The best storage options for creatives and when to use them (2024)

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SD and microSD cards Kingston Workflow Station and Readers External SSDs Online storage Internal SSDs Hard drives Conclusion Related Videos How to install an M.2 SSD in a desktop PC How to install an M.2 SSD in a laptop How to Install a 2.5" SATA SSD in a Desktop PC How to install a 2.5" SATA SSD in a laptop XS2000 External Solid State Drive (SSD) How to format a hard drive or SSD to erase it forever! Install an internal M.2 into an external enclosure Make a Steampunk SATA SSD enclosure Make a LEGO SSD enclosure Improve Photoshop performance Make a concrete SATA SSD enclosure Make a SNES SATA SSD enclosure Related Products Related Articles Understanding file systems How to format your SSD What’s the difference between USB 3.1 Gen 1, Gen 2 and USB 3.2? What is USB 3.2 Gen 2x2? What is the difference between PCIe Gen 3 and PCIe Gen 4? How to format a USB flash drive USB-C explained SSD longevity - 5 Tips for getting the most out of your new SSD Making your photography portfolio Tips for outdoor photography External storage for your iPhone 15 Revive an old computer HDD vs external SSD What to do if your SSD is full Choosing a memory card for trail cams Storage for photographers: Best practices for storing and archiving images 2 Types of M.2 SSDs: SATA and NVMe Using an encrypted USB flash drive with an iPhone or iPad Videographers: Why you should consider an SSD and how to get the most out of it How to recover deleted files on Windows and MacOS How do you backup your computer? Windows and Mac drive backup Photography in a snapshot Installing an M.2 SSD in a PlayStation®5 Drone photography tips Encrypted storage for creatives The importance of Garbage Collection and TRIM processes for SSD performance Setting Up Kingston IronKey™ Vault Privacy 80 External SSD 6 simple backup tips for your computer How to Choose Storage for a GoPro Camera Maintaining your SSD’s health using SMART monitoring Additional storage for your Valve Steam Deck Upgrade your PC to streamline your workflow The best storage options for gaming consoles Types of SSD form factors Choosing storage for your Android device Choosing storage for your dashcam Don’t let old tech go to waste: Recycle your old devices Enterprise capabilities in the palm of your hand: a videographer’s experience with the DC500M How to setup parental controls on your PC or Mac A Kingston gift guide for STEAM students How to install a 2.5” SSD – Kingston Technology How to install an M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD The Kingston Workflow Station makes things easy for content creators and video professionals The 5 Benefits of SSDs over Hard Drives Difference between SLC, MLC, TLC and 3D NAND in USB flash drives, SSDs and Memory cards How does hardware-based SSD encryption work? Software vs hardware, AES 256-bit and TCG Opal 2.0 The difference between SSD and HDD How to choose a memory card for shooting 4K video Should you upgrade your memory or storage for better PC performance? How much memory do you need for video editing? NVMe vs SATA: What is the difference? Choosing Storage for Raspberry Pi Choosing the right memory card for your security camera Understanding the naming conventions and labels of SD and microSD cards A guide to SD and microSD card types A guide to speed classes for SD and microSD Cards How to use a USB flash drive on Windows PC How to use your old SSD as an external storage drive How to select the right memory card for your use Using a USB Drive on a Mac Choosing a microSD card for your Nintendo Switch Choosing microSD cards for your drone adventures What is the difference between memory and storage? NAND flash technology and solid-state drives (SSDs) 7 easy tips to increase productivity while working from home 10 ways to speed up a PC running Windows 10 6 Ways to Speed Up Your Mac Work From Home Tips and Tricks USB OTG Flash Drives - DataTraveler MicroDuo Flash Memory Storage Chart FAQs

The best storage options for creatives and when to use them (1)

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Dec 2021

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There are many great storage options available for creatives. Whether you’re a photographer on location or a video editor doing client work, investing in a good quality storage will ensure that you avoid losing any important footage. In this article, we will look at some of the best ways for creatives to store their files depending on their step in the process.

SD and microSD cards

The best storage options for creatives and when to use them (2)

SD and microSD cards are a must-have for any creative using digital cameras or other digital devices, as they can store thousands of high-quality photos which can later be transferred to a computer to review and edit. However, this type of removable flash storage can quickly fill up, especially when shooting in HD or RAW format. For creatives, having a full memory card just isn’t an option. Therefore, most creatives will carry multiple memory cards with them or will use a secondary storage option to quickly offload photos from their memory card and start shooting again.

Kingston Workflow Station and Readers

The Kingston Workflow Station and Readers are the perfect solution for creatives who need to offload and transfer footage quickly so that their memory cards are free to shoot over and over again. The Workflow Station dock is customisable with your choice of USB mini-hubs, SD readers and microSD readers, and can connect up to four readers to the dock simultaneously. When your memory card runs out of storage you can simply insert the card into the SD or microSD reader and use the USB-C cable to transfer the footage straight to your laptop. The readers can be used standalone which makes it even easier for creatives travelling or out in the field. Don’t wait until you get home, use Kingston’s Workflow Station on-the-go to speed up your post-production workflow.

The best storage options for creatives and when to use them (3)

External SSDs

Once you’ve transferred your photos from your memory cards to your computer, they can start to take up a lot of space on your internal drive. And what if you want to transfer some photos to another device? Investing in a portable SSD is a great option for creatives who want to be able to take their work with them wherever they go. The great thing about portable SSDs is that you can easily back up and secure your files without an internet connection. Also, for creatives working outside or in remote locations, portable SSDs are a great option as they are less likely to break if dropped and some are even built to withstand extreme conditions. The Kingston XS2000 and XS1000 external SSDs are both great choices for your go-to backup solution, as they allow you to access your data anywhere and will not weigh you down as they are compact and pocket-sized. Creatives no longer need to rely on carrying bulky external hard drives with them. Instead, offload your photos onto a portable SSD and access your digital library from wherever you are.

Online storage

Online storage is another good option for creatives as it allows you to work on your files from wherever you are and across all your devices. One of the best use cases for online storage is to share larger files with clients and collaborators. There are multiple online storage services available from Google Drive to Dropbox to iCloud. But remember, online storage requires an internet connection, so for creatives out in the field make sure to have a backup of the files you need on either a portable SSD or another storage option. Also, when using cloud storage, your files and data are no longer on your physical storage, so security could be something to think about.

Internal SSDs

Although many new laptops now include internal SSDs, some may include hard drives. These can be upgraded to SSDs to get faster performance. An entry-level SSD is roughly ten times faster than a typical 7200RPM hard drive. If you want even faster performance or want to take advantage of PCIe technology, explore the full range of Kingston SATA SSDs to find the one that best meets your performance, storage and budget.

Hard drives

Traditional hard drives are a great solution for long term, non-portable storage since they are less expensive per gigabyte when compared to SSDs. They have much slower transfer speeds, so it is best to use them for tasks such as backup or archival once a project is completed. They are also heavier and more fragile when compared to SSDs, so it is best to leave them in one place like a home workstation or office. There are two styles of hard drives: directly connected drives via USB and network attached storage (NAS). With NAS drives you can share large files with others in your local network.

Conclusion

These days, creatives have more storage options available to them than ever before but like any digital device, it’s important to find the option that works best for your workflow. Whether you want to use memory cards as storage or take your footage on the move by using a portable SSD, there are lots of storage options available for creatives to choose from.

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FAQs

The best storage options for creatives and when to use them? ›

Investing in cloud storage for your creative endeavors will give you, your company, and your clients a platform to showcase your work and ensure your files will always be available across multiple devices and backed up to prevent data loss.

Which storage is best for graphic design? ›

Hard Disk Drives (HDD)

HDDs have been the traditional choice for data storage due to their affordability and high storage capacity. They are suitable for storing large files and offer a good cost-per-gigabyte ratio.

Should photographers use SSD or HDD? ›

For professional photographers and enthusiasts who prioritize speed, performance, and durability, investing in an SSD external hard drive is likely the best choice. The increased efficiency in data access and transfer, along with enhanced durability, can greatly streamline photo editing and storage tasks.

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Which storage option is the best choice for your application? ›

Cloud SQL storage option is the best choice for your application. You can reach a server (computer) that contains data via the internet. use case for cloud storage is: Object storage that is available at all times is provided by cloud storage. Cloud storage is object storage as opposed to file storage.

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What are the different types of storage and when to use what? ›

SSD and flash storage. Flash storage is a solid-state drive technology that uses flash memory chips to write and store data. ...
Hybrid storage. SSDs and flash offer higher throughput than HDDs, but all-flash arrays can be more expensive. ...
Cloud storage. ...
Hybrid cloud storage. ...
Storage backup software and appliances.

Jul 15, 2024

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Is 1TB good for graphic design? ›

As for storage, you'll want a speedy SSD with enough space to handle the types of files that you'll be working with. Vector design files can be quite large, and we would generally recommend around 1TB of storage unless you're routinely storing your files in cloud storage or external SSDs.

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What is the best memory for graphic design? ›

We recommend at least 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM—though 32GB is preferable for flawless performance on complex projects. Check your screen offers at least 1080p resolution, and a good color coverage across sRGB and Adobe RGB. This makes sure your designs are color accurate on-screen and in print.

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What is the best storage type? ›

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are the most common storage drives today. SSDs are smaller and faster than hard disk drives (HDDs). SSDs are noiseless and allow PCs to be thinner and more lightweight.

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How do I choose the right data storage? ›

Here's What to Consider When Choosing a Data Storage Method

Scalability: Always consider the scalability of the storage solution. ...
Security: Security is paramount when it comes to data storage. ...
Accessibility: Determine how and where your team needs to access data. ...
Cost: ...
Reliability:

Feb 5, 2024

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Which storage service is recommended? ›

The best cloud storage apps at a glance

	Best for
Google Drive	Existing Android and/or Google Workspace users
iCloud	Existing Apple device users
Dropbox	Low-maintenance syncing and backup
Box	Small businesses seeking a Google Workspace alternative

6 more rows

What is the fastest storage device? ›

Today's fastest storage medium is NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express). It is the successor of SSD (Solid State Drive). SSD is designed on top of the interface of hard-drives, ie SATA, so that it can be a convenient replacement of hard-drives whenever faster storage is needed.

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What are the 4 most commonly used storage devices? ›

The most common ones include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), universal serial bus (USB) flash drives, memory cards, and network-attached storage (NAS) devices.

What are the 5 storage devices? ›

Some of the commonly used storage devices include floppy discs, optical disks (CDs and DVDs), hard disk drives (HDD), flash drives, and solid-state drives (SSD).

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How many GB is good for graphic design? ›

SSDs are generally quicker and smaller, so SSDs are recommended for graphic design work. If you're using a desktop for your graphic design work, the best PC for graphic design should have at least a 512 GB solid state drive.

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What is the best GB for graphic design? ›

While 8GB of RAM can handle basic graphic design tasks, it may limit the ability to work with larger files or run memory-intensive software smoothly. For more demanding graphic design work, it is generally recommended to have 16GB or more RAM.