Posted by Steve Foss on September 14, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Hey all:
I generally just use the Image Browser bundled with the Canon software to review and name images before serious post-processing work starts.
After sorting through images in a folder, I always remove the folder from the image browser so there's aren't any folders full of images that would clog up its working. However, it takes a very, very long time to open, and it's not by any means a hog of a program. It takes five times as long as CS2 to open and is very sluggish. It's a two- or three-year-old program that came with my 30D.
Even after removing folders before exiting, they all remain grayed out in a chimney along the left side of the browser window, and I'm wondering if the reason for the big slowdown is if they're still in some way linked to the browser and it has to load them every time it starts up.
I've looked and can't find any way within the program to clear buffer memory or scratch memory or cache memory or whatever one calls that type of memory. Even after shutdown and reboot of the computer, it's just as slow to load.
I'm using a G4 with OS 10.3.9, BTW.
Any ideas?
Posted by Richard Ditch on September 14, 2008 at 5:06 PM
I don't have Canon gear or software, so I'm shooting blind here.
Trash the plist?
Trash the application and re-install?
How full is your hard drive getting, how much RAM have you got, and is anything else getting sluggish?
Posted by Steve Foss on September 14, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Richard, thanks for replying.
I don't know what a plist is, and the hard drive is no more full (about 50 percent) than it was when the program was running quickly. Nor has the RAM changed.
Probably I'll just re-install, but guess the problem will redevelop over time.
Update: Hmmm, interesting. I trashed the Image Browswer application folder and emptied the trash before re-installing the program. It still takes forever to open up, and the same grayed-out folders are still there along the left side. They must be stored in some type of scratch disk or something on the Mac.
Posted by Fred Stearns on September 14, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Update - I tried the link and it insists on coming up with the OS operating system. Just use the pull-down to get OS X.
Posted by Steve Foss on September 14, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Thanks, Fred. I'm downloading updates right now for Image Browser, PhotoStitch and DPP. I hadn't thought of updating, figuring any updates this new would have superceded OSX 10.3.9 and gone right to 10.5. Thanks for the assist.
We'll see . . . .
Update: The updated image browser opens like lightning and, as you'd expect from an update, is a more friendly interface. Thanks again for the suggestion, Fred.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on September 15, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Steve -
I'm not a Canon guy, but the Olympus-supplied browser just wasn't up to the task of managing the number of photos I have. I converted to Apple's Aperture and couldn't be happier. Version 2.1 is very, very impressive. Yes, it has adjustment tools, and they are pretty cool, but primarily Aperture is a photo management tool. I love the program and recommend it highly.
Posted by Steve Foss on September 15, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Thanks, Jim.
Canon's image browser is just what I need for what I'm after. It handles a full wedding (up to 1,200 images before sorting) with ease, and all I do with it is sort the keepers from the chaff, name the keepers, and put the keepers into a series of labeled folders.
Plus, it's free, and I'm on the cusp with my computer. If I go to Aperture or upgrade to CS3, I have to update my OS, and this computer won't handle OS newer than 10.3.9, so that's where I'm at. New programs mean new computer, too.
Posted by Steve Foss on September 15, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Fred, since downloading and installing the updated browser as you suggested, it's moving fast as can be, and when I delete a folder out of the browser, it actually stays deleted and doesn't come back when I start the browser back up.
I just sorted a whole wedding's worth of images using it and things went dandy fast. So with any luck I'm good to go. Well, until the next computer problem crops up . . .
Posted by Fred Stearns on September 16, 2008 at 12:28 AM
I glad my suggestion helped. I have been caught in a similar bind on various programs. It isn't always the solution, but it usually works. It also helps when the updates are free!
You can always be assured on one thing when it comes to computers, the next problem is just around the corner!
Discussion
8 repliesI generally just use the Image Browser bundled with the Canon software to review and name images before serious post-processing work starts.
After sorting through images in a folder, I always remove the folder from the image browser so there's aren't any folders full of images that would clog up its working. However, it takes a very, very long time to open, and it's not by any means a hog of a program. It takes five times as long as CS2 to open and is very sluggish. It's a two- or three-year-old program that came with my 30D.
Even after removing folders before exiting, they all remain grayed out in a chimney along the left side of the browser window, and I'm wondering if the reason for the big slowdown is if they're still in some way linked to the browser and it has to load them every time it starts up.
I've looked and can't find any way within the program to clear buffer memory or scratch memory or cache memory or whatever one calls that type of memory. Even after shutdown and reboot of the computer, it's just as slow to load.
I'm using a G4 with OS 10.3.9, BTW.
Any ideas?
Trash the plist?
Trash the application and re-install?
How full is your hard drive getting, how much RAM have you got, and is anything else getting sluggish?
I don't know what a plist is, and the hard drive is no more full (about 50 percent) than it was when the program was running quickly. Nor has the RAM changed.
Probably I'll just re-install, but guess the problem will redevelop over time.
Update: Hmmm, interesting. I trashed the Image Browswer application folder and emptied the trash before re-installing the program. It still takes forever to open up, and the same grayed-out folders are still there along the left side. They must be stored in some type of scratch disk or something on the Mac.
Have you tried checking with the Canon web site to see if they have any updates for Image Browser? I checked on the site and found that they have an update for OS X that they released in June. It might be worthwhile to update. This may help with your problem. I found the update at http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=12929#DownloadDetailAct.
Update - I tried the link and it insists on coming up with the OS operating system. Just use the pull-down to get OS X.
We'll see . . . .
Update: The updated image browser opens like lightning and, as you'd expect from an update, is a more friendly interface. Thanks again for the suggestion, Fred.
I'm not a Canon guy, but the Olympus-supplied browser just wasn't up to the task of managing the number of photos I have. I converted to Apple's Aperture and couldn't be happier. Version 2.1 is very, very impressive. Yes, it has adjustment tools, and they are pretty cool, but primarily Aperture is a photo management tool. I love the program and recommend it highly.
Canon's image browser is just what I need for what I'm after. It handles a full wedding (up to 1,200 images before sorting) with ease, and all I do with it is sort the keepers from the chaff, name the keepers, and put the keepers into a series of labeled folders.
Plus, it's free, and I'm on the cusp with my computer. If I go to Aperture or upgrade to CS3, I have to update my OS, and this computer won't handle OS newer than 10.3.9, so that's where I'm at. New programs mean new computer, too.
I just sorted a whole wedding's worth of images using it and things went dandy fast. So with any luck I'm good to go. Well, until the next computer problem crops up . . .
You can always be assured on one thing when it comes to computers, the next problem is just around the corner!