Can I auto-apply metadata to images?

Question

I'm trying to add an efficiency into my workflow. When my org produces images for our website, I add some basic metadata info appropriate for all imagery. I'd love to speed up the process a bit. I'm wondering if either of the two hypotheticals sounds achievable:

Is it possible to create a script that would execute a metadata write? I'm thinking here of when I've used scripts where I drag them on top of a file and it 'does something' (like my technical jargon?)
Can I create a watch folder within Bridge? I'd be down with just remembering to copy my images into a folder before it goes to its final home.

Perhaps there's some other modality. I dunno. I couldn't find anything in my searches. Any direction would be appreciated.

Stephen Marsh · Accepted Answer

Update: I have created an Action and am attempting to create a Droplet. Gotta turn my attention back to actual work, but I will revisit this. I can see what I have to do, but so far it hasn't 'taken' yet. I will persist. Thanks very much!

Here is a very rough step by step in screenshots:

1. Record an action that applies your Metadata Template from the File > File Info menu (no need to manually fill out the file info data)

2. Use the File > Automate > Create Droplet… menu option

3. Configure the (batch) Droplet settings:

4. Drag n drop files onto the Droplet icon to add the metadata:

NOTE: If you are using Photoshop for other tasks, then you may prefer a third party method to add the metadata so that you can continue to use Photoshop… However for small amounts of images this should not tie up Photoshop for a long time anyway. Bridge Metadata Templates are the fastest method. I would recommend ExifTool for a drag n drop alternative, however that is a separate discussion.

EDIT: It should also be possible to create a watched folder/hot folder using ExifTool and another program, or even just setup a scheduled task to run a batch script on a target folder at set intervals.

P.S.: Using Photoshop it is also possible to have the metadata template action applied when open files, saving files etc (using script events manager).

Lumigraphics · Answer

There is a script called DIY Metadata which reads metadata from a file and applies it in Bridge. You could add some glue to auto-generate a .csv or tab-delimited file and run it if you have programming skills.

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