TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Controls
- Sound
- IPTC Encoding
- Streamlining Your Workflow Around Frequently Used Data
- Modifier Key Button Changes
The Metadata (IPTC) Info window is similar to the Metadata (IPTC) Template. However, while the Metatada (IPTC) Template can be used to add metadata to groups and batches of photos, the Metadata (IPTC) Info window is used to apply metadata to one image at a time.
To launch the Metadata (IPTC) Info window, select a photo in a contact sheet. Either select the i button on the corner of the image ("i" for "info") or use the keyboard shortcut i (macOS and Windows.)
By default, the Metadata (IPTC) Info window has every field that Photo Mechanic supports displayed and enabled; however, if you would like to hide some fields so that only the ones that you need are displayed, you can do so in Accessibility preferences.
The Metadata (IPTC) Info tool shows you a thumbnail preview of the selected image. You can right click the thumbnail to see a larger preview of it. You can use the star rating, color class, and tag widgets at the bottom of the thumbnail to assign or modify a star rating, color class, or tag.
You can add metadata to any field, and you can use variables, code replacements, and Hot Codes. Unlike the Metadata (IPTC) Template, you do not have to check a box to apply information. Anything you enter and save will be changed.
Controls
Under the thumbnail preview of the image, you will see controls to help you navigate through the photos in your contact sheet and apply metadata individually.
‘Save &’ left and right arrows: Save metadata changes and move to the previous or next image.
Left and right arrows: Move to the previous or next image without saving any changes.
'Save, Upload & arrow': Save changes, open the uploader dialog and move to the next image.
Copy: Copies the contents of all metadata fields for the current image
Paste: Pastes the previously copied metadata
Sound
The Sound section contains a Play button ▶️ and a Stop button ⏹️ to play any voice notes/memos associated with the image. Voice notes recorded in camera will have the same filename as the image they are associated with.
IPTC Encoding
The IPTC Encoding section contains a dropdown menu that allows you to set the text encoding system.
Write as Unicode will toggle whether IPTC is encoded as Unicode.
Streamlining Your Workflow Around Frequently Used Data
As with the Metadata (IPTC) Template, if you have a list of often-used data, such as a list of photographers, you can use that information to create a custom dropdown list by selecting the dropdown arrow to the right of the field and selecting the Edit... option.
Modifier Key Button Changes
Hold down the Modifier Key (Option on macOS / Shift on Windows) to change the functionality of the following buttons.
- OK becomes Eval: selecting will evaluate the variables in the window
- Save, Upload & -> becomes Upload options: selecting this will open the Uploader window
- Apply Metadata Template becomes Copy to Template: selecting this will copy the populated fields on the Info window and Copy them to the Metadata Template
- Additionally, holding the control key at the same time will Apply the contents of the Info window to all images selected on the Contact Sheet. In this scenario. The button becomes Apply to selected
- Clear becomes Options: you can now set which fields get cleared when the Clear button is selected
- Copy to ‘Locations Shown’ table becomes Copy to Loc Shown/Location