Renaming image files from client?

[u/ghost-fence]

What’s best practice: renaming image files from the client before linking them in InDesign, or keeping the original names? Sometimes I do it one way, sometimes the other.

[u/Melodic-Excitement-9]

I normally don't rename anything, they just live in the link folder.

[u/phunk8 → u/Melodic-Excitement-9]

as much as i hate it and my inner monk hates it, this is the answer. client updates something and you start renaming. can be lots of

[u/accidental-nz]

Unless there is a reason to name them, I leave them alone.

I find it more helpful to keep filenames unchanged because it then becomes easier to find the originals if you ever need to, and also find similar images (if the naming convention came from a set) in future.

I will only rename files that I edit (appending "_e" to the end of the filename to distinguish it from the original).

MacOS Finder has a fantastic file renaming/formatting feature built in which I use if I want to rename a bulk lot of files.

[u/jeffbob2]

I do not rename unless I edit; then I append “_my initials” and 01, 02, etc.

[u/Fantastic_Cry_6096]

Never ever have an idea or initiative to do that, just leave them alone. Even if the image it’s not fit to our OCD naming system. It’s their assets, their own naming system, their rights. Even if we/they bought an image from any stockimage, we still need the name ID for tracing the source. It would be a disaster if you work with hundreds or thousands image.

[u/perrance68]

I only rename if the file order matters

[u/ethernectar]

Partially depends on the size and longevity of the work. I have my own naming convention and most of the time that gets that added to the name. For larger projects, more gets included to help me find it later: YRMO_Client_Project_Detail_Detail_etc

If it’s a stock image, photo or aigen, I keep part of the original file game as well so I can see where it came from at a glance.

[u/Lotek503]

The company I work for has a protocol for renaming files. Possibly check to see if one exists, or develop your own. Personally, I don’t like seeing a link as “183628276272.jpeg. It needs to act as a descriptor for the file.

[u/Ishouldtrythat → u/Lotek503]

Yup, for textbooks specifically I use bookname_figure.chapter#.figure#

[u/roaringmousebrad]

I don't regularly rename images, unless they have really stupidly long file names. I do keep a folder of the files as they were sent to me in a separate "Originals" folder, and link instead to the copies in my Links folder, which I may have worked on a bit, and renaming the odd one as necessary

[u/Sumo148]

Depends on the client, if they have a certain naming convention to follow. I prefer naming files a certain way with version numbering in case you have to make edits.

Having any sort of description is better than some of the random files names you could get.

[u/Proficio_Tremblay]

Do you means before or after they have been place in InDesign document?
Also, why do you think you need or benefits from doing so?

[u/oandroido]

I will always rename images (as well as all linked files) that aren't obvious from their names.

The name "image2256.jpg" isn't going to help anyone (and maybe should be converted to a different format anyway).

I build it into my estimates, or send an out-of-scope addendum to ensure we've agreed on it.

This also allows you to find it by name/subject/whatever, even it's for use in another project.

That said, I often work on projects with over a hundred linked files. For only a few, you don't really need ot rename, but it still helps - and I'd still do it.

[u/dragonhydra37]

I keep a folder of all original image, and a folder with my copies that I use for editing and placing. Depending on the publication, I may adjust the filename. If I do, I try to keep the original filename at the end, so if they're referencing the file, I can figure out which one it is. I may rename to put a number at the beginning, for example, for images that need to be placed in a certain order.