Still scratching my head on this ....

[Matt Limb OBE]

Hello All

Has anyone found a good method of 'tagging' metadata when you submit an image to a Stock Picture Library?

For example 10 images all sent to XX Picture Library - all 10 need a tag to say they have been sent - 4 are rejected so this 4 now need a tag to say rejected by XX Picture Library - then start again with ZZ Picture Library etc etc

Anyone any guidance?

Matt

[peterkrogh]

Mat,
What software are you using to manage your collection?
Peter

[Matt Limb OBE]

Hello Peter

Running with Lightroom version 2 and PS CS4 as and when needed

Matt

[peterkrogh]

Matt,
It's probably best to build a keyword hierarchy to help remember this
Submissions
>Agency
>>Date
>>>Accept/Reject Status

Something like that.  You can set the keywords as ones not to be exported.

You could use Collections also, but building hierarchies is kind of painful with that tool as currently designed.

Of course this gets to be more difficult if you have multiple catalogs.

Peter

[johnbeardy]

I feel it's lousy data practice to pollute keywords with non-descriptive information - the best that can be said for it is that at least it can be made to work. I do have a working LR plug-in designed for stock submission control, but have chosen not to release it, or even use it myself in "real" catalogues - the SDK's custom fields are just too flaky. It's just another reason why Lightroom should have had a proper implementation of custom fields, and from day 1.....

John

[peterkrogh]

John,
Given the reality of the program at the present time, would you do this in collections instead?  There's not a huge difference between collection and no-write keywords as far as durability goes. What would you say are the pluses and minuses for each? 
And don't say Expression Media.
Peter

[johnbeardy]

I'd say it's about equal. You can search on assignment to collections (smart collections can target a collection name), and there's no risk at all of collections getting into the xmp. On the other hand, assigning to keywords is easier via sets, presets, and you've got various ways of searching for keywords.

John

[perkarlsson]

I don't use LR so this does not quite apply for you.

Instead, i use Portfolio and to track agency submissions I have created custom fields (which you can't in LR if I understand right).

For each agency I have a custom field in which I note where each image is in the process: candidate for submission / to submit / submitted / accepted / rejected / not to submit ... (or whatever would fit your needs)

This makes it very easy to track where images are with each agency (provided you diligently update the fields).

The disadvantage is that the info is not embedded in the image file itself. (But I would not what to have that info embedded in keywords anyway. Perhaps if I knew how to work with embedded custom metadata it could work, but I don't want to "corrupt" a field with info that it was not intended to contain).

In the worst case, if I need to migrate from Portfolio, I can always export the custom field and import it into any new DAM  start to work with.

-Per