You can find comprehensive reports on the
eight image database products we tested on
the following pages. The table below lists a
number of other, similar products in both the
single-user and multi-user categories. A table
of test results is printed on page 133.Image Database Software Test Results
IMAGE DATABASE SOFTWARE FOR NETWORK AND MULTI-USER ENVIRONMENTS
Program Manufacturer URL Price (approx. US$)Comments
4All-Portal MAM 2.0 Cross Media http://www.4all-portal.net On request Manages all types of digital assets, plug-in availalble for integration into Adobe Create Suite
Akibase Akitogo http://www.akitogo.com 3750 (setup)
from 300 (monthly)Browser-based solution for the image agency market; uses MS SQL server and Adobe
ColdFusion application server; comprehensive choice of marketing options
celum IMAGINE celum http://www.celum.com On request Enterprise media platform with interfaces to Sharepoint and other systems; can be integrated
into MS Office and Adobe Creative Suite
dhs Image Database dhs Dietermann & Heuser Solution http://www.dhssolution.com On request Modular DAM with many built-in processing and image analysis features, e.g., microscopy and
metallurgical analysis
Elvis dutchsoftware.com http://www.elvisdam.com On request Powerful DAM software with intuitive interface; also available as SaaS
Fotostation Pro Fotoware http://www.fotoware.com 600 Expensive pro-grade tool, widely used by agencies; with useful remote access functionality
MAM Suite Contentserv http://www.contentserv.com On request Media database with Web interface for corporate environments; modular construction
Media Asset Management BrandMaker, Inc. http://www.brandmaker.com On request Media management is just one of many available modules; product aimed at large
corporations and industrial customers
Media Management Open Text Digital Media Group http://www.opentext.com On request Enterprise media management system, also available as SaaS; formerly known as Artesia
meebox meebox GmbH http://www.meebox.de From 7 per month Browser-based database with image management features; only available as SaaS
Phraseanet Alchemy http://www.alchemy.fr Free Complete open source web-based DAM system based on MySQL, PHP and XML; consulting is
fee-based
Portfolio Extensis http://www.extensis.com From 99.95 Multi-user-capable DAM for corporate use; full version is good value for this type of software at
US$199.95
ResourceSpace Montala Limited http://www.resourcespace.org Free Web-based open source databse with download tool for original files; multi-language, based
on PHP/MySQL; also available as SaaS
Web Native Suite Xinet http://www.xinet.com 65,000 Extremely powerful DAM system for automating commercial workflows; suite license price
includes 4 full clients and unlimiited Web users
DAM = Digital Asset Management
SaaS = Software as a ServiceIMAGE DATABASE SOFTWARE FOR SINGLE-USER ENVIRONMENTS^1
Program Manufacturer URL Price (approx. US$)Comments
ACDSee Pro ACD Systems http://www.acdsee.com 129.99 Database with built-in RAW editor, similar concept to Lightroom; Mac and Windows
versions very different
F-Spot Novell f-spot.org Free Photo management application for the GNOME desktop, development stop since 2010
Gerbing Fotoalbum gerbingsoft http://www.gerbingsoft.de From 12.50 Minimalist image database for large archives, runs on Access or SQL; author says that he
deliberately doesn’t support thumbnails and other “frills”
iPhoto Apple http://www.apple.com 14.99 Pre-installed on most Macs with the iLife suite; has a reputation for crashing when used
with large numbers of images; built-in face recognition
JPhotoTagger 0.17.0 Elmar Baumann jphototagger.org Free Free photo manager with a wide range of search options and complete XMP support;
includes plug-in for upload to Flickr
Photo Manager Deluxe Magix http://www.magix.com 59.99 Photo manager with built-in RAW editor and face recognition functionality;
non-destructive editing, supports 270 different camera models
MediaShow Cyberlink http://www.cyberlink.com 49.95 Low-end photo/video database with face recognition functionality; Facebook upload
Photoshop Elements Adobe http://www.adobe.com 99.99 Elements has a powerful built-in database; no geotagging tools, but with face recognition
and various automated image effects
PicaJet Pacific Business Centre http://www.picajet.com 59.95 Single-user image database; freeware version has too little functionality to be useful
Qpict Rune Linsman Development http://www.qpict.net From 35 Cheap image database for Mac OS
Shoebox KavaSoft http://www.kavasoft.com 30 Alternative to iPhoto for Mac OS; with import function for iPhoto and password-protected
private folders that don’t appear in the recent catalogs menu
Shotwell yorba yorba.org Free Photo manager for GNOME with RAW support; has now replaced f-spot as standard in
Ubuntu
StudioFlow TTL Software ttlsoftware.com 749.95 All-in-one tool for portrait and wedding photographers; hasn’t been updated for some
time
StudioLine Photo Classic H&M Software http://www.studioline.net From 59 Offers various Web publishing options; DigitalXpress interface great for exchanging data
between photographer and clients; no payment functionality, no additional user accounts
Windows Live Photo Gallery Microsoft http://www.windowslive.com Free More of an Explorer extension than a full-blooded image database; similar to but less
popular than Google’s Picasa; RAW format recognition still poor, even with additional
codec pack installed(^1) Nearly all products allow read-only access to folders that are given appropriate permisssions.
This is, however, not ‘real’ multi-user capability, i.e., with full write access rights.