How do you organize your content?

[TeriBeary]

I've got it all by kit name but am wondering how to organize by designer. I can always just search but am wondering if I should do something more sophisticated.

[ColleenSwerb]

You'll find about 483902 threads on organization in this forum, lol. It's an often asked question with a TON of different answers.

It depends on how you scrap. I'm a kit scrapper, which means I rarely go outside of a kit to create a layout or project. Some people are more "random" and will pull things from a ton of different kits to create their layout. So how you scrap has a big effect on how you organize (or should organize).

Since I'm a kit scrapper who rarely shops outside of SSD, I have a store folder for SSD, and each designer has a folder within that. Inside each designer folder I usually have a Kits folder (for kits), and a Misc folder (for anything else, like templates or element packs). I have an alpha obsession, so ALL of my alphas are in one big main SSD Alpha folder.

[TeriBeary]

Oh yeah - I didn't think of searching. Thanks for the reminder!

[Gemma]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

Since I'm a kit scrapper who rarely shops outside of SSD, I have a store folder for SSD, and each designer has a folder within that. Inside each designer folder I usually have a Kits folder (for kits), and a Misc folder (for anything else, like templates or element packs). I have an alpha obsession, so ALL of my alphas are in one big main SSD Alpha folder.

This. Apart from the templates, I have a total different folder for them, and I have sub folders with the template designers names!

It works good enough for me!

[Becki]

I am NOT a kit scrapper, so I have folders for papers, alphas, fasteners, etc.

[Becster]

My main folders are named for the site where I got the kits/elements/etc. I worry about not crediting properly so this seemed to be the best way to start. Of course, now I have a folder where I copied my favorite 'frames' since I love to use frames. LOL

[Sweets2005]

Originally Posted by Becki

I am NOT a kit scrapper, so I have folders for papers, alphas, fasteners, etc.

I'm thinking of doing this, too. I don't really go by kits, either. Although, I have and do occassionally. But I like your method better than keeping by kits because sometimes I just want an orange fastener (or whatever) and have to sort through everything I have to find one! Of course, maybe once I scrap more (since I am new to digi), I will know what I have quicker...

I have spent more time "organizing" my stuff than actually scraping, I think!

[letumom]

Originally Posted by Becster

My main folders are named for the site where I got the kits/elements/etc. I worry about not crediting properly so this seemed to be the best way to start.

This is where I started, then by designer, unless I buy a special kit (like the SSD QA's which have their own folder), then by each kit within the designer's folder.

So far I have not created special folders for sketches and templates, but I'm fast considering that concept. Right now, these "tools" are lost among the designers folders, except Cindy's since that is all she provides. This may be my next step.

And I don't general just scrap by kit - but before closing down a design, I note all of the kits used so that I can credit the designers properly. It can sometimes take a bit of time for this process.

[Becster]

I may end up doing that as well. I've amassed so much now that I can never remember where anything is.

[AmberK]

I learned a LOOOONG time ago that taking everything out of a kit and putting in its own folder was so hard when it came time to credit a designer- especially if the designer didnt put their name on each individual paper, element, etc. I orgaznize everything through ACDsee so it allows me to leave my original folders in tact and just tag it to different folders. I usually have my stuff like this:

Sweet Shoppe Designs
Desiger name
Kit Name
Alphas

If a kit comes in tons of folders when I unzip then everything except alphas go in the main kit folder then the folder with the alpha stays in the main kit folder. With ACDSee I have a folder just for alphas and I tag all my alphas in ACDSee wo when I want an alpha I just go look at the alpha folder within ACDSee and everything pulls up. Same for templates too.

[AlliJ2008]

Pretty much ditto what everyone else said...I think a lot of it depends on how you scrap. I usually keep everything in a folder for the store where I got it then by designer. It helps a ton with the credits.