Being efficient and organized

drummerboy678

drummerboy678

Well-known member
Hey guys,

I hope this thread makes sense, but I'm organizing the folders on my hard drive, and I'm trying to find the best way to set them up. I've gone back and forth, but I figured I'd ask people here, especially those who do special FX or graphics work as well.

Hope this makes sense... Do you setup your folders for the type (exentsion) of file, or for each individual project?

Based on file extension:
Ex:

C:/
---.psd
------titles
------logos
------graphics
---.avi
------captured footage
---.jpgs
------source imagse
------renders
---.tiffs
---.bmps
---.doc
------essays
------scripts
------resumes
---.aex (after effects files)
---.mb (maya files)



Or, do you setup seperate folders per project:
Ex:

C:/
---drugs_documentary
------captured footage
------.psd
---------.mattes
---------.titles
------.premiere files
---------.rendered audio
---------.rendered video
---------.project files
------final exports

---public_service_announcement
------captured footage
------.psd
---------.mattes
---------.titles
------.premiere files
---------.rendered audio
---------.rendered video
---------.project files
------.aex files
------final exports

---short_film
------captured footage
------.psd
---------.mattes
---------.titles
------.premiere files
---------.rendered audio
---------.rendered video
---------.project files
------audio
---------.mp3
---------.wav
------final exports


The advantage to the first way, is that if you ever find any files on your computer, you just look at the extension, and move it to the correct folder (photoshop files go into the .psd folder, maya files to go into the .mb folder).

The advantage to the second way, is if a client wants the files, they're all located in one folder, which can be burned on a DVD or sent to a flash drive.

Or is there a third/fourth, extremely effective way?

Hope this doesn't sound pointless, but just curious as to how your drives are organized... I've done both, and each has its pros and cons. As I get more projects coming, I want the setup to be as effecient as possible.

Thanks,
Taylor
 
Video. Stills. Renders. Music. Sounds.

Edit: I should point out that those are the subfolders I have in my project folder (named for the project). I keep the project files (for Vegas, AE, or whatever I'm using) in the project folder next to the subfolders.
 
Ah, ok... thats what I was looking for. I'd like to do it on a 'per project basis', have a seperate folder for each one... but then I always end up with random files without folders to put them in.

Anyone else?
 
There are base categories for projects: Audio, Assets (Stills), Misc (Other), Video, Renders, DVD, Sfx... pretty much the standars.

You can even partition to more base levels like Clients ( D: ), Software( C: )... it is how organized you want your stuff.

Breaking it to extensions it doesn't work.

And of course the biggest point is: "Always name your files with an appropriate matching file name".

So if 2 years ago you made a PSD poster artwork with Joe in it biting an apple and you had name it "JoeBitesApplePoster.psd" then you can easily find it by searching either "*Apple*.psd" or "Joe*apple*.psd"...
 
I have one all purpose "folder" on my desktop

its called "stuff"

its a highly complex and evovled system I got worked out.... took years and years of planning and strategic execution
 
By having EVERYTHING pertaining to a project under one master folder, it is very easy to back-up and make archival copies of.

- Mikko
 
You could keep media separate for easier, smaller backups of project data ...

../projects/[project]/...
../media/projects/[project]/video
 
mikkowilson said:
By having EVERYTHING pertaining to a project under one master folder, it is very easy to back-up and make archival copies of.

- Mikko
Click to expand...

Which is very important. You may not NEED the backup most of the time, but the one time you do makes the entire effort worth it.
 
I just throw everything into a folder an a per project basis. and most of my stuff is always on the desktop (because, I 'm too lazy to go look for it).

I find that this messy way of doing things is actually faster, sure it looks like a mess, but its my mess and I know exactly where *I dropped my pants (over there in the pile of socks)* :)
 
This is my tree of folders for a project:

main folder: Projects
subfolders: Clients or Client name
Client subfolders: Audio/Music(different from audio)/Images/Captures/Renders/Final Renders/CC Renders/After Effects/Photoshop/NLE/Cumbustion/3D/ and whatever other program I use.

I like to be able to go right into the folders and find what I'm looking for.
 
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