What is it?
A redesign of the File Info dialog box may not be high on most people’s list of favorite features in CS4, but it does open some interesting possibilities. Because the new dialog is Flash-based, it makes it easier to create new, and hopefully useful, ways of leveraging the metadata within a file to automate portions of the workflow or to make it easier to find a particular photo. For now, the only effective change is visual, with tabbed sections within the File Info dialog instead of the vertical arrangement found in previous versions.
Complimenting the new File Info dialog is per-layer metadata support designed to make it easier for designers and retouchers to keep track of image licensing and attribution from images composited together from several sources.
Why is it important?
Future generations of “intelligent workflows”, (I say future because current workflows are a long way from intelligent), will be able to process images based on image content and embedded metadata. While most of us won’t see direct benefits from the addition of per-layer metadata or the new File Info panel, these changes will pay dividends down the road. For a couple examples, read John Nack’s posts on the new changes and workflow possibilities.
Per-layer metadata comes to Photoshop
Bonus Tip: Remove Metadata Quickly: It is pretty rare that I advocate removing metadata, but there are times when you need to get rid of metadata quickly. Say, for example, you don’t want your client to see that you underexposed the photo by two stops and had to salvage it in PS. Not that you’d ever do that.
Anyway, clicking on the Import button at the bottom of the File Info dialog gives quick access to your metadata templates. If you’ve created a “clean template” with only your Copyright notice selecting Clear existing properties and replace with template properties will eliminate all metadata within the file except the information found within your template.
For more info, check out this post from Gunar, Adobe’s metadata guru.
Hi, nobody has been able to help me… so far! Right, my problem is this… In the File Info box, go to the Author field. Now I have various names in there, various mis-spellings etc. How do I delete the whole lot? If you could help it would be amazing! Thanks in advance, all the best, David ~
David,
Which version of Photoshop are you using? In CS5 clicking on the Preferences button at the bottom of the page allows you to disable the auto-correct or purge the database.
Jay
Hi, it’s CS4 Version 11.0
Hmmm. Have you tried deleting Photoshop’s preferences?
No, could you point me to them please?
Also, I started CS4 and deleted the Settings File… no change to the problem!
Try looking in your Application Settings (Mac) or Program Files (Win) for the common Adobe>XMP folder. There are a number of text files in the folders and I suspect one of them stores the database.
Have you looked in the Adobe Help file to see if it gives you a specific answer?
I have 10.5.8 and I can’t find any of the things you mention…
Check under Macintosh HD>Library>Application Support>Adobe>XMP.
Did you check the Help files?
Hi Jay, there’s a LOT of files there… any idea which ones to check..? š
No help on the Adobe site that I could find.
I’ve posted on their Forum, but no replies as yet…
I’d skip all the files that end with a language suffix (e.g. XXX_RU).
Aside from that, I don’t really know where to point you. It isn’t a request I’ve ever had before and I’m too swamped today to try and help sort it out for you.
OK, but do let me know if anything comes to mind in the future, and Thanks!
David,
Good luck with your search. I’ll let you know if I think of anything.
Jay