Importing, grouping, tagging (keywording), faces, events, places, albums, and finding. You might be finding them to do all those other functions but probably to edit them in the Editor. So, the Organizer is the logical place to start.

The Organizer is like a card catalog of your folder structure that is full of your images. Always change names, folders etc. from within the Organizer or it will get confused and you will get a headache fixing the problems.

Lightroom, the file system and even iPhoto can be used as your "organizing" tool if you set it up. The Bridge is the "organizer" that comes with the full version of Photoshop. It can also be used as the organizing tool.

Interface tour

Import

• Memory Card
• Folders

Folder location, names, metadata etc.,

Note: Importing large numbers of image files requires a long "generating thumbnails" time. It is best to allow the program to do this before trying anything else. Do it before bed or lunch.

Tags/Info

Tags are called keywords in other programs...they are "searchable text" and that is their power and value.

Add them to the list by typing into the "Add Custom Keyword" box

Apply them by dragging the tag to a photo from the list or vice versa

TABS

• Media - views
• People - process of adding known faces
• Places - will grab GPS data or you can locate on map
• Events - Smart events are good, but you can create custom events visible within their folder or when viewing All Media

Albums

Albums are virtual groupings of images. The images remain in their folder but can be seen by selecting the folder and/or any album that they are a member of...

The new Album button disappears if you have the tree view of the organizer folders selected.

Select the flat view, click the green plus and make your album(s).

You can also create Album Categories and group the albums.

Use the Search box for quick searches.

Use the Find Menu > Using Advanced Search for a filtered approach to keywords (tags), people, places, events.

However, use the Find Menu > By Details (Metadata)... for the best results and the most power in searching.

The Info panel lets you star rate, add captions and notes and view the metadata.

Create and Share are covered here.

Don't bother with Instant Fix.