New to variables? Start here: Introduction to Variables
Table of Contents:
- Camera or Image-Specific
- APEX Values
- Standard IPTC Fields
- Time and Date Variables
- ICC Profile Variables
- Special Variables
- GPS Variables
- User Variables
- Locations Taken
- Client Variables
- Nikon Picture Control Settings Variables
- Getty Variables
Camera or Image-Specific
actuations, act | Number of shutter actuations for the camera. |
aperture, f | Aperture setting of photo. (from the EXIF data) |
| artist | TIFF Artist field written by some cameras |
aspect, aspt | Aspect Ratio of photo |
aspectcrop, aspc | Aspect Ratio of cropped photo |
| av | Apeture value in APEX units |
brightness, brit, bv | Brightness of photo in APEX units. This is exposure value minus ‘film’ sensitivity value |
bytes, byte | The uncompressed image size of the photo |
colormode, cmod | The color mode set in the camera |
colorclass, color, colr | Name of color class for photo |
colorclasscolor, clrc | HTML color value of color class for photo |
colorclassval, colorval, clrv | Numeric value of color class for photo |
comment, cmnt | The comment (written by some cameras) |
comp | Exposure compensation set by camera |
corrupt, crpt | Number of invalid extra bytes in a JPEG |
cropheight, yc | Height of a crop |
cropwidth, xc | Width of a crop |
| description | TIFF Image Description |
ev | Exposure value in APEX units. This is a combination of aperture and shutter speed (or ISO and scene brightness) |
ev100 | Exposure value in APEX units, relative to ISO 100. E.g. at ISO 200, this would be {ev} - 1 |
filename, file | Filename of photo with the extension |
filenamebase, fbas | Filename of photo without the extension |
filesize, size | File size of the photo |
firmware, firm | Firmware version of camera that took photo |
flash, flsh | Flash used |
flashcomp, fcmp | Flash exposure compensation |
| focallength | Focal length of lens in mm. This isn't a 35mm equivalent for non-SLR cameras |
focusmode, focus, fmod | Focus mode of camera |
folder, fldr | The folder name for a photo (e.g. the current contact sheet) |
foldernum, fldn | The folder number for a photo (e.g. first three digits of DCIM folder) |
folderpath, fpth | The full folder path for a photo (e.g. the current contact sheet) |
frame, fnum | Frame number of photo |
frame4, fnm4 | Frame number of photo, last 4 digits |
| gps | Either 1 or 0 - if a photo has both GPS latitude and longitude |
hascrop, hc | Value will be 'True' if there is a crop set for this image |
height, h, y | Height of image in pixels (prior to any rotation drawn by Photo Mechanic) |
id | Either owner (Canon) or comment (Nikon) |
iso | ISO (ASA) setting of photo |
| isox | Nikon ISO expansion setting |
| kelvin, ktmp | Kelvin color temperature for Nikon AWB |
| label, labl | IPTC label for photo |
lens | Focal length of lens in mm. This isn’t a 35mm equivalent for non-SLR cameras |
lens35, 35mm | Equivalent 35mm focal length of lens in mm (Not all cameras record this value) |
lenstype, lt | Type of lens used |
lenstypenum, ltnm | Variable to report the lens number for certain Canon and Sigma lenses. (This can be used to create a code replacement for translating a lens ID into a more descriptive string) |
lightsource, lsrc | Light source |
lock | Returns 1 if the file is locked on the memory card, and 0 if no lock is found |
make | Make of camera that took photo |
| maxdim, maxd | Maximum width or height of image in pixels |
mediatype, mtyp | Media type (e.g. still, video) |
meteringmode, mmod | Metering mode set in camera |
model, modl | Model of camera that took photo. |
| numstars, num* | Star rating of a photo as a number (0-5) |
owner, ownr | Camera’s owner (if defined; same as user) |
parentfolderpath, pfpt | The full folder path to the parent folder of the folder of the photo (i.e. 2 levels up) |
path | The full path name of the photo |
pixels, pxls | Total number of pixels (width * height) for photo, displayed as an exponential multiplier (ex. 4.1M) |
prefix, prfx | First three characters of file name, excluding any leading ‘_’ character from AdobeRGB photos |
printsize, psiz | Print size in inches or cms (depends on photo) |
printsizecms, pscm | Print size in cms |
printsizeinches, psin | Print size in inches |
program, mode, prgm | Camera’s program mode for photo |
quality, qlty | Compression quality for camera JPEGs |
rating, stars, rate | Star rating of photo |
| resolution | Resolution in pixels per inch or cm (depends on photo) |
resolutioncms, rscm | Resolution is pixels per cm |
resolutioninches, rsin | Resolution in pixels per inch |
rotation, rot | Rotation drawn by Photo Mechanic |
serialnum, serial, snum | Serial number of camera that took photo |
sharpness, shrp | >Sharpness setting in camera for JPEG and TIFF files |
shutter, ss | Shutter speed setting of photo, from EXIF data |
software, soft | Software that produced the photo |
sound, snd | Sound file (voice/audio memo) attached (This evaluates to 1 if file has an associated sound file and 0 if not) |
| sv | "Film" sensitivity (ISO) in APEX units |
| tag | Tagged state of images (evaluates to 1 if the image is tagged, and 0 if it is not) |
| tiffcopyright, tifc | TIFF copyright field written by some cameras |
tonecomp, tone | Tone compensation (contrast) of photo |
| tv | Shutter speed (time value) in APEX units |
type | Image type (e.g. JPEG) |
uniqueid, uniq | Unique 32 char ID written by some cameras |
user | Camera’s user (if defined; same as owner) |
width, w, x | Width of image in pixels (prior to any rotation drawn by Photo Mechanic) |
whitebalance, white, baln | White balance of photo as set by camera or host software |
whitemode, whim | White balance mode (AUTO or MANUAL) |
APEX Values
Some cameras record APEX exposure values for each photo. In cases where the APEX values for av and tv are not recorded, Photo Mechanic will calculate them from existing camera settings for exposure time and f-number if possible.
If a camera writes the {tv} and {av} and {bv} values (Exif 0x9201, 0x9202, 0x9203) then they will be displayed directly. If a camera only writes the older Exif tags for Exposure Time and F Number, then Photo Mechanic will compute the {tv}, {av}, and {bv} APEX values from the camera settings.
The {sv} APEX value will always be computed based on ISO. (Ev = Av + Tv = Bv + Sv)
| av | APEX aperture value |
| bv | APEX brightness value |
| ev | Exposure value in APEX units. This is a combination of aperture and shutter speed (or ISO and scene brightness) |
| ev100 | Exposure value in APEX units, relative to ISO 100. E.g. at ISO 200, this would be {ev} - 1 |
| sv | APEX ISO speed value (a.k.a. sensitivity value) |
| tv | APEX time value |
Standard IPTC Fields
| alttext, alt | Alt Text accessibility information |
| alttextalt, alta | Returns contexts of the Alt Text field if that exists, or returns the contents of the Headline field if no Alt Text is available |
| byline, name | IPTC Byline (Photographer) field |
| caption, capt | IPTC Caption field |
| captionwriter, cwrt | IPTC Caption Writer field |
| category, cat | IPTC Category field |
| city | IPTC City field |
| citytaken, cttk | IPTC City where the image was taken from field |
| contactaddress, ciad | Contact Info Address |
| contactcity, cicy | Contact Info City |
| contactstate, cist | Contact Info State |
| contactzip, cizp | Contact Info ZIP Code |
| contactcountry, cicn | Contact Info Country |
| contactemail, ciem | Contact Info Email |
| contactphone, ciph | Contact Info Phone |
| contactweb, ciwb | Contact Info Web URL |
| copyright, copy | IPTC Copyright field |
| copyrighturl, curl | IPTC URL field |
| country, cnty | IPTC Country field |
| countrytaken, cntk | IPTC Country taken |
| countrycode, ccod | IPTC Country Code field |
| countrycodetaken, cctk | IPTC Country Code taken |
| credit, cred | IPTC Credit field |
| editstatus, edit | IPTC Edit Status field |
| event, evnt | IPTC Event field |
| extendeddesc, extd | IPTC Extended Description accessibility field |
| genre, gene | IPTC Intellectual Genre field |
| headline, head | IPTC Headline field |
| identity, idn | Creator's Identity |
| instructions, inst | IPTC Special Instructions field |
| imagesupplierid, isid | IPTC Image Supplier ID field |
| imagesupplierimageid, isii | IPTC Image Supplier's Image ID field |
| imagesuppliername, isnm | IPTC Image Supplier Name field |
| iptcampm, iap | IPTC day half (AM or PM) |
| iptcdate, idat | IPTC Date field (YYYYMMDD) |
| iptcday, iday | IPTC day (1, 2, 3 .. 31) |
| iptcday0, idy0 | IPTC day zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 31) |
| iptcdow, idow | IPTC day of week (Sunday, Monday, etc) |
| iptcdow3, idw3 | IPTC day of week abbreviated (Sun, Mon, etc) |
| iptchour, ihr | IPTC 12 hour format (1, 2, 3 .. 12) |
| iptchour0, ihr0 | IPTC 12 hour format zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 12) |
| iptchour24, ih24 | IPTC 24 hour format zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 23) |
| iptcminute, imin | IPTC minute (00 .. 59) |
| iptcmonth, imn | IPTC month (1, 2, 3 .. 12) |
| iptcmonth0, imn0 | IPTC month zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 12) |
| iptcmonthname, imnn | IPTC month name ( January, February, etc) |
| iptcmonthname3 | IPTC month name abbreviated ( Jan, Feb, etc) |
| iptcmonthnameap | IPTC month name abbreviated for AP ( Jan., Feb., etc) |
| iptcsecond, isec | IPTC second (00 .. 59) |
| iptctime, itim | IPTC Time field (HHMMSS+0800) |
| iptcyear2, iyr2 | IPTC year (2 digits) |
| iptcyear4, iyr4 | IPTC year (4 digits) |
| keywords, keyw | IPTC Keywords field |
| location, loc | IPTC Sublocation field |
| locationtaken, lctk | IPTC sublocation taken field |
| locationidtaken, litk | IPTC Location ID Taken field |
| mining | IPTC/PLUS Data Mining field |
| modelages, moda | IPTC Model Ages field |
| modelinfo, modi | IPTC Additional Model Info field |
| modelreleaseid, mrid | IPTC Model Release ID field |
| object, objt | IPTC Object name field |
| persons, prsn | IPTC Persons in image field |
| photog, phtg | IPTC Byline field |
| province, prov | IPTC State / Province field |
| scene, scen | IPTC Scene field |
| slug | IPTC Object name field |
| source, srce | IPTC Source field |
| sourcetype, srct | Digital source type |
| state, stat | IPTC State / Province field |
| statetaken, sttk | IPTC State where the image was taken from field |
| subject, subj | IPTC Subject field |
| suppcat1, sup1 | IPTC Supplemental category field 1 |
| suppcat2, sup2 | IPTC Supplemental category field 2 |
| suppcat3, sup3 | IPTC Supplemental category field 3 |
| title, titl | IPTC Creator's Job Title field |
| transref, tref | IPTC Transmission Reference field |
| urgency, urgc | IPTC Urgency field |
| usage, usag | IPTC Rights Usage field |
| worldregiontaken, wrtk | World region taken |
Time and Date Variables
| ampm | Capture day half (AM or PM) |
| date, shot | Capture date of photo according to camera or file creation time. The format is the same as the Date & Time control panel’s ‘short date’ setting |
| datemil, datm | Capture date of photo according to camera or file creation time in military format (ddMONyy |
| datesort, dats | Capture date of photo according to camera or file creation time. This can be used for sorting since the format is always YYYYMMDD |
| datesortdash, dtsd | Capture date of photo according to camera or file creation time. This can be used for sorting since the format is always YYYY-MM-DD |
| day | Capture day of photo according to camera or file creation time (1, 2, 3 .. 31) |
| day0 | Capture day zero padded of photo according to camera or file creation time (01, 02, 03 .. 31) |
| dow | Capture day of week of photo according to camera or file creation time (Sunday, Monday, etc) |
| dow3 | Capture day of week (abbreviated) of photo according to camera or file creation time (Sun, Mon, etc) |
| hour | Capture 12 hour format (1, 2, 3 .. 12) |
| hour0, hr0 | Capture 12 hour format zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 12) |
| hour24, h24 | Capture 24 hour format zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 23) |
| minute, min | Capture minute (00 .. 59) |
| moddate, mdat | Modification date |
| modtime, mtim | Modification time |
| moddatesort, mdts | Modification date for sorting (YYYYMMDD) |
| modtimesort, mtms | Modification time for sorting (HHMMSS) |
| month, mn | Capture month according to camera or file creation time (1, 2, 3 .. 12) |
| month0, mn0 | Capture month zero padded according to camera or file creation time (01, 02, 03 .. 12 |
| monthname, mnn | Capture month name ( January, February, etc) |
| monthname3, mnn3 | Capture month name abbreviated ( Jan, Feb, etc) |
| monthnameap, mnap | Capture month name abbreviated for AP (Jan., Feb., etc) |
| now | Current time. See the Date & Time control panel for formatting |
| nowampm, nap | Current day half (AM or PM) |
| nowhour, nhr | Current 12 hour format (1, 2, 3 .. 12) |
| nowhour0, nhr0 | Current 12 hour format zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 12) |
| nowhour24, nh24 | Current 24 hour format zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 23) |
| nowminute, nmin | Current minute (00 .. 59) |
| nowsecond, nsec | Current second (00 .. 59) |
| nowsort, nows | Current time. This can be used for sorting since the format is always HHMMSS in 24-hour format |
| nowsortlong, nwsl | Current time including 1/100 of a second. This can be used for sorting since the format is always HHMMSSss in 24-hour format |
| nowsubsecond, nsub | Current subsecond (00 .. 99) |
| second, sec | Capture second (00 .. 59) |
| subsecond, ssec | Capture sub-second (for cameras that support this) |
| time | Capture time of photo according to camera or file creation time |
| timesort, tims | Capture time of photo according to camera |
| timesortdash, tmsd | Capture time of photo according to camera or file creation time. This can be used for sorting since the format is always HH-MM-SS |
| timesortlong, tmsl | Capture time of photo according to camera (long format) |
| today, tday | Current date. The format is the same as the Date & Time control panel’s ‘short date’ setting |
| todayday, tdy | Current day (1, 2, 3 .. 31) |
| todayday0, tdy0 | Current day zero padded (01, 02, 03 .. 31) |
| todaydow, tdow | Current day of week (Sunday, Monday, etc) |
| todaydow3, tdw3 | Current day of week abbreviated (Sun, Mon, etc) |
| todaymil, tdym | Current date in military format (ddMONyy) |
| todaymonth, tmn | Current month (1, 2, 3 .. 12) |
| todaymonth0, tmn0 | Current zero padded month (01, 02, 03 .. 12) |
| todaymonthname, tmnn | Current month name ( January, February, etc) |
| todaymonthname3, tmn3 | Current month name abbreviated ( Jan, Feb, etc) |
| todaymonthnameap, tmap | Current month name abbreviated for AP (Jan., Feb., etc) |
| todaysort, tdys | Current date. This can be used for sorting since the format is always YYYYMMD |
| todayyear2, tyr2 | Current two digit year (e.g. 97, 04) |
| todayyear4, tyr4 | Current four digit year (e.g 1997, 2004) |
| tomorrow, tmrw | Tomorrow’s date. The format is the same as the Date & Time control panel’s ‘short date’ setting |
| wiredate, wdat | Evaluates to {iptcdow}, {iptcmonthnameap} {iptcday}, {iptcyear4} |
| year2, yr2 | Capture year (2 digits) according to camera or file creation time |
| year4, yr4 | Capture year (4 digits) according to camera or file creation time |
| yesterday, ystd | Yesterday’s date. The format is the same as the Date &Time control panel’s ‘short date’ setting |
ICC Profile Variables
gamma, gama | The gamma of the photo |
icc | The name of the ICC profile for a photo |
prrx | The red x coordinate of the primaries |
prry | The red y coordinate of the primaries |
prgx | The green x coordinate of the primaries |
prgy | The green y coordinate of the primaries |
prbx | The blue x coordinate of the primaries |
prby | The blue y coordinate of the primaries |
wpx | The x coordinate of the white point |
wpy | The y coordinate of the white point |
Special Variables
index, indx | Index of the photo being processed |
ingestseq, iseq | Current value of ingest sequence number. This is incremented for each disk being ingested |
nl | Inserts a new-line (CR) character |
page | Current page number during printing or exporting of HTML |
pagecount | Total number of pages during printing or exporting of HTML |
| rand3 | A 3-digit random number from 000 to 999. |
| rand4 | A 4-digit random number from 0000 to 9999. |
rand10 | A random number from 01 to 10 |
rand100 | A random number from 001 to 100 |
rand1000 | A random number from 0001 to 1000 |
sequence, seqn, auto | Current value of sequence variable. This will automatically be incremented for the next photo |
tab | Inserts a tab character |
total, totl | Total number of photos being processed |
GPS Variables
altitude, galt | GPS altitude in meters |
bearingfrom, bfrm | Bearing from photo to home in degrees |
bearingto, brto | Bearing to photo from home in degrees |
distance, dist | Distance from photo to home in user’s units |
gpsdate, gdat | GPS date (UTC) as YYYY:MM:DD |
gpsdatum, gdtm | GPS map datum |
gpsdif, gdif | GPS differential correction applied (no or yes) |
gpsdir, gdir | GPS image direction (0-359 degrees) |
gpddirref, gdrf | GPS image direction reference (true or magnetic) |
gpsdop, gdop | GPS degree of data precision |
gpsmode, gmod | GPS dimension mode (2 or 3) |
gpsstatus, gsta | GPS status (A=acquiring, V=valid) |
gpstime, gtim | GPS time (UTC) as HH:MM:SS |
gpsversion, gver | GPS version |
latitude, glat | GPS latitude |
longitude, glon | GPS longitude |
satellites, gsat | GPS satellites |
speed, gspd | GPS speed |
track, gtrk | GPS track (0-359 degrees) |
| trackref, gtrf | GPS track reference (true or magnetic) |
User Variables
jobname, job | Current Job name |
username, urna | User name |
usercompany, urco | User Company/Name |
useraddress, ura1 | User Street Address |
useraddress2, ura2 | User Secondary Address |
usercity, urcy | User City |
userstate,urst | User State |
userzip, urzip | User zip Code |
usercountry, urcn | User Country |
userphone, urph | User Phone Number |
usermobile, urmb | User Mobile Number |
userweb, urwb | User Website URL |
useremail, urem | User Email address |
usercustom1, urc1 | User Custom Field 1 |
usercustom2, urc2 | User Custom Field 2 |
usercustom3, urc3 | User Custom Field 3 |
Locations Taken
locationtaken, lctk | Sublocation taken |
citytaken, cttk | City the image was taken in |
statetaken, sttk | State the image was taken in |
countrytaken, cntk | Country the image was taken in |
countrycodetaken, cctk | Country Code taken in |
worldregiontaken, wrtk | World region the image was taken in |
Client Variables
clientname, clna | Client name |
clientcompany, clco | Client Company/Name |
clientaddress, cla1 | Client Street Address |
clientaddress2, cla2 | Client Secondary Address |
clientcity, clcy | Client City |
clientstate,clst | Client State |
clientzip, clzip | Client zip Code |
clientcountry, uscn | Client Country |
clientphone, clph | Client Phone Number |
clientmobile, clmb | Client Mobile Number |
clientweb, clwb | Clients Website URL |
clientemail, clem | Client Email address |
clientcustom1, clc1 | Client Custom Field 1 |
clientcustom2, clc2 | Client Custom Field 2 |
clientcustom3, clc3 | Client Custom Field 3 |
Nikon Picture Control Settings Variables
| pcnm | Picture Control Name |
| pcad | Picture Control Adjustment |
| pcqa | Picture Control Quick Adjust |
| pcsh | Picture Control Sharpness |
| pccn | Picture Control Contrast |
| pcbr | Picture Control Brightness |
| pcsa | Picture Control Saturation |
| pchu | Picture Control Hue Adjustment |
| pcfe | Picture Control Filter Effect |
| pcte | Picture Control Toning Effect |
| pcts | Picture Control Toning Saturation |
Getty Variables
| callforimage, gcfi | Getty Call for image |
| composition, gcmp | Getty Composition |
| exclusivecov, gexc | Getty Exclusive Coverage |
| imagerank, grnk | Getty Image Rank |
| personality, gprs | Getty Personality |
| routingdest, grtd | Getty Routing Destinations |
| routingexcl, gexl | Getty Routing Exclusions |