How to Add Metadata in Adobe Bridge

In this tutorial you will learn how to add Metadata in Adobe Bridge. As our collections of images grows, we have to embed information about in image in the file itself. This information generally refers to its metadata and some metadata is actually added automatically for example when we use a digital camera to capture an image, the camera manufactures includes information such as a lens that was used or the location spot. We can also add our own information in the file within a minutes. Lets take a look for adding Metadata in Adobe Bridge. In Adobe Bridge the best way to see Metadata of single image as well as bulk of images is via Metadata panel. If we want to see more information, first we choose any image from the main page and then double click on the Preview in order to minimize this panel.

Tools used to add Metadata in Adobe Bridge

When we minimize the Preview Box we see that there are more option coming up below Metadata section including

• File property
• IPTC Core
• IPTC Extension
• Camera Date
• GPS
• Camera Raw
• Audio
• Video
• Dicom

All these features are used to add Metadata in Adobe Bridge and you can easily customize your desired image metadata and keywords. If you want to add some more information about your image then Go to Tools > Append Metadata or chose Replace the Metadata. The difference is if you already had some Metadata as signed in your image and you just want to add more Metadata to it you can use Append Metadata. For example if you already add some Metadata and copyright information of your image but you want to add secondary information about your image like where to use this image, resolution of image or you add a caption then we use Append Metadata tool. Or if you already done with Metadata but want to replace some values then use Replace Metadata Tool. This is how you add Metadata in Adobe Bridge for your personal blogs, clients websites or in your projects.

Rename images in adobe bridge

The naming comention that most cameras used is always most descriptive. Adobe Bridge makes it really easy to rename your photos. You could rename you images when you are using Abobe downloader utility to get photos to your camera but if you not using this utility or if you want to rename your images later in your workflow, all you need to do is simply select all of the images you want to rename that are located in your main page of Adobe Bridge. After selecting all images, simply click on the first image and then hold down the shift key and then click on the last image in order to select the entire range of images. Then under the Tools menu chose Batch Rename. The keyboard shortcut is cmd+shift+r for mac users and ctrl+shift+r for windows users. In the Batch Rename dialogue box you will notice, you see lots of customizable options like Rename in the same folder, move to other folder and copy to other folder. In order to give new Filenames of your images you can use vareity different options as your requirment. You can edit

• Text
• New Extension
• Current Filename
• Preserved Filename
• Sequence Number
• Sequence Letter
• Data Time
• Metadata
• Folder Name
• String Subsitution

When you done with editing you can also see the current and next filename preview in preview box. When you are satisfied simplyclick on rename and thats all.

Thumbnail customization in Adobe bridge

Process to customize thumbnails in adobe bridge

As you view your images in content panel it is essential that you are comfortable with the number of images at you looking at as well as the size of the preview. The first thing we might wanna change is the size of selected image. if we scroll down in lower right panel you see a line bar with an arrow slider on drop down of the page. If we move this slider right or left side we see the images placed in main page will become expand or shorten. You can resize the images and drag and drop down according to your choice. The thumbnail of images will become larger or can be drag and drop as you wish. There is also an icon in each side of the slider to do this action with ease. Is you are keyword junkie then use cmd + minus sign on mac and for window use ctrl + minus sign (-) to make your thumbnails smaller or in order to make your thumbnail larger use ctrl + plus sign (+) on windows and for mac use cmd + plus sign as a command line. So now after customize the size of our thumbnails, what about the content under neath the thumbnails. So is you want to put more information about each image on the main page of your Adobe Bridge, we can use our preferences. You can do this by going  toolbar and click Adobe Bridge , Click the drop down and select Preferences on windows. The keyword shortcut for this is cmd + k on mac and ctrl + k for windows. When we open Preferences, another page will open look like the image below. The second choice is Thumbnail click and open it. Now we have more choices here. You can add metadata of thumbnails, size of description underneath the thumbnails, edit the dimensions and keyword for this image. Use these option according to your choice.

What is digital image processing

What does digital image processing mean? In the old days of film, if you wanted to process your images, you had to load the images onto a reel and put it into a tank, all in total darkness. After that you could turn on the lights and begin adding various chemicals and, keeping the temperature constant, agitate the tank to keep the chemicals mixed. Finally, you would hang up the film to dry. Once it was dry, you would cut the film, make a contact sheet, number it, and you were ready to begin printing. We will do the same here, except using digital techniques. The goal is to have your images ready for printing.

Steps in digital image processing

The simple steps in digital are downloading the image, numbering it, backing it up, and organizing your images. These are all very similar to the things done with film. First you need to download your images. This means transferring them from your memory card or camera onto the hard drive of your computer. As suggested in digital image processing under Step 3, “Selecting Equipment,” it is easier and less prone to error if you use a card reader to do the downloading rather than attaching your camera to the computer. Simply remove the memory card from the camera, place it into the reader, and watch it show up on your desktop. Make a new folder and name it appropriately. One suggestion is to use the date and a short description. If you use the date as YYMMDD (for example, 060315 means March 15, 2012), then they will automatically sort in date order.So the complete name would be: “060315- Jane beach.” If you have more than one session or location on your memory card, set up folders for each. Then simply drag the photographs from the memory card on the desktop into the various folders.

Transferring data in digital image processing

Eject the memory card from your desktop. Do not erase or reformat the card on your computer. Check that the photographs transferred okay by looking at them with your image software. You need to consider whether you want to renumber your images. Some photographers will simply use the number assigned by the camera. It might be something like “DSCF7479.” Others will change it slightly by adding letters that refer to the session, such as “Jane01-7479” (Jane01 means the first session with Jane). Finally, others will rename the images entirely to something like “Jane01-001,” “Jane01-002,” and so on. Choose the one that works best for you and renumber the images if you’d like. Many image programs, such as Photoshop, have a renumbering feature built-in. If not, there are a number of programs available for PC and for Mac that will enable you to renumber easily.

How to use Refine Edge tool in adobe Photoshop

When you are editing with adobe Photoshop, you can observe fur on fluffy animals is hard to select but using the Refine edge function makes it easier. Fluff, hair and uneven edges are the most challenging to work on when attempting to make a clean cut selection. Luckily there is a solution easier than painstakingly selection the perimeter manually. The Refine edge command holds a host of options to soften the sides of the selection., making it great to tackle these bothersome elements.

Selecting in Refine edge tool

Refine edge is a command that needs and initial selection to be made before it becomes accessible. Use the Magnetic Lasso tool to make a rough selection of the subject before opening it up. While a rough selection is good, it does help to keep to the edges as much as possible.

How to flip between the right view

Toggle between View option in the Refine Edge menu to view your selection in a way that makes sense to you. The standard option shows the full image with the selection ants, but you can also chose to view the selection against a background or directly in Quick Mask mode. Press " P " to toggle through the various previews of the edge Refinements, Press " F " to cycle through the preview modes and F to temporarily preview the image.

How to use Shift Edge

Once the selection is made, use the Radius and Expand commands to fit that selection snugly to the subject. Radius improves the edge in areas with some transition and the fine details while expand will slowly move outwards by the number of pixels specified.

Match the adjustment with the Help of Refine tool

When working with Fur or other difficult selections, keep in mind the adjustment that will complement the nature of the selection. Adding Gaussian Blur to the background helps smooth out the edges and gives the images soft and professional look.

How to Adapt your Tool

If you are working with other animals, make compensation for the texture and characteristics of their covering  A penguin for example could benefit from being selected with a mixture of the Magic Wand and Refine Edge tool, as there is not as much hair or uneven surfaces to contend with.