Chapter 2. Importing Photos into the Organizer

Before you can begin managing and organizing your photos with the Organizer, you need to let Photoshop Elements (PSE) know the photos exist. The process of doing this is called importing. You can import photos that are already on your system or photos from a digital camera or camera card reader. Fortunately, PSE makes the importing process easy and efficient by using the Adobe Photo Downloader. However, before you begin importing your images, it's a good idea to have an understanding of some basic concepts.

Understanding the Catalog Concept

Chapter 1 described the PSE Organizer more as a catalog than a file browser. A file browser enables you to see small thumbnails of all the photo files in any folder you direct it to. A catalog system, on the other hand, displays only files that have been added to the catalog through some sort of importing process. If other files are in the folder you direct it to, they won't be displayed. It's as though they don't exist.

Think of the library card catalog

A catalog-style browsing system functions much like the card catalog at a library. If someone places a book on the shelf without adding it to the catalog, it will be virtually impossible to locate the book when it's needed. The only way someone could find it would be by remembering where the book was placed or by accidentally stumbling upon it.

When the book is added to the catalog system, its place on the shelf is recorded and other information about ...

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