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Author Topic: Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files  (Read 10228 times)

StephenEdgar

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Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files
« on: September 24, 2005, 04:56:35 am »

Hi Folks,
As part of my 'workflow' in Adobe Bridge, I usually add keywords to my pictures. However, I notice that his practice adds an XMP sidecar file to every picture. Is this simply how the 'additional metadata process' works, or are these additional files not necessary? I'm a little concerned about actually keeping track of all these XMP files!
How do other image management programmes (such as ACDSee) keep track of additional metadata without creating additional related files?
Any help or insight would be appreciated
Regards
Stephen
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jule

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Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2005, 06:09:18 am »

XMP files are used so there is no alteration to the RAW image and all the processing information and metadata are stored in the sidecar XMP file. All is OK when both are in the same folder but you must remember to move both the image and its' XMP file if you move it to another location. One way to ensure they stay together is to use DNG's. Heaps of info and debate if you do a search.

That is the easiest way I know how to keep them together, but I'm sure those far more experienced than I have other ways as well.

Julie
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francois

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Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2005, 06:28:35 am »

Stephen,
Adobe Camera RAW gives you two options to store Metadata. The first one is to store them in sidecar files (.xmp) or use a centralized cache. You can reach this with the preferences menu of Camera Raw. Other applications choose a different way and add metadata direcly into your RAW files. With this technique, your files are modified. I'm not familiar with ACDSee but I guess it simply adds data to the initial file.

I hope this helps,
Francois
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Francois

Jonathan Wienke

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Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2005, 11:36:03 am »

I'm strongly in favor of the XMP sidecar option. I'm allergic to anything modifying my RAWs for any reason whatsoever. The centralized cache option stores all of the data on your C drive, and if you copy the images to another folder, all RAW conversion settings are lost. With the XMP sidecar files you can backup a folder of RAW images, and if you view the backup folder in Bridge, all RAW conversion settings and any crops or manual rotations will be preserved.
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61Dynamic

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Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2005, 12:34:46 pm »

Quote
How do other image management programmes (such as ACDSee) keep track of additional metadata without creating additional related files?
As of yet I'm not aware of any third-party software that will fully utilize XMP metadata. A shame since it's an open standard (XML) but understandable since XMP itself is still rather new.

(iView Media will read XMP data but it will not write to it.)
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mikeseb

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Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2005, 03:11:09 pm »

Quote
As of yet I'm not aware of any third-party software that will fully utilize XMP metadata. A shame since it's an open standard (XML) but understandable since XMP itself is still rather new.
This is certainly true. Until Bridge's advent, I used Extensis Portfolio mainly because of its extensive keywording and custom-fields capabilities, with accompanying search features. (My indexing scheme is keyword-dependent.) But Extensis has really dropped the ball with its .xmp metadata handling interoperability with Bridge, such that xmp metadata written to sidecars in Bridge does not reliably show up in Portfolio. So I've all but abandoned it until Extensis gets its act together.
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michael sebast

digitaldog

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Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2005, 04:34:34 pm »

As others have said, you need sidecar files because RAWs are read only. However, what I do is convert to .DNG which Bridge/Photoshop CAN write to thus eliminating the need for sidecar files. There are a number of advantages to .DNG however I find the ability to embed all the metadata a big one. You can if you wish, write the entire original RAW into a .DNG but I don’t. The only reason would be should you wish to go back to the original manufacturer converter. Since I archive the RAWs right after copying to the HD from my card, and my next step is to convert that to .DNG, after that, all EXIF data is written directly into the .DNG files so no sidecar files.
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StephenEdgar

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Adobe Bridge, metadata and XMP files
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2005, 07:22:30 pm »

Thanks everyone for the feedback, knowledge and insight. Your help is much appreciated

Stephen
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