File Naming Suggestions

For ease of handling, these file naming suggestions will help avoid workflow and production delays. The main issue is the file name length. Ideally, limit digital image file names to no more than 24 characters. Many workstation software packages will only display the first 24 characters of the file name, making it nearly impossible to identify the file with longer designations.

Since shorter names are preferable, please don’t add long text like the event name and date to every file. Detailed information can be incorporated in the event folder- name where the images reside. It is helpful to prevent complex filename paths, so create a folder in the root directory of your computer and label it something like “Digital Photos”. This will help you identify the location of your image files and you can easily create a shortcut on your desktop for easy access to your files.

When you want to save new images, create a new sub-folder for each event WITHIN your main “Digital Photos” directory. Place the new images inside this new event folder so shorter paths/filenames will be created for each image.

This practice will greatly simplify assembling orders neatly organize all of your events, and make it easier to locate files if your computer is connected to a network.

Avoid any of the following characters when naming files:   /? : * . ! @ # $ % ^ & ” ‘ , |

Don’t include any characters in a file name EXCEPT alphabetical or numerical characters with either a “dash“ (–) or “underscore“ ( _ ).

Using any of these characters in a file name might cause problems with our printing software and produce unexpected results. A filename should not contain more than a single period (.) in the file name. Computers identify the three characters following a period as a file extension type.

Written by Dave Smith