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Merlin3
Inspiring
August 18, 2017
Question

Applying Keywords from existing list and categories

  • August 18, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 1102 views

Hi,

I am considering Lightroom to take over from Extensis Portfolio 8 (dropped by Extensis) for keywording photos.

Extensis allowed creation of custom fields, so peoples names, townVillage, animal, Bird etc could then be populated with keywords to act as a safety feature to ensure the same spelling was used each time by simply selecting the images then the keywords from the custom fields before clicking assign.

Searching for the name that was used for someone, when you cant remember their name, or a location when memory fails one, is dead easy in a list e.g. 28 long, but crazy in a list 2000 long of just keywords.

How is this done in Lightroom ?

Also how does one select e.g  5 keywords from existing lists and apply them to several images ?

How does one select certain keywords from the lists and find matching pics on two or more keywords ?

All essential and possible in what was a great prog Portfolio, but now lost to time.

Can Lightroom import the keywords from images if I were to embed them into such in Portfolio ? I presume they would all come in as one great uncategorised mass, needing separating out to the 'custom fields' again.

Can Lightroom embed keywords and a description into IPTC for images for transfer to Getty etc ?

Merlin

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    August 18, 2017

    Lightroom has a keyword search field, where if you're not sure of the exact spelling, or you don't want to scroll through hundreds (thousands) of keywords, you can tyype in the first 3 or 4 letters and Lightroom will show you only those keywords that match what you typed.

    Select 5 keywords and apply to multiple photos: I can think of two ways to do this, and there are probably more. Select all desired photos, then apply the keywords; or use the painter to "paint" keywords onto individual photos.

    Find photos that have two (or more) keywords: use the Lightroom Filter Bar.  Or create a smart collection.

    Lightroom can write metadata (including keywords) to exported files for use in other software or for use by recipients of your photos.

    M
    Merlin3Author
    Inspiring
    August 18, 2017

    Hi,

    Thanks, sounds promising.

    Am I right in thinking though that it has no ability to split the keywords up into 'custom fields' ?

    If I am wishing to give 'emotion' keywords for example, seeing the different 'emotion' keywords listed together reminds me of what I have used and can use, ensuring also I spell them a certain way and stick to the existing used keywords. Such acts as an 'aide memoire', else I am very likely to forget some I have used which would be most appropriate.

    Whilst the typing of the first few characters will show the keyword used, and that's good, to have all keywords of a certain category visible together in a 'custom field' makes for a more efficient and comfortable feel to things. Msoft Access users will be familiar with such practices, Lightroom for this DAM purpose and Access share an approach here for finding files/records by entering existing values.

    Merlin

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    August 18, 2017

    Give a specific example, please.

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