Creating Contact Sheets

Cantfeelmyfingers

*Mods: Sorry if this is in the wrong Forum!*

Here's what I want:
- 8x10 contact sheets
- Around 100 or so images per sheet
- I can try to print at home OR send to a local lab and just print cheap 8x10's
- OR does anyone know of a better way to get them printed?

Here's my issue:
- I have about 120 Disks or so FULL of photographs (most with 100+ images)
- The images are all on disks NOT on my computer anymore
- I use iPhoto
- I also have Elements 4 (blahh)
- Every time I create a contact sheet (which I've figured out how to do) a) it takes forever to load all the images, so I'm trying to use the 'web size' files instead of the full-res files so it wont take as long to load b) because it takes so long, and my 'puter isn't fantastic, for instance I just tried to make one in PSE4 and it shut down on me :dunno

I'm getting so flustered, 'cause it's a HUGE pain to figure out what image is where, yada-yada-yada... I am also trying to get get the images on to my external HD... Which is slowly but surely getting done. BUT my concern right now is these darn contact sheets. ANY suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks for reading the rant! - Jamie

Photobycate

I use a free program called www.irfanview.com You can create contact sheets pretty quickly using this program. It's free to download and use. I use this feature to create contact sheets to send to the Copy Write Office and also so add my copywrite statement to the IPTC fields (all lossless.)
I hope this helps.

Cantfeelmyfingers wrote:

*Mods: Sorry if this is in the wrong Forum!*

Here's what I want:
- 8x10 contact sheets
- Around 100 or so images per sheet
- I can try to print at home OR send to a local lab and just print cheap 8x10's
- OR does anyone know of a better way to get them printed?

Here's my issue:
- I have about 120 Disks or so FULL of photographs (most with 100+ images)
- The images are all on disks NOT on my computer anymore
- I use iPhoto
- I also have Elements 4 (blahh)
- Every time I create a contact sheet (which I've figured out how to do) a) it takes forever to load all the images, so I'm trying to use the 'web size' files instead of the full-res files so it wont take as long to load b) because it takes so long, and my 'puter isn't fantastic, for instance I just tried to make one in PSE4 and it shut down on me

I'm getting so flustered, 'cause it's a HUGE pain to figure out what image is where, yada-yada-yada... I am also trying to get get the images on to my external HD... Which is slowly but surely getting done. BUT my concern right now is these darn contact sheets. ANY suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks for reading the rant! - Jamie

swintonphoto

The full version of Photoshop has a built in contact sheet creator. It's under FILE > AUTOMATE > CONTACT SHEET II
From there you can control the size, number of images etc. Just have them output as a jpg and get them printed.

Could be a good excuse to upgrade:D

dangin

if you used a PC, i'd recommend a freeware program called "contact sheets" it can be found on the creator's website at: http://www.echoimages.com

i would advise against putting 100 images on a single contact sheet; they'd be tiny and useless imo. for an 8x10, about 30 (6 rows x 5 columns) tends to work out very nicely.

although, it sounds like you seriously need some more storage. i suggest the 1TB WD My Book Studio Edition external hard drive. presuming you have a mac based on the fact you use iphoto, you might be able to take advantage of the firewire connection which would would make accessing the files speedier than on a USB connection. i have one and highly recommend it.