[Leica] slide scanner/data base

[locke at straylight.ca (Greg Locke)]

OK,  here is the scoop on "database" for images.

You need a software that is compatible with IPTC  (International press
Telecommunication Committee).
This is the database field standard used by all news and photo agencies to
record the captions and other meta data stored with image which allows them
to be easily found doing key word searches.

There are many cheap (and free) image database and thumb nail viewer
software that are IPTC compliant.
Many are very expensive also but here are the cheap solutions.

Photoshop 3.05 or later FILE INFO section is an IPTC compliant meta data
editor and database.(but no search ability)

Nikon View 6 that comes with most Nikon digital cameras has an IPTC editor
AND is searchable. It's free to download from Nikon websites.

http://www.iview-multimedia.com/products/media/index.php  $49.99

http://www.camerabits.com/  $150.00  but well worth it.

http://www.fototrafix.com/Product.html  $500 but the real deal

http://www.fotostation.com/  This is an established pro software $99

IPTC database standard is available at http://www.iptc.org

The great thing about all this is that once you enter the data in standard
format ANYONE at any agency or with any program that is IPTC complincae can
search and read the data you stored with your image.  It's always in the
same place regardless of platform, operating system or even application.


A good program will give you thumbnails and function to enter and edit
Caption and other database fields (date, place photog, etc) all called meta
data.
It will also allow you a word search for the information stored in that
data.
Needless to say, the data and caption you enter will decide how good your
database is and how well the search capability works.

Many of these products (cheap and expensive) can be found at
www.robgalbraith.com
There are also discussion forums where you can ask just about anything to do
with these software packages.

I use a combination of Nikon View 6.0 and a custom browser/interface with an
MS access database compiled to IPTC standard. 

Good luck... Ain't technology GRAND!!!



Greg Locke
St. John's, Newfoundland
www.greglocke.com
 ----JUST RELEASED-------
NEWFOUNDLAND ...journey into a lost nation
by Greg Locke and Michael Crummey
McClelland and Stewart
ISBN # 0-7710-6142-0