This is how images are placed in the archive repository. The DAM term is Ingestion, or just simply getting the images into the archive. In order to add or import images to the archive one important piece of information needs to be known, that being the source folder of the imported images. The import work flow is the normal processing that an image taken on a digital camera needs to follow in order for it to be archived successfully. A number of steps are optional but leaving out them may make the operation of the archive less functional, but also lead to the being less secure.
The simple work flow
The simple flow of an image taken on a Digital camera in its simplest form is:
First it is created on the camera’s sensor when the photographer presses the shutter release button.
It is then transferred into the camera’s internal memory card.
The camera is connected to the computer, or the camera’s internal memory card is connected to the computer.
The archiving software reads the camera’s internal memory card and stores the images in the archive.
It can be as simple as that. By default ImgArchive will simply read the camera’s internal memory card once given its location and process the images in its default configuration adding the images into the archive.
This may be a camera connected by USB or a folder with images contained within it, or a folder on the computers hard drive. By default it will be the current folder iaarc.exe is run. For example: if the command line cmd.exe is open current images to be imported are in “My Pictures” then all the images in “My Pictures” will be imported.
The single stage work flow
The two stage work flow
Importing an image or images can be a two part process. The first part is to identify which images are to be imported. The second part is to import the images into the archive. In the simple work flow, ImgArchive carries out both parts automatically, however it may be preferable to split into two by using a journal file.
This will give you an option to reject images being imported into the archive at this early stage. The reason maybe that the image does not come up to standard for example may be out-of-focus or badly over-exposed.
The Journal file
The file contains all the images that you wish to import. Generating this file is done by identifying the images to be imported by scanning the folders that the image are contained. This file can be edited giving the option to delete or add images before importing.
Using the journal file
The Journal file can be used by the import command by passing it's path on the command line.
This information is obligatory. However this values can be found automatically using environment variables or placed in the main configuration file.
In addition, these are defaulted, meaning, If source folder cannot be found in the configuration file the archive will use the current directory, If archive folder cannot be found in the configuration file will use the platform default. for example, on a system running Windows the archive will be placed in the default Folder:
Customising the work flow
When the photographer presses the shutter release button, the image is created on the camera’s sensor,. it is then transferred into the camera’s internal memory. However, the camera will carry out some internal processing (such as making a JPG of the image and adding EXIF data) then outputting the image into the cameras memory card in the form of one or more image files.
This may be a single RAW image, a RAW and JPG image pair, or just a single JPG image; this will depend on the options selected in the camera. Possibly the best option when setting up the camera is to set it to RAW and jpg pair. This allows for a RAW (unprocessed) image and an image that is in a lossy universal format that 99.9% of the photographic tools can read and manipulate. If you are unlikely to manipulate the image to any large extent, then just use jpg format. Lastly if camera does not support the RAW and jpg pair and you need a lossless format then choose RAW? You will the need to create a viewable image like jpg from the RAW image so the image can be viewed by a standard file browser, this will also be the case if the images are to be shown in a web browser. This is normally carried out as part of the workflow.
These are the image files that you will see as the final image from the camera. Almost all cameras will store its captured images in a folder called DCIM. DCIM stands for Digital Camera IMages and is the first or root folder the camera will create. All most all camera manufactures will be using DCF. This is a specification which defines a file system for digital cameras; this includes the directory structure, file naming, the character set, file format and metadata. The file format of DCF conforms to the EXIF specification; however the DCF specification also allows use of any other file formats.
In the case of jpg, all most all will include EXIF information. The Only problem is in the case of RAW the EXIF information may be included in the RAW format but custom readers by the camera manufacturer.
The next stage is to transfer this image files on to the computer that will be used to store the images on a more permanent bases in to the archive.
The images on the camera may get on the computer that contains the archive through a number of routes. The first may be removing the memory card from the camera and putting it into a reader on the computer or attaching the camera to the commuter by plugging it in, or wirelessly connecting to it. In all most all cases the images will be seen to the computer as a folder of images. These images will be copied into the archive repository. This folder is the called the target folder. SIA will use this target folder as the source of all the new images to be added to the archive, all folders within this folder will be optionally searched for images.
Importing images into the Archive
This is the most common and most time consuming work flow a the set. The work flows common steps are as follows:
Copy images from camera
rename image file names
copy to master archive.
copy to backup one
copy to backup two
check the integrity of the image on the camera, the master archive and the two backups are identical.
erase images from camera (normally re-format camera card).