Extensis has launched Portfolio Studio, a new application and server that lets small creative teams automatically archive and centralize access to photos and other digital media files with consistent metadata. Portfolio Studio’s Web-based tools are designed to make it easier for creative pros to locate and convert photos, graphics, and other project files without the need for IT assistance. This application-server combo provides a middle ground between the company’s other two products, Portfolio Standalone for individual users, and Portfolio Server 9.5 for corporate workgroups.
Portfolio Studio lets users track and organize their workflow in folder structures without having to maintain a complicated or expensive server system. It sports a simple setup via Web browser and includes a companion desktop application. The included AutoSync technology works in the background to monitor network folders for the up-to-date information needed for accurate searches. With Portfolio Studio, keywords and other metadata are automatically synchronized with Adobe Bridge, Lightroom, and other Creative Suite applications.
“The system leverages MediaRich server from Equilibrium to expedite turnaround on repetitive actions—such as file conversion and image resizing—and frees up desktops and users,” said Davin Kluttz, senior product manager. “Portfolio Studio can catalog virtually anything and supports a massive array of file formats including images, Camera Raw and DNG files, graphics, PDF files, documents and videos.”
Portfolio Studio performs fast visual searches of indexed thumbnails and full-size previews and ensures that file information such as usage rights, copyrights, and dates are consistently applied and shared. It is designed to save time by providing a central place to access important photos and projects—regardless of where they are actually located (even discs stored offline), and a way to offload file format conversions to a media processing server.
Portfolio Studio is limited to three client connections and a single shared catalog. Larger workgroups and organizations should consider Portfolio Server 9.5, the company says. There is no upgrade path between Portfolio Studio and Portfolio Server.
Both the Portfolio Studio server component and desktop application require an Intel Mac. The Portfolio Studio server component requires OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard, but the system can be accessed from OS X 10.4.11 or higher using the desktop program and browser.
Portfolio Studio is available now for $1,999 in English, French, German, and Japanese. More information is available on the Extensis Website.
Portfolio Studio