About metadata

Most digital cameras attach some basic information to an image file, such as height, width, file format, and time the image was taken. You can use metadata to streamline your workflow and organize your files.

Metadata information is stored using the Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) standard, on which Adobe Bridge, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Photoshop are built. Adjustments made to images with Photoshop Camera Raw are stored as XMP metadata. XMP is built on XML, and in most cases the metadata is stored in the file. If it isn’t possible to store the information in the file, metadata is stored in a separate file called a sidecar file. XMP facilitates the exchange of metadata between Adobe applications and across publishing workflows.

For example, you can save metadata from one file as a template, and then import the metadata into other files.Metadata that is stored in other formats, such as Exif, IPTC (IIM), GPS, and TIFF, is synchronized and described with XMP so that it can be more easily viewed and managed. Other applications and features also use XMP to communicate and store information such as version comments, which you can search using Adobe Bridge.In most cases, the metadata remains with the file even when the file format changes (for example, from PSD to JPG). Metadata also remains when files are placed in an Adobe document or project.

Many of the powerful Adobe Bridge features that allow you to organize, search, and keep track of your files and versions depend on XMP metadata in your files. Adobe Bridge provides two ways of working with metadata: through the Metadata panel and through the File Info dialog box. In some cases, multiple views exist for the same metadata property. For example, a property may be labeled Author in one view and Creator in another, but both refer to the same underlying property. Even if you customize these views for specific workflows, they remain standardized through XMP.

The Metadata panel

A file’s metadata contains information about the contents, copyright status, origin, and history of the file. In the Metadata panel, you can view and edit the metadata for selected files, use metadata to search for files, and use templates to append and replace metadata. Depending on the selected file, the following types of metadata may appear:

• Describes the characteristics of the file, including the size, creation date, and modification date.
• Displays editable metadata such as a description and copyright information. This set of metadata is hidden by default because IPTC Core supersedes it. However, you can display IPTC (IIM, legacy) metadata by selecting it from the Metadata options in the Preferences dialog box.
• Displays editable metadata about the file. The IPTC Core specification was developed by the International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC) for professional photography, especially news and stock photos.
• Includes additional identifying information about photo content, including rights-related details.
• Lists the fonts used in Adobe InDesign files.
• Lists files that are linked to an Adobe InDesign document.
• Lists CMYK plates specified for printing in Adobe Illustrator files.
• List the swatches used in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator files.
• Displays information assigned by digital cameras, including the camera settings used when the image was taken.
• Displays navigational information from a global positioning system (GPS) available in some digital cameras. Photos without GPS information don’t have GPS metadata.
• Displays settings applied by the Camera Raw plug-in.
• Displays metadata for audio files, including artist, album, track number, and genre.
• Displays metadata for video files, including pixel aspect ratio, scene, and shot.
• Keeps a log of changes made to images with Photoshop. Note that the History Log preference must be turned on in Photoshop for the log to be saved with the file’s metadata.
• Displays information about images saved in the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format.
• Lists information about SWF files, including title, author, description, and copyright.