IPTC Data is a method of storing useful
information within the Metadata of digital
images. Within the MAP
Group, we aim to have all our images contain IPTC data - this
is easy to do and will make life much easier for cataloguing/sorting/finding images.
The best time to add IPTC data is when downloading the images
to your computer and there are numerous programs that allow one to do this easily
e.g. Adobe Lightroom and Bridge, Breeze Systems
Downloader Pro etc.
IPTC data can also be added later from
within other programs such as later versions of Adobe
Photoshop, Bridge, Lightroom or Breezebrowser Pro or the free
program Irfanview. If
using Irfanview
you will also need the plug-ins.
The instructions below are for a Windows
machine. If you wish to enter the copyright symbol © in
a document, hold down the Alt key while pressing zero,1,6
then 9.
To insert the copyright symbol using a
Mac, hold down the 'option' key and press the 'g'
key.
To add or alter IPTC Data in Photoshop
(Version CS3 - Windows), do the following:
1. Open the image you wish to add/change
IPTC Data
2. On the top toolbar, click on
File
3. From the drop down menu, choose
File Info
4. Enter the required information
in the fields you will be presented with and save the image by
pressing the OK button.
5. The main sections to fill in are on
the first page you will be presented with called 'Description'
(see below)
The first time you access the File Info
section you will be horrified with the amount of
information you seem to be required to input (as there is a lot you can
enter).
However, there is a way to make this
process quite painless. Here's how:
When you have the File Info box
open, you will notice a small circle enclosing a triangle
in the top right hand corner of the box (see above or
below)
This enables you to save the Metadata you
have carefully entered so that it can be easily re-loaded and
applied to other images.
Obviously it is best if this saved
Metadata is generic i.e. contains copyright, contact info etc
only so that you only have to enter
information specific to a particular
image.
The other important page to complete,
particularly for your saved Metadata Template is the 'IPTC
Contact' section (see below)
If you want to learn more please
visit www.iptc.org or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPTC
