Downloading and renaming image files

[Brachytron]

My workflow starts with downloading my CR2 RAW files using Canon's ImageBrowser EX. I know this is not a great piece of software but one thing it did for me was to batch rename all my files with the date taken followed by a unique sequential number. I have now upgraded to Windows 10 and find that ImageBrowser is not compatible and Canon do not intend to make a new version. I would still like to be able to batch rename with the taken-on date, so does anyone know if other solutions are available to do this. Many thanks.

 

[Nawty]

Lightroom does this (and a number of other options), I'm sure most other 'proper' image software does too.

Do you do any PP? If so then Lightroom is well worth the money, if not then there must be other options, last time I looked at these things GIMP was a decent free option.

 

[john.margetts]

Gimp is very good but does not batch rename and does not work with RAW files. Will Windows not do batch rename? (Don't use Windows so don't know).

 

[BrynBoru]

Lightroom will provide a variety of numbering sequence systems which should more than meet most requirements. Furthermore it will provide you with the ability to add information to the metadata during downloading. It is features like this that make LR a superior asset manager compared to standard file managers such as Windows Explorer.

 

[Shanks]

If it's just batch renaming you need then I've been using 'Bulk Rename Utility' for years, a google search will give you the page. It's a tiny programme that does nothing else but does give you a wide range of options for renaming. You select the images, then set the format you want including incremental numbering etc.and it shows a how it would appear with the new format then, if you're happy it applies the changes. It works with all versions of windows and is free of charge for personal, private use, at home.

Of course this still leaves the image editing part to do and as others have mentioned LR will do both.

 

[DemiLion]

Faststone

 

[Brachytron]

Lightroom does this (and a number of other options), I'm sure most other 'proper' image software does too.

Do you do any PP? If so then Lightroom is well worth the money, if not then there must be other options, last time I looked at these things GIMP was a decent free option.

Thanks Ned.

I process RAW in Canon's DPP software as I find this suits me best, and gives better results than Lightroom, however I am also considering upgrading from PS Elements to PS CC which now comes with Lightroom as part of the Photographers package (£8.57 pm) so maybe I'll give it a go.

 

[Brachytron]

If it's just batch renaming you need then I've been using 'Bulk Rename Utility' for years, a google search will give you the page. It's a tiny programme that does nothing else but does give you a wide range of options for renaming. You select the images, then set the format you want including incremental numbering etc.and it shows a how it would appear with the new format then, if you're happy it applies the changes. It works with all versions of windows and is free of charge for personal, private use, at home.

Of course this still leaves the image editing part to do and as others have mentioned LR will do both.

Thanks @Shanks, sounds like a great option

Lightroom will provide a variety of numbering sequence systems which should more than meet most requirements. Furthermore it will provide you with the ability to add information to the metadata during downloading. It is features like this that make LR a superior asset manager compared to standard file managers such as Windows Explorer.

Thanks Peter, another +1 for Lightroom. I have previously avoided Lightroom simply because I prefer RAW conversion in DPP, so maybe I can use it for renaming and metadata control after all it's essentially free when you buy PhotoShop CC!

 

[ianp5a]

Digikam.org for batch import and batch just about anything, including tagging and a full thumbnail browser.

 

[john.margetts]

Digikam.org for batch import and batch just about anything, including tagging and a full thumbnail browser.

Digikam is excellent but I didn't realise it ran on Windows.

 

[ianp5a]

Apparently it used to. But if not, then it's definitely worth shedding some iffy OS for.

 

[Shadow]

Bulk Rename Utility allows the use of Taken date as part of the naming convention and anything else you can think of. I use it a lot and it has never failed me.