COPY PHOTO WORKFLOW GUIDE
How to copy photos from a memory card to multiple drives.
A repeatable process makes it easier to see which destinations received a card’s files and which copies have been checked. Follow this workflow in Copy Photo to plan, copy and review your photo backups.
Demo project and crew names. Private machine paths are concealed. Select a screenshot to enlarge it.
At a glance
To copy a memory card to multiple drives, define separate destinations, preview the folder structure, confirm the source and review each copy independently. Use the steps below to connect those decisions in Copy Photo.
01
Prepare
Connect the intended disks and check that each copy points to the right destination.
02
Copy
Identify the crew and source, then follow the configured copy order.
03
Validate
Review file counts, verification results and outstanding warnings on every copy.
See the copy workflow in motion
The short demo introduces source cards, copy destinations and status tracking. Use the screenshots and steps below to understand the decisions behind each stage.
Read the status of each copy separately, then open the detailed record when a destination needs attention.
1. Choose a primary copy and additional destinations
Open the copy plan and choose the destination disk for each copy on this computer. Copy Photo supports up to three destinations. Set the primary copy and the order, and confirm the selected disks are the intended locations. A new copy setting applies to new projects; existing projects keep their assigned copies.
2. Preview your destination folders
Choose a folder pattern using the project and shoot details your studio needs. You can include year, month, shoot, crew, camera and card levels, or add a custom folder. Review the preview before saving so files do not land under an unexpected assignment or card name.
3. Select the crew member, card and source
In the copy workflow, choose whose card you are handling, select the card and identify the connected source disk or folder. Confirm the project and shoot. These details become part of the copy activity record, helping the team trace the files after the physical card moves elsewhere.
4. Follow the copy plan across drives
Review the destinations and begin copying. The desktop app follows the configured order, and each copy keeps a separate record. Check the progress for all intended destinations instead of treating the first completed copy as completion of the whole plan.
5. Verify the files and review the tracker
Automatic verification compares file names, file sizes and checksums against the source card. Review the verification method, results and outstanding issues for each destination. If copied files are later removed from a disk, review the Deleted from disk record and available copies.
What a finished handoff should make clear
The next operator should be able to identify the source card, the working destination, the other copies and any follow-up work. Review the folder locations and verification record with the current status. If a destination is partial or files were later deleted, report that explicitly rather than saying the entire plan is complete. Keep a record that another team member can interpret without needing the original operator beside them.
Check physical disks, not just folder names
A plan with two differently named folders on the same disk does not provide two independent locations if that disk fails. Use the same-disk warning to review the plan before starting the transfer.
Common workflow questions
How do I know photos were copied to every intended drive?
Review each destination’s copy record and project coverage, then check its verification and outstanding issues. A completed first copy does not describe the other destinations.
Can I verify photos copied to an external drive?
Copy Photo’s automatic verification compares copied file names, sizes and checksums against the source card. Review the verification record for the selected destination.
What should I check before the next handoff?
Prepare: Connect the intended disks and check that each copy points to the right destination. Copy: Identify the crew and source, then follow the configured copy order. Validate: Review file counts, verification results and outstanding warnings on every copy.
Check physical disks, not just folder names?
A plan with two differently named folders on the same disk does not provide two independent locations if that disk fails. Use the same-disk warning to review the plan before starting the transfer.
