Personal Image Collections:
Organizational Software
Fall, 2008
Julia Simic
University of Oregon
Software by Rating
Rating Product Name
(of 5)
5
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2
Platform
Learning Curve License/Price More information
4.5
XnView
4.5
GraphicConverter
Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS Medium
10.4 and up
Windows, others (Mac
Medium
platform in alpha)
Mac 8.6 and up
Medium
$299
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/
Free
http://www.xnview.com/
$34.95
http://www.lemkesoft.com/
4.5
Aperture 2
Mac OS 10.4.11 and up
$199
http://www.apple.com/aperture/
Bundled
$129
$199
http://www.adobe.com/
http://www.idimager.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/Expression/
$599
http://www.fotoware.com/Products/FotoStationPro/
Bundled
Free
Free
$150
http://www.adobe.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/tools.aspx
http://www.itagsoftware.com/index.php
http://www.camerabits.com/site/brochure.html
2
Windows, Mac
Easy-Medium
Windows ??
Medium-Hard
Windows XP, Vista, Mac 10.4 Medium
and up
FotoStation Pro 6.0
Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS Medium
10.4.6 and up
Adobe Bridge CS2
Windows, Mac
Easy-Medium
Microsoft Pro Photo Tools v. 1.0 Windows XP, Vista
Easy
iTag
Windows
Easy
Photo Mechanic v. 4.5.3.2
Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS Medium
10.3.9 or up
Picassa 3
Windows XP, Vista
Medium
Free
http://picasa.google.com/
2
2
iPhoto '08
Jetphoto Studio Pro
2
2
2
2
4
4
4
4
3.5
3
3
3
1.5
1
Medium-Hard
Adobe Bridge CS3
IDimager Professional v. 4
iView/MS Expression Media 2
Medium
Medium
Bundled
$25
http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/
http://www.jetphotosoft.com/web/home/
METAmachine
ThumbsPlus 7 Standard
MediaDex Standard
Mac
Windows 2K, XP, Vista, Mac
OS 10.3.9 or 10.4
Mac OSX
Windows 2000 and up
Windows, Mac
Easy
Medium-Hard
Medium
$49
$49.95
$49.95
http://hsltd.us/metamachine/metamachine.html
http://www.cerious.com/
http://mediadex.com/us/index.htm
Caption Edit
Windows 98-XP
Medium
$49.95
http://www.captionedit.com/
Mapivi
Windows 95-XP, OSX and
others
Windows, Mac OS 10.4,
Linux
Easy
Free
http://mapivi.sourceforge.net/mapivi.shtml
Hard
Free
http://bluemarine.tidalwave.it/
BlueMarine
Software by Price
Rating Product Name
(of 5)
4.5 XnView
Platform
Learning Curve
License/Price More information
Windows, others (Mac
platform in alpha)
Windows
Medium
Free
http://www.xnview.com/
Easy
Free
http://www.itagsoftware.com/index.php
Easy
Medium
Easy
Free
Free
Free
http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/tools.aspx
http://picasa.google.com/
http://mapivi.sourceforge.net/mapivi.shtml
1
Microsoft Pro Photo Tools v. 1.0 Windows XP, Vista
Picassa 3
Windows XP, Vista
Mapivi
Windows 95-XP, OSX and
others
BlueMarine
Windows, Mac OS 10.4, Linux
Hard
Free
http://bluemarine.tidalwave.it/
4
Adobe Bridge CS3
Windows, Mac
Easy-Medium
Bundled
http://www.adobe.com/
3.5
Adobe Bridge CS2
Windows, Mac
Easy-Medium
Bundled
http://www.adobe.com/
2
iPhoto '08
Mac
Medium
Bundled
http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/
2
Jetphoto Studio Pro
Windows 2K, XP, Vista, Mac
OS 10.3.9 or 10.4
Medium
$25
http://www.jetphotosoft.com/
GraphicConverter
Mac 8.6 and up
Medium
$34.95
http://www.lemkesoft.com/
2
2
METAmachine
ThumbsPlus 7 Standard
Mac OSX
Windows 2000 and up
Easy
Medium-Hard
$49
$49.95
http://hsltd.us/metamachine/metamachine.html
http://www.cerious.com/
2
MediaDex Standard
Windows, Mac
Medium
$49.95
http://mediadex.com/us/index.htm
2
Caption Edit
Windows 98-XP
Medium
$49.95
http://www.captionedit.com/
4
IDimager Professional v. 4
Windows ??
Medium-Hard
$129
http://www.idimager.com/
3
Photo Mechanic v. 4.5.3.2
Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS
10.3.9 or up
medium
$150
http://www.camerabits.com/site/brochure.html
Aperture 2
Mac OS 10.4.11 and up
Medium-Hard
$199
http://www.apple.com/aperture/whatisaperture/
4
iView/MS Expression Media 2
Windows XP, Vista, Mac 10.4 Medium
and up
$199
http://www.microsoft.com/Expression/
5
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2
Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS
10.4 and up
Medium
$299
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/
4
FotoStation Pro 6.0
Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS
10.4.6 and up
Medium
$599
http://www.fotoware.com/Products/FotoStationPro/
3
3
2
1.5
4.5
4.5
iTag
Windows only software
• Caption Edit
• IDimager Professional v. 4
• iTag
• Microsoft Pro Photo Tools v. 1.0
• Picassa 3
• ThumbsPlus 7 Standard
• XnView
Caption Edit
Rating: 2
Platform: Windows 98 through XP
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC
Metadata types write: some IPTC
Image file formats: JPEG, TIFF, NEF, CRW, ORF, PSD, PSP
Features: Very basic image correction, Batch file renaming, Metadata templates;
Import and export IPTC; Print contact sheets; Slide show
Notes: Very basic
More information: http://www.captionedit.com
Price: $49.95
Learning curve: Medium
IDimager Professional v. 4
Rating: 2
Platform: Windows ??
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, XMP, GPS
Metadata types write: some IPTC
Image file formats: JPEG, TIFF, NEF, CRW, ORF, PSD, PSP
Features: Relational labels, Light table feature (limit 30 images at a time); Searching by
filename, labels, EXIF and query building; Filter sorting; Batch image processing; GPS
through Google; Burning ROM; Template web publishing
Notes: Took a bit of time to figure out; Portfolio-based
More information: http://www.idimager.com/
Price: $129
Learning curve: Medium-Hard
iTag
Rating: 3
Platform: Windows
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, GPS
Metadata types write: some IPTC
Image file formats: JPEG, RAW, AVI
Features: Basic search by index, GPS data through Google
Notes: Need to create index for search once; Limited fields--title, description, tags;
XMP only for Raw and AVI; Requires MS .Net Framework Client installation (took
forever and needed a restart); No online help
More information: http://www.itagsoftware.com/
Price: Free
Learning curve: Easy
MS Pro Photo Tools v. 1.0
Rating: 3
Platform: Windows XP, Vista
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, GPS
Metadata types write: some IPTC, GPS
Image file formats: RAW, TIF, JPEG
Features: GPS data through MS online service (free)
Notes: No searching; Editing limited to "most common" fields in EXIF, IPTC; Stand
alone program (no longer integrated into Windows); 6.3 MB download from MS site;
More information: http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/tools.aspx
Price: Free (Windows validation required)
Learning curve: Easy
Picassa 3
Rating: 2
Platform: Windows XP, Vista
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, GPS
Metadata types write: some IPTC, GPS
Image file formats: JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, PSD, TIF, AVI, MPG, WMV, ASF, MOV, RAW
Features: GPS data through Google; Web album sync; Good image correction
features; Movie editing; Watermarking; Captioning; Formats include camera RAW
from Canon, Nikon, Kodak, Minolta and Pentax
Notes: Only caption and keyword IPTC writing available; Constant search of HD
More information: http://picasa.google.com/#utm_source=en-allmore&utm_campaign=en-pic&utm_medium=et
Price: Free
Learning curve: Medium
ThumbPlus 7 Standard
Rating: 2
Platform: Windows 2000 and up
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC
Metadata types write: some IPTC
Image file formats: 100+ See Notes
Features: 16 bit per channel editing; Comprehensive image batching; Many print
options; Slide show; Color profile assignment of scanners; Watermarking; Web Page
Wizard; Batch IPTC editing; ODBC db support; User-defined categories; Good image
editing; Can run in background
Notes: Keyword editing only; Sort options limited; Some interface customization; List
of formats supported: http://www.cerious.com/formats.shtml
More information: http://www.cerious.com/
Price: $49.95
Learning curve: Medium-Hard
XnView
Rating: 4.5
Platform: Windows, others (Mac version in alpha)
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: 400+ Read, 50+ Write. See Notes
Features: Full IPTC editing; Animation support; Good image editing; Slide show;
Batch convert and file renaming; Contact sheets; Web page creation;
Notes: Limited searching capabilities; Very versatile; lots of features; every bit at good
as Adobe Bridge; only one IOTC or EXIF field can be search at a time; Formats
Read/Write: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/pierre.g/xnview/enformats.html;
Recommended!!
More information: http://www.xnview.com/
Price: Free
Learning curve: Medium
Mac only software
• Aperture 2
• GraphicConverter
• iPhoto ‘08
• METAmachine
Aperture 2
Rating: 4.5
Platform: Mac OS 10.4.11 and up
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: GIF, JPEG, JP2, PNG, PSD, RAW, TIF
Features: Full IPTC editing, Metadata presets, Full photo editing features, Loupe
feature, Batch change function; Stacks; Web gallery function; Many camera RAW
formats supported; 16 bit per channel editing; Slide show; Burning ROM
Notes: Robust; Nice photo editing; Project-based; Resource heavy; Requires serial
number for trial;
More information: http://www.apple.com/aperture/
Price: $199
Learning curve: Medium-Hard
GraphicConverter
Rating: 4.5
Platform: Mac OS 8.6 and up
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, XMP
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: 200+ Read, 80+ Write formats. See Notes
Features: Full IPTC editing, Batch conversion, Slide show; TWAIN interface; Decent
Photoshop-like image editing
Notes: Nice interface; fast importing; Formats supported:
http://lemkesoft.com/content/143/import-and-export-formats.html; Good for the
price—Recommend!!
More information: http://www.lemkesoft.com/
Price: $34.95
Learning curve: Medium
iPhoto ‘08
Rating: 4.5
Platform: Mac OS 10
Metdata types read: IPTC
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: Most still image and some camera RAW
Features: Grouping by albums or imports; Basic photo editing
Notes: Limited searching (title, description, keyword, rating, date at one time),
Keywords, description only;
More information: http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/
Price: Bundled with iLife
Learning curve: Medium
METAmachine
Rating: 2
Platform: Mac OS 10
Metdata types read: IPTC, XMP
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: JPEG, TIFF, PSD, DNG
Features: Drag and drop interface; Full IPTC editing
Notes: Ran slow with large images; No search functions; Expensive for what you get
More information: http://hsltd.us/metamachine/metamachine.html
Price: $49
Learning curve: Easy
Cross-platform software
• Adobe Bridge CS2 and CS3
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2
• BlueMarine
• FotoStation Pro 6.0
• iView Media Pro/MS Expression Media 2
• Jetphoto Studio Pro
• Mapivi
• MediaDex Standard
• Photo Mechanic v. 4.5.3.2
Adobe Bridge CS2 and CS3
Rating: 3.5/4
Platform: Windows, Mac
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC; CS3 only: GPS, Camera RAW, DICOM
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: Most still images and camera RAW
Features: Drag and drop sorting; metadata batching; CS3: Metadata templates,
loupe feature; Customizable interface
Notes: CS2: Searches limited to certain fields; searching by rating; EXIF read only;
resource heavy; instability;
CS3: Filter panel searching; EXIF, GPS read only; very little photo editing;
resource heavy
More information: http://www.adobe.com/
Price: Bundled with most Adobe products
Learning curve: Easy-Medium
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2
Rating: 5
Platform: Windows XP, Vista, Mac 10.4 and up
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, XMP
Metadata types write: Full IPTC, some EXIF
Image file formats:
Features: Multiple fields searching (by filters); Batch renaming; Metadata
Templates; Photo retouching; Comparison views; Mouse-over previews; Highly
customizable interface; Slide show
Notes: Metadata filter searching by date, camera, lens, label, flags, ratings, colors,
copy status and text simultaneously; create full slideshow inside program (incl. text)
to export as pdfs or jpegs; full help; resource heavy; some options while importing;
catalog driven; Sweet!!!
More information:
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/?promoid=DJDWV
Price: $299
Learning curve: Medium
BlueMarine
Rating: 1
Platform: Windows, Mac 10.4 and up, Linux
Metdata types read:
Metadata types write:
Image file formats:
Features: in development/ beta
Notes: No help; Not many auto settings--had to build thumbs, had to refresh to get it
to see images in the folder; Worth keeping an eye on
More information: http://bluemarine.tidalwave.it/
Price: Free
Learning curve: Hard
FotoStation Pro 6.0
Rating: 4
Platform: Windows XP, Vista, Mac 10.4 and up
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, XMP
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats:
Features: Custom metadata fields; Very nice multi-field searching; Metadata
templates;
Notes: Professional-grade data mining; Some auto-feature options on import; Slow to
start; Expensive
More information: http://www.fotoware.com/Products/FotoStationPro/
Price: $599
Learning curve: Medium
iView/MS Expression Media 2
Rating: 4
Platform: Windows XP, Vista, Mac 10.4 and up
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, XMP, GPS
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: Most still image and some video
Features: Full IPTC editing + people, keywords, categories, scenes, caption and
subjects custom; Basic photo editing; Drag and drop interface; Burning ROM;
Workflow automation; Slide show; Web galleries; Light table
Notes: No advanced search options!; Full help; Expression Media Reader (free) to
read catalogs without software;
More information:
http://www.microsoft.com/Expression/products/overview.aspx?key=media
Price: $199
Learning curve: Medium
Jetphoto Sudio Pro
Rating: 2
Platform: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Mac 10.3.9, 10.4
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, GPS
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: JPEG only, converts TIFF, PSD, PNG to JPEG
Features: Drag and drop folders into albums; GPS through Google; Flash and Web
galleries
Notes: No searching—sorting only; JPEGs only; Limited IPTC editing, keywords and
notes only; Basic photo editing; Nice interface
More information: http://www.jetphotosoft.com/
Price: $25
Learning curve: Medium
Mapivi
Rating: 1.5
Platform: Windows 95-XP, Mac 10
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: JPEG
Features: Drag and drop folders into albums; GPS through Google; Browse by
location, keyword, time and tag cloud
Notes: Not many options other than sorting--searching very primitive and not
particularly effective; Slowish; No installation
More information: http://mapivi.sourceforge.net/mapivi.shtml
Price: Free
Learning curve: Easy
MediaDex Standard
Rating: 2
Platform: Windows, Mac
Metdata types read: EXIF, XMP, IPTC/APNA Binary
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: Most still images, PDF, DOC, and some video
Features: Metadata templates; Saved searches; Catalog based; Batch conversion,
renaming and editing; Customizable interface; Duplicates detection; Slide show;
Web albums; Color managment
Notes: Did not read all EXIF metadata?; Slow and unresponsive; Manually load images
into catalog;
More information: http://mediadex.com/us/index.htm
Price: $49.95
Learning curve: Medium
Photo Mechanic v. 4.5.3.2
Rating: 3
Platform: Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS 10.3.9 and up
Metdata types read: EXIF, IPTC, XMP, GPS
Metadata types write: Full IPTC
Image file formats: BMP, TIF, GIF, JPEG, PSD, PICT, PNG, TGA and some RAW and movies
Features: Simple searching across all fields; Stationary Pad; Web galleries; Contact
sheets; Burning ROM; Structured keywords; Ratings; Watermarking; Metadata
batching
Notes: Limited IPTC editing; EXIF date and time editing only; Very basic photo editing
More information: http://www.camerabits.com/site/brochure.html
Price: $150
Learning curve: Medium