12.5. Beyond iPhotoDepending on how massive your collection of digital photos grows and how you use it, you may find yourself wanting more file-management power than iPhoto can offer. Maybe you wish you could organize 50,000 or 100,000 photos in a single catalog, without having to swap photo libraries or load archive CDs. Maybe you'd like to search for photos based on something other than just titles, keywords, and commentsperhaps by file type, creation date, or the camera model used to shoot them. Maybe you have a small network, and you'd like a system that lets a whole workgroup share a library of photos simultaneously . To enjoy such features, you'll have to move beyond iPhoto into the world of digital asset management , which means spending a little money. Programs like Extensis Portfolio ($200, www.extensis.com), Canto Cumulus ($100, www.canto.com), and iView MediaPro ($160, www.iview-multimedia.com) are terrific programs for someone who wants to take the next step up (Figure 12-6). (All three companies offer free trial versions on their Web sites.) Here are a few of the stunts these more advanced programs can do that iPhoto can't:
Some of the features in this list were obviously developed with professional users in mind, like graphic designers and studio photographers. But this kind of program is worth considering if your photo collectionand your passion for digital photographyone day outgrows iPhoto.
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