The IPTC / XMP Preferences section is where you set up how Photo Mechanic reads and writes IPTC and/or XMP metadata for photos. By understanding how all your various applications handle IPTC and/or XMP metadata, you can configure Photo Mechanic to write this metadata for maximum interoperability. Photo Mechanic offers several snapshots to maximize compatibility with popular editors.
When writing IPTC/XMP:
The IPTC/XMP write preferences have to do with adding IPTC/XMP metadata when it doesn’t exist in a photo. Photo Mechanic will always update any existing metadata to make sure no metadata is left stale. For example, if you choose to add only XMP metadata into JPEG photos, but Photo Mechanic finds only existing IPTC metadata in a JPEG, it will update the IPTC data and add XMP data to the JPEG photo.
When writing metadata for RAW photos, Photo Mechanic prioritizes using XMP sidecar files by default because this is the best option for speed and compatibility with other programs that work with metadata.
For JPEG, TIFF, PSD photos:
Add embedded IPTC (XMP will always be written): selected by default. Photo Mechanic will write both IPTC and XMP metadata into JPEG, TIFF, and PSD files. When deselected, Photo Mechanic will only write XMP metadata into JPEG, TIFF, and PSD files.
For TIFF-based RAW photos:
Allow RAW files to be modified: Not selected by default. When selected, Photo Mechanic has permission to modify TIFF-based RAW files.
Add embedded metadata: Not available by default. To have Photo Mechanic add embedded metadata, select Allow RAW files to be modified, then select Add embedded metadata.
In the dropdown menu, select “XMP and IPTC” or “XMP only” depending on which type of metadata you want to include in TIFF-based RAW photos.
Always create and/or update XMP sidecar file: Photo Mechanic creates and updates XMP sidecar files by default for TIFF-based RAW photos.
If Allow RAW files to be modified and Add embedded metadata are selected, deselecting the Always create and/or update XMP sidecar file checkbox tells Photo Mechanic to not create and/or update XMP sidecar files and only embed metadata into TIFF-based RAW photos.
Note: See the RAW File Formats section in Supported File Formats to find the RAW file types that Photo Mechanic is capable of embedding metadata into.
Default IPTC Encoding: sets the text encoding system and also offers the choice to use Unicode to write IPTC.
IPTC Line Endings: Sets the line endings that are used in the IPTC data.
When viewing photos in RAW+JPEG mode use the metadata from the: This popup menu allows you to choose where the metadata comes from when RAW and JPEG images are paired.
For JPEGs with multiple IPTC and/or XMP records: Some applications edit IPTC and XMP metadata in JPEG photos in different ways. If Photo Mechanic encounters improperly formatted JPEG photos with multiple records, this lets you configure how Photo Mechanic handles it.
Use a (comma or semi-colon) to separate repeating fields (Keywords, Caption Writers, etc.): Lets you choose how repeating IPTC fields are separated. If you like to use commas in names as in “Last name, First name” then choose semi-colon as your separator.
Check spelling of Caption field as you type: Checks spelling of the Caption field using the system dictionary. In Windows, you can specify which system dictionary.
When updating XMP, add Structured Keywords to hierarchical keywords field only: Selecting this box will attempt to ensure that the keywords remain hierarchical within the XMP file. When deselected, the Structured Keywords will be added as a flat list to the keywords field.
Always use today's date in Metadata (IPTC) Template: Presets the Date field in the Metadata (IPTC) Template to the current system date
Metadata (IPTC) Info date and time uses: Specifies which date and time you would like to use here.
Show recently used items in field popups menus: Select this option to show recently entered text items in IPTC field popup menus after selecting the down arrow button to the right of an IPTC field textbox.