How do you organize your templates?

[NeverendingJen]

I admit it, I am a template whore. I loooove templates. My template folder is huge...and also a disaster. It takes me forever to find templates to use. How do you sort yours-by designer? by picture quantity? by style? I need some help!

[Darcy Baldwin]

I used to have mine dumped into one giant folder.

I'm now doing it by # of photos since that's always the first thing I look for. I can always alter a template to use more or less photos, but knowing that I always go in search of # of photos first, I've split mine up that way and it's helped me a lot.

[nun69]

I just have them organized by designer and whenI am looking for one I open Windows Photo gallery and then just look through them there and pickthe one I like

[adrianka]

I don't use templates much, so I just tag them "templates" and "2-pagers". But if I was using them regularly, I'd say it would be helpful to organize them according to the number of photos. That is the first thing I think about when looking for a template.

ETA: Just read the other replies, so - I agree with Darcy. :-)

[heathergw]

I have mine organized by number of photos, unless it's a CT template then I keep them all together in the designer's folder.

[Julie Billingsley]

I have taken all the previews and duplicated them into another folder. Then I just click through the previews until I find the one that I want. I keep the templates in their designer's folder.

[MissKim]

Mine go in a folder with the preview. The folder is named:

# of photos_template designer_template name

Then they go in one of 3 template folders. Cindy's style is so distinctive that she has her own folder. Then I have a folder for Cathy Zielske and Ali Edwards, because they are also very distinctive. The last folder is just for assorted templates.

When I'm going to use a template, I first decide which look I'm wanting. Then I choose a designer based on that, and then look for the number of photos. Because the folders are named with the number first, they're sorted within the designer folder by number of photos. It's so helpful.

[Sharon Kay]

Originally Posted by Jinkies

I also organize by # of photos.... 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7+

I also have template folders for hybrid, brag books and shapes.

This is how I do it as well ... although ... I have two sets of these ... the SSD templates are organized this way in the SSD folder ... then I also have a master template folder organized the same way (without SSD cookies in it) ... that way when something says I must use SSD cookies...I can find them quickly ... plus most of the time those are the ones I want to use anyway ...

[maryinaz]

I have folders for Cindy and Janet, then everything else thrown together in one folder. I LOVE the idea of organizing by # of pics, so I'll be doing that within the 3 folders.

[carriesmom]

I organize in Picasa so I have all my templates in a separate category. Then they are broken into categories by 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 or more photos. There is a special section for 2 pagers and templates. I can tell alot of template designers by site (Cindy Schneider's always pop out!). And that is about it.

[AmberK]

I need to re-organize my templates and am going to do it by # of photos.

Other than Cindy and Janet, who are your favorite template designers?

[NeverendingJen]

I think I'm going to go by designer and number of photos...because I have a huge folder of cindy temps, and one of traci temps, and one of darcy temps, and then a huge amount of SSD cookies. Anything has to be better than the current disaster I have going on.

[hollyxann]

I'm a template whore too don't worry. I'm such a junkie for them.
And mine have yet to be organized...lol.

[daisyprincess98]

I also organize mine by number of photos.

[jaylensmom]

i organize mine by designer but soon i plan to organize them by number of photos...i find that i have to search thru too many folders looking for templates with a specific number of photos...

[hmlentz]

I tag mine by how many photos except my higher option just says +5, they are all dumped into a template folder or in the store folder.

[jessica31876]

I really only use a few designers templates so I do it by designer.

[deepounds]

Originally Posted by NeverendingJen

I admit it, I am a template whore.

LOL! I have to echo your sentiments - I'm just now in the process of becoming one, but I get more "hooked" every day & I am so glad you asked this question! It's nice to hear from those folks with more experience. Up until now, I've organized mine by designer, but I really like the idea of doing it by the number of photos . . . that's definitely more how I look for what I want to use.

[eranslow]

Originally Posted by Julie Billingsley

I have taken all the previews and duplicated them into another folder. Then I just click through the previews until I find the one that I want. I keep the templates in their designer's folder.

This is exactly what I do.

[rach3975]

Originally Posted by Julie Billingsley

I have taken all the previews and duplicated them into another folder. Then I just click through the previews until I find the one that I want. I keep the templates in their designer's folder.

This is what I do. Previews are saved as designername_templatepack. That way I can see all a designer's templates together. It also makes my selection easier, since I mainly use templates by Cindy and 1 other designer.

[Sheriscraps]

Great idea to organize by #. I never thought of that before.

I keep them by desinger so I can credit them if I post a LO.

[littlekiwi]

organized by designer but I should also organize by number of photos

[pewtertm]

I have them in folders by the number of photos that each has, ie '1 photo', '2 photos', etc. Each template inside has the designer's name in the title. It's easier for me to find what I'm looking for that way.

[nesser1981]

Originally Posted by heathergw

I have mine organized by number of photos, unless it's a CT template then I keep them all together in the designer's folder.

Same for me.

[Randa]

I organize by # of pics also.....

Have a folder named "Template Previews" and in it are folders for 1 pic templates, 2 pic templates....9 pic templates, 10+ pic templates. In those are copies of the previews for each template or template set.
Then I can just go to my "All Templates" folder where I have the templates/sets organized by designer and can go directly to that designer and then to the template.

Works for me!!

[color of my heart]

Originally Posted by nun69

I just have them organized by designer and whenI am looking for one I open Windows Photo gallery and then just look through them there and pickthe one I like

i have my scrap stash organized by designer. but when i get my new computer and new EHD (hopefully this week... fingers are crossed), i'm gonna reorganize. it's currently a disaster since i had to copy over stuff to the laptop when the EHD i have started having issues, and now i have duplicates of some things.. it needs to be reorganized badly. so once i get my new computer, i'm gonna take the time to do it.

i love templates, i really do. so i plan on having a 'templates' folder, and then having them organized by designer. it's easier for credit that way, too.

[kristijoy]

Originally Posted by nun69

I just have them organized by designer and whenI am looking for one I open Windows Photo gallery and then just look through them there and pickthe one I like

Ditto! I have the TIFF's in the designers folder, but tagged: TEMPLATE. So I open photo Gallery and click on the TEMPLATE tag and poof there they all are. Since I'm looking at the TIFF's, I just right click "open in PSE" and there I go. I don't have to fish around for a folder. Love it.

[NikkiM]

Originally Posted by eranslow

This is exactly what I do.

that is a really good idea!!!

[kscwgirl]

I organize by designer, in a seperate template folder. I tried once organizing by # of photos and it drove me batty.

[schock77]

Originally Posted by maryinaz

I have folders for Cindy and Janet, then everything else thrown together in one folder. I LOVE the idea of organizing by # of pics, so I'll be doing that within the 3 folders.

Me too... and I think that's a great idea that I will do too. I desperately NEED to do this as I too am a template junkie and have so many to sort through!

[bellbird425]

Originally Posted by Julie Billingsley

I have taken all the previews and duplicated them into another folder. Then I just click through the previews until I find the one that I want. I keep the templates in their designer's folder.

now that's a fantastic idea - would make life so much easier!