Also, do picture desks really look at the 'File Info' metadata to see a description of the shot or is it expected to include the basic information in the file name? If the answer is yes, is there an easy and sensible way in Photoshop CS to batch process the constant information (event name and date, my name)?
Richard:
Each publishing operation I've known has varying workflows, so nothing is certain. However many systems, Fotoware, QPS, SaxoPress or other "content management systems", do at some level support IPTC or file info, just as many off-the-shelf image databases so (see http://ControlledVocabulary.com/imagedatabases/programs.html), for a number of the more standard ones.
The simplest way with Photoshop CS is to use the "metadata template" which can be "batch injected" from the filebrowser window.
Just open any image, go to File >> File Info. Fill out the File info screens, then use the tiny arrow in the upper right corner to "SAVE" the result as a "metadata template."
Then go to the folder of images you need to add IPTC/XMP metadata to, and either individually select, or select all. Under the Edit menu is the choice to "append" or "replace" the metadata in the images. Use append if the images are new, or Replace if you are dealing with legacy files that contain previous IPTC only data. This will work with TIFF, Jpeg, PSD, with no problem. RAW files will have the data saved as a "sidecar" files (.xmp).
We discuss these vary issues on the Controlled Vocabulary discussion forum as well if you want more details. Much of what I explained above is already in the current archives of this yahoogroup discussion forum (sign-up box at bottom of site entrance at http://ControlledVocabulary.com/).
Hope that helps.
David
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David Riecks (that's "i" before "e", but the "e" is silent)
http://www.riecks.com & http://www.asmp.org/commerce/digitalps.php
Chairman, ASMP Digital Photography Standards & Practices committee
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