there is not a category then select your photos, select the frame for each picture and background color, when done then select your page design layout. Simple, as you can have different designs on each page. Whilst it collates the photos you will notice a window 'Album Explorer' that enables you to manage the files and open them. When you move your mouse over each photo, transparent icons will appear at the top enabling you to seek the exif information, edit the photo, magnify, define actual size of image and print. By right clicking this gives you the same information and more. You can cut paste insert extra pictures, make CD/DVD and slide shows as well as create your own web gallery and upload to the web.

There is one more I should mention, but I am not considering it as an organizer, more of a wonderful presentation of your special photographs and is well worth downloading. Have a look anyway, http://www.scrapbookflair.com/

 
Quick Selection Guide

Picasa3   Rating 9 of 10  Gizmo's Top Pick
Developer Home Page   http://picasa.google.com/
Download link   http://picasa.google.com/
File Size   7.5MB   Version 3   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Windows Operating Systems Supported: Me/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista/Mac OsX/Linux

DigiBook 2005 Light    Rating 7 of 10
Developer Home Page   http://www.digibook.com/en/index.html
Download link   http://www.digibook.com/en/download/index.html
File Size   13.9MB   Version 11 Light Version   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements 98(SE only)/Me/NT/2000/XP/(Vista unknown)
Info   System Requirements: - Intel Pentium-class processor or equivalent, (PIII 500 or above recommended) 28MB of RAM - 30MB of available HD space

Studio Line PhotoBasic3    Rating 6 of 10
Developer Home Page   http://www.studioline.biz/EN/downloads/photo-basic/default.htm
Download link   http://www.studioline.biz/EN/downloads/download-photo-basic/download-manager-photo-basic/default.htm
File Size   56.2MB   Version 3.5   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Vista* / XP / 2000 / ME
Info   Pentium III or 4 or compatible processor, with a minimum of 800 MHz, higher recommended - RAM: 256 MB, more recommended - 150 MB disk space for programs (allow extra space for data) - 24 bit graphics adapter with monitor resolution of 1024 x 786 pixels

Album Burger    Rating 5 of 10
Developer Home Page   http://www.albumburger.com/en/index.asp
Download link   http://www.albumburger.com/en/download.asp
File Size   9.39MB   Version 2007b   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Operating System: Windows ME / 2000 / XP / Vista

 

This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Tony Bennett.
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#1Submitted by netmad on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 15:52.

Not sure how compared products, but Picassa is known for antoher (beta?)desing flaw [that may not be significant for majority of users]: you can't set the location of the databse(which can grow quickly). It vedges firmly onto your system disk, in user-profile-data.
So far the only way to go around this issue is through symbolic directory linking [or whatever it's called in different filessystems], if you need it, simply google it.

PS> I always appreciated Picassa's quick, SMOOTH, SEAMLESS picture-browsing - you can literary check hundreds of pictures per minute, without temporarily going cross-eyed. Can anyone recommend similar product with this particular quality?

#2Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 22:40.

Can anyone recommend an organizer that allows assigning multiple tags to both individual images and whole folders, then efficiently displaying by tags (regardless of the directory structure)?

Saving the tags in ITPC folds is a plus.

Thanks.

#3Submitted by syntax_error on Thu, 06/11/2009 - 08:12.

Don't think this quite makes it but may be worth a look.
Pictomio http://www.pictomio.com

I'm sure it was mentioned favourably here before the rewrite.

#4Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 05/21/2009 - 14:52.

I found a program called Xibit:
http://www.klingebiel.com/tempest/hd/Xibit.htm

Has anybody here tried it?

#5Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 18:49.

Interesting reviews, I have been trying to find software that will back up photos to disc but also create a webpage? or equivalent index of thumbnails on your computer that will tell you what disc it is on (so I can get gigs of data off the PC)- will any of these packages provide that function?

Dale

#6Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 07:20.

Picasa is great except the smooth scrolling which makes me dizzy and there is no way to disable it. I tend to look away from the screen when I scroll.

#7Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/02/2009 - 10:24.

Picasa has one huge problem. It forces you to choose between scanning all HD or the Windows standard directories.

I only want to use it to catalogue specific directories on selected HD because I have hundreds of thousands of images, many of which I do not want listed. (e.g. clipart,email attachments, maps, scanned documents, WIP renders etc.). Until they fix this, it is totally unusable for my purposes.

#8Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 13:30.

We are developing the Ezypic photo Organizer--------- your comments would be welcome ------------------------------ www.imagingassociates.com.au-- regards Andrew

#9Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 19:31.

Re #1 Picasa 3: By going to Tools > Folder Manager you can select the specific directories you want to scan.

Dave

#10Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 12:17.

I recommend to check out these ones as well:

Free software, worth to have a look at: (besides the mentioned apps)

Emphasis on Organizing
Pictomio http://www.pictomio.com
Realy great 3D user interface

Magix http://www.magix.com
Great program, though some features require purchase of additional packages.

Emphasis on Album:
PhotoMeister http://www.photomeister.com
Realy realy simple to use, with a wealth of output options.

PhotoZig http://www.photozig.com
Simple to use, un-usual though very clear and simple interface
Some options require purchase of commercial version.

MKraats

#11Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 00:57.

I have tried most of these programs, and I keep coming back to Picasa. I hate how it displays folders, with any folder that doesn't have an image file in it disappearing. Just my personal pet hate, but the key thing that keeps me with it is that the key word and caption functions write standard IPTC data into the file. That means it goes with the file, and any program that reads standard IPTC metadata will see it. Microsoft's excellent Windows Live Photo Gallery gets a thumbs down from me for the same reason its predecessor did - the tag and caption fields are non standard, and not the internationally recognised IPTC ones. So for maximum future proofing it's Picasa for me, and I still hate the folder display. Oh well.

#12Submitted by tony on Sun, 02/22/2009 - 10:48.

I keep looking to see if this can be updated and changed, but as yet nothing has. Which is a shame, you would think there would be some contenders out there. Thanks for your input

Tony

#13Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 20:54.

What about Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition 3.2 ? Any opinions anyone?
It's free. http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopalbum/starter.html

"Find any photo in a snap with automatic organization that lets you view all of your digital photos in one place using a familiar calendar view.

Fix common photo flaws — like red eye, color, and brightness — in a single click.

Easily share your memories! Attach photos to e-mail, send them to mobile phones or easily create a CD. Make your own prints, or order prints, photo books, and more online."

deemarie

#14Submitted by tony on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 23:12.

Hi, I constantly look at the ones I have chosen and O keep coming back to them as they are 'Organisers'. Thats the key word and yes I have the Adobe Photoshop Album starter on my list to keep looking at. My list is a massive list and as things change I re-examin the software each time. Thank you for your input

Tony

#15Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/07/2009 - 13:50.

I've got Picasa 3 but from what I can tell it can't actually resort the photos on my hard drive automatically (into, say, folders for years and months).

Can anyone recommend a good simple program to do this? Thanks a lot in advance.

#16Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 02/21/2009 - 21:25.

Try Amok Exif Sorter 2.5.2 This will rename and sort into folders to criteria that you specify. I'm using it at the moment to sort 10000+ photos.

www.amok.am/en/freeware/amok_exif_sorter

#17Submitted by peter on Sun, 02/22/2009 - 08:16.

Your link doesn't work, for me.

#18Submitted by Anupam on Sun, 02/22/2009 - 11:13.

This should work:

http://amok.am/de/freeware/amok_exif_sorter/

Anupam Shriwatri, India

#19Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 05:53.

Take a look at My Photo Indexer. Haven't used it. I, too, am still looking.

#20Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 01/16/2009 - 17:46.

Fastone (reviewed on this site) - http://www.faststone.org/ does an amazing job of this.
Here's a quick outline of how to do it (from memory so forgive any small inaccuracies!)

1 - file / download images (this brings up a new box)
2 - select the source folder as where your images are (my documents\images for example)
3 - set the new location (my documents\sorted for example)
4 - choose the sorting mechanism (yy/mm/day gives 2009/01/30 for example)
5 - you can rename the files as well (consecutive 3-digit number = ### for example)

The when you click go, it'll show a preview window first telling you what changes will be made - you confirm this, it goes away and does it, and then asks if you'd like to delete the originals.

Works like a charm every time
Good luck, James

#21Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 04/10/2009 - 04:04.

Used Faststone Imageviewer for years now... Love it...
Used ACDSee years ago, but they got too big, and I had to pay to much.

#22Submitted by tony on Thu, 01/08/2009 - 17:23.

Picassa has a time line data system that should help you, providing the EXIF info hasn't been deleted or changed

Tony

#23Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/18/2008 - 17:02.

According to Picasa3's website (12-18-08)

System Requirements:
Windows XP/Vista or Linux
256MB RAM
100MB available hard disk space
----------------------------------
not as tony states -
95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista
300MHz Pentium with 128MB memory or better

QUESTION: WILL IT STILL RUN WITH WINDOWS 2000 ?
I don't see any older Picasa versions offered.

How old is tony's review?

#24Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/18/2008 - 17:18.

Disregard my above post. I found it.
http://picasa.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=26902&topic=1042

Use the following links to download the version of Picasa specific to your operating system:

Windows 98 and ME: http://dl.google.com/picasa/picasa2-setup-1884.exe
Windows 2000: http://dl.google.com/picasa/picasaweb-current-setup.exe

We don't offer Picasa for Windows 95 or NT.

#25Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 16:02.

Does picassa really support 95/98. i tried installing it and it gave an error. missing export in kernel.dll.?

#26Submitted by tony on Fri, 12/05/2008 - 08:16.

It states it does support 95/98. If there is a missing .dll here is a link that might help
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?kernel32
Tony

#27Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 07:12.

Any software that would make a nice slideshow with zoom in/out, fades and background music?

#28Submitted by tony on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 08:21.

I should put your comment in the forum. But try Windows Movie Maker or look here http://www.photo-freeware.net/.

#29Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 10/27/2008 - 08:44.

Check out 'FastStone image viewer' at http://www.faststone.org/index.htm
I think it is superior to Picasa.

#30Submitted by tony on Mon, 10/27/2008 - 09:46.

Fastone comes into the category of image views not organiser. Being an Xnviewer fan thats my number one for a image viewer. But its great that we have the choice for our personal needs and they are free

Tony

#31Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 08:41.

Picasa 3 is now available, and is an excellent product - now includes a really cool image viewer the displays your JPEGs on double-click.
http://picasa.google.com/

#32Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/15/2008 - 22:31.

How about Corel SnapFire, its pretty good.

#33Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 02:38.

Where does Windows Photo Gallery fit in the scheme of things?

#34Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 14:58.

I use Windows Live Gallery, having tried picassa, Adobe album starter and others.

My main criteria was that if I tag a photo I want that tag to stay with the photo and not in a seperate database because if for some reason that database is lost all my hard work is too.

With live gallery I can view and tag photos on any of my pcs and the tags are immediatly viewable from the rest.

#35Submitted by tony on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 06:45.

Hi, at the time when I did this it didn't. I have to review this as there has been several changes to the software and other softwares.

Tony

#36Submitted by tony on Wed, 09/24/2008 - 19:08.

I have reviewed Windows Gallery and it hasn't changed my mind. Picasa is a far superior product. When viewing images they were BLUE compared with XnView which was perfect. Windows Gallery has a long way to go to get my vote.

Tony

#37Submitted by syntax_error on Sun, 09/14/2008 - 10:23.

Thanks Tony, look forward to it. One nice touch is that tags are shared between Windows Explorer and Photo Gallery.

#38Submitted by syntax_error on Wed, 10/01/2008 - 01:52.

Thanks for the update re Photo Gallery/Picasa, looks like Picasa it is. I see v3 is in beta. so Picasa may become a better editing tools as well.

#39Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 06:55.

try xnview at http://www.xnview.com/
veru nice too...

#40Submitted by tony on Wed, 09/03/2008 - 17:29.

I use XnView for all my images and its the best on the market, but its not an organiser. XnView is in http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-digital-image-viewer.htm.

Tony

#41Submitted by tony on Mon, 06/16/2008 - 08:57.

Just a note to those who may have lost their camera check this site out

http://www.ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com/

It show the images you have taken with your camera and all you do is check it out to see if yours is there.

Tony

#42Submitted by jason on Thu, 05/22/2008 - 23:46.

Also handy to have in your toolbox for sorting your digital photo archives - visipics

Visipics - Main page

Visipics goes beyond identifying identifying identical (duplicate) files, but will also identify very similar files too.

Screenshots

#43Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 00:05.

I personally don't like Picasa but agree with Tony that PhotoMeister is very good. PhotoMeister even opens pictures you want to edit in your favorite image editor. See the link in Tony's posting.

#44Submitted by tony on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 22:26.

Pictomio requires a certain standard of graphics card, so I have been unable to assess this software. I have tried several other organisers, but nothing has made me change the list as yet.

Tony

#45Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 08:10.

try pictomio... good photo organiser.. free.. good looking also....!!

http://www.pictomio.com

#46Submitted by tony on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 17:09.

Windows live is a very good organiser etc.  Take a look at PhotoMeister as well

www.photo-freeware.net/photomeister.php

Another excellent organiser, but a good basic photo editor as well

 

Tony

#47Submitted by hotdigitaldog on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 23:22.

Windows Live Photo Gallery is also excellent as a viewer, editor (including one-click fix), slideshow and panorama creator. The facility to upload to Flickr is very useful also, and the autosave feature is great. Get it free here

#48Submitted by ak47wong on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 02:54.

Another vote for Windows Live Photo Gallery! It's especially good if you run Vista as it integrates well with the OS and is based around the same metadata that's accessible in Windows Explorer.

#49Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 17:19.

Yeah, WLPG is much better than Picasa, esp. for someone who's afraid of organizing photos.