Photo Editing: 4 BackUp System Tips

Photo editing as a profession often involves working with large files. This includes copying the raw image files from the camera to the local computer drive, the editing process itself as well as the saving the final file. When working with photos or even other important data, it is important to backup files. Here are a few tips to making the process easier.

1. Have Several Backups

There are several options for making backups from having multiple internal drives, a removable hard drive, on network drives, CDs or DVDs and even saving copies online. Each has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages. Connecting several internal drives connected by RAID software will essentially copy the same data on all hard drives. This allows the editor to continue working even if one or more hard drives break down. However, having multiple hard drives can be costly. The cheapest option is by burning copies on CDs or DVDs. These can be stored and easily carried to other locations. A DVD is able to contain more than 4 GB of data but will also entail a great amount of time waiting for the data to be burned onto the disk. For smaller files, saving a backup online is also possible and ensures that the files are safe even if something goes wrong with the main computer. Have at least two separate backups is not a foolproof way but drastically reduces the chances of losing all data.

2. Partition the Hard Drive

With editing multiple photos or videos, a large hard drive is required and necessary. For most Windows applications and a large percentage of users, files are saved in the My Documents folder. This makes it easier to find but also the most vulnerable to becoming corrupted as it resides in the boot partition of the OS. Hard drives that are partitioned make it easier to save files as well as reformatting in case a virus gets in. Having multiple partitions makes it easier to reformat one segment of the hard drive and reinstall programs if necessary without affecting the other partitions. System files can be saved on drive C: applications on drive D: and making succeeding drives for other types of files.

3. Backup Frequently

Make it a point to backup files. Depending on the use, this can be done daily, weekly or on a monthly basis or after each major project. This can be done manually or through the use of computer programs which are specifically made for this purpose.

4. Test Backups

This is often the tip that is overlooked. After making each backup, it is important to test whether the files are intact. This ensures that the files are copied successfully and can be used in the event that the main system shuts down or becomes corrupted by a virus or by other means.

These tips can be followed by any type of computer user. Making backups of important files is essential to ensure that the user can continue working even if the original files are erased or become unusable.