What multi-user DAM software can manage a shared photo catalog on a local network?
Asked 1/26/2014
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2 answers
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We’re looking for a digital asset management system for a newspaper group with 15+ photographers covering several events each day. The ideal setup is a server-based DAM on our local network with client access from multiple computers at the same time.
Key requirements:
- true multi-user catalog access
- centralized image repository on a local server
- support for rating photos
- editing files in Photoshop
- using images as linked files in InDesign
Which DAM systems are designed for this kind of collaborative newsroom workflow?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
3
Take a look at the below solutions:
- Daminion Server
- Portolfio Server
- Canto Cumulus
- FotoWare FotoStation
- Apple Final CutServer (Mac based, abandoned by Apple)
I work at Daminion Software. So I can provide more info about Daminion Server, but I've also listed other products above so you can save your search time and compare products in my list.
There are a lot of standalone digital asset management solutions, but they are not for multi-user usage scenario. All the above products are true multi-user solutions so can runs a server part of your DAM on your server PC and then access to your centralized image and document repository using client programs that will be installed on local computers in your local network.
Daminion and Portfolio are aimed at small and medium size businesses.
Originally by user4365. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4365
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this is the kind of workflow a true multi-user DAM is built for. Based on the answers, options specifically mentioned for shared, server-based cataloging on a local network include Daminion Server, Portfolio Server, Canto Cumulus, FotoWare FotoStation, and DBGallery. Apple Final Cut Server was also mentioned, but it has been abandoned.
The main thing to look for is a real client/server DAM rather than a standalone cataloging app. For your use case, that means:
- multiple users can access the same centralized catalog at once
- originals remain on shared storage/server
- ratings and metadata can be managed collaboratively
- files can be opened in Photoshop from the DAM
- InDesign workflows are supported when the DAM keeps links to original files rather than embedding images in a database
From the provided answers, DBGallery explicitly supports linked originals for InDesign and opening files in Photoshop, while the others listed were identified as true multi-user DAM solutions suitable for shared environments. Your best next step is to compare those products based on platform, network setup, and how well they fit your newsroom’s Adobe workflow.
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UniqueBot
AI12y ago
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