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IPTC Metadata Guide

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Overview

All images on ShutterPoint are described by keywords, titles, categories, descriptions, and copyright information. The process of assigning these image attributes may become time-consuming and tedious when you have a large number of images.

The IPTC (International Press Telecommunication Council) standard was created to simplify the process of describing and classifying images. The standard is defined by a set of metadata attributes that can be applied to images.

There are software tools that allow you to enter most of image attributes before uploading files. This data is organized using the IPTC format, and gets embedded into the image files, making it available for extraction by supporting websites or other software tools.

You can assign and store various image information attributes, and when the file arrives to ShutterPoint, we automatically extract the most important pieces of metadata. This data embedded in your file allows us to pre-fill keywords, categories, titles, descriptions, and copyright information for your uploads - so less time is spent entering this data on the web.

Please visit the Glossary section to read more about IPTC profiles and view a partial list of software that supports them.

In this guide, we are describing the use of Adobe Photoshop / Bridge (Mac, Windows) and Microsoft Pro Photo Tools (Windows, free) to assign values to fields supported by ShutterPoint.

Using Adobe Photoshop / Bridge

Open the file in Adobe Photoshop, and select File > File Info... menu option. If you use Adobe Bridge, you can select one or multiple files, and use File > File Info... menu option, or right-click them and choose "File Info..." from the dropdown menu.

The Description panel, shown below, will open. When you enter data into the highlighted fields, ShutterPoint uploading system will be able to extract this set of data and pre-fill corresponding fields on the website for you.


Keeping the File Info window open, select the Categories panel. ShutterPoint supports categories entered in this section, if the values you enter can be mapped to our category names.


Please see Image Categories section for category names and codes supported by ShutterPoint.

When you are done, click OK to apply changes, and the save the file in Photoshop (changes are saved when you click OK when you use Adobe Bridge).

Using Microsoft Pro Photo Tools

Launch Microsoft Pro Photo Tools application (Windows users can download it free from the Microsoft website). Use File > Open Image(s)... menu option to select image(s) you wish to assign metadata to. Alternatively, select image file(s) within Windows Explorer, right-click them and choose "Pro Photo Tools" from the dropdown menu.

Using the Tasks section on left, select the Description panel as shown below. When you enter data into the highlighted fields, ShutterPoint uploading system will be able to extract this set of data and pre-fill corresponding fields on the website for you.



Keeping the Pro Photo Tools window open, select the Categories panel. ShutterPoint supports categories entered in the highlighted fields of this section, if the values you enter can be mapped to our category names.



Please see Image Categories section for category names and codes supported by ShutterPoint.

When you are done, save your changes using an appropriate option under the "File" menu.

Image Categories

Below is the list of category codes you can enter into the category fields. The Category field is limited to three characters, so you can use a category code of your choice. Supplemental Categories can be a list of either the three-character codes or full category names, matching the names of ShutterPoint categories. Remember to use comma (,) or semicolon (;) to separate categories. Entries not matching category codes or category names will be ignored, which allows you to use a mix of your own category values along with the ones recognized by ShutterPoint.

CodeName
ABSAbstract
AGRAgriculture
ANIAnimals
ARCArchitecture
BACBackgrounds and Textures
BOTBotanical
BZWBusiness World
CHIChildren
CONConcepts
CRECurrent Events
DIADigital Arts
DOCDocumentary
ENTEntertainment
EROErotica and Nudes
FASFashion
FNAFine Art
FODFood
GENGeneral
GLMGlamour
HEFHealth and Fitness
HLCHealthcare
HOLHoliday
CodeName
HUMHumorous
INDIndustrial
ISOIsolated Objects
LANLandscape
LAWLaw
MACMacro
MILMilitary
MUWMusic World
NATNature
NTSNight Shot
OCNOcean
OFWOffice World
PELPeople and Lifestyles
RELReligion and Spirituality
RULRural Life
SPOSports
STLStill Life
TECTechnology
TRNTransportation
TRATravel
URLUrban Life
VINVintage


Example 1:
Category: NAT
Supplemental Categories: Concepts, Macro
The first category uses a code for Nature, and two more categories are added by their names.

Example 2:
Category: NAT
Supplemental Categories: Europe, Concepts, Filtered, Macro, Summer
The first category uses a code for Nature, and two more categories are added by their names. Categories in gray are ignored by ShutterPoint, since they do not match ShutterPoint category names.

Example 3:
Category:
Supplemental Categories: Concepts, Filtered, MAC, Nature, SMR
The first category is omitted, while three categories are added. Concepts and Nature are being added by their names, and MAC (for Macro) gets added by its code. Categories in gray are ignored by ShutterPoint, since they do not match ShutterPoint category names or codes.



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