MS Expression 2, or your best management tool?

[NeilL]

Can anyone comment on MS Expression 2 digital assets management?

Or would you like to offer a recommendation on the software you think is the best for organising and preparing photos for web presentation.

Neil

[f-rider]

I use Expression Media 2 and like it. My main reason for getting it though, is because I can browse my catalog of Nikon NEFs, right click to open Nikon Capture NX2, do my edits to the NEF, save the NEF, close and go back to EM2. One click and it will update the thumbnail to reflect my edits, crops, etc. so my catalog reflects the edited versions. No need to save a jpg or tiff. Of course, I do that but in my workflow, I do that later and can then select the ones to export to jpg from my catalog while looking at all the edited versions as well. No guessing. It is a very clean interface and I like the lightbox a lot. Just wish it had a menu choice to upload to smugmug !

[NeilL]

I use Expression Media 2 and like it. My main reason for getting it though, is because I can browse my catalog of Nikon NEFs, right click to open Nikon Capture NX2, do my edits to the NEF, save the NEF, close and go back to EM2. One click and it will update the thumbnail to reflect my edits, crops, etc. so my catalog reflects the edited versions. No need to save a jpg or tiff. Of course, I do that but in my workflow, I do that later and can then select the ones to export to jpg from my catalog while looking at all the edited versions as well. No guessing. It is a very clean interface and I like the lightbox a lot. Just wish it had a menu choice to upload to smugmug !

Very interesting, f-rider. Thanks!

You know, I just yesterday saw a reference to EM2 being able to upload directly to SM. I'll see if I can find it again and come back here.

[NeilL]

@ f-rider

Look at the very bottom item on this page -

http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/features.aspx?key=media

[f-rider]

Yes, so they say. I just looked again and the EM2 forum that they have for support says this, as of Aug. 15, 2008:

Our program manager is still working on getting final approval for upload on the utilities. He's been out of the office this week, but I'll check with him on an ETA next week when he returns.

Regards,
Anita Oakley
Maybe the same people in charge of Vista are in charge of EM :dunno

It's good to see that it is in the loop for upgrade.

Edit: Checking in to the EM2 support forum, seems a lot of folks are dissatisfied and that updates are not happening very quickly. Like I said, another MS Vista type problem. Bring back Bill Gates !!! :bow