You can use the Windows clipboard to copy a wide range of attributes, properties and metadata tags between files. This makes it very easy to transfer data between files managed by your database.
For an easy way to copy one or more metadata tag values from one file to other files, see Copying Metadata between Files.
The following items can be copied/pasted:
The Metadata Panel provides easy features to copy selected tag values between files. This is the best option if you want to copy tag values from one source file to one or more target files.
To copy some or all of this data between two or more files, you first copy the source file into the clipboard via Ctrl+C or Edit > Copy. Then select one or more files, and choose Paste Attributes and Data from the File Window context menu or press the associated keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+V.
You always copy attributes between one source file and one or more destination files.
IMatch brings up a dialog box where you can choose what to paste:
Check the items you want to paste and then click on OK. Depending on what was checked and how many files are selected in the File Window when you paste, this operation can take a few seconds.
If you copy items of this type, the operations are performed in the database and are very fast.
Copying metadata between files is performed by using ExifTool in the background. ExifTool ensures that only valid information is copied, which is especially important if the source file and destination file(s) use different file formats. ExifTool will also take care that data is properly migrated between metadata standards, that digest information is updated etc.
The Paste Attributes and Data feature offers some frequently used tag sets to copy. These sets copy the data of one or more tags.
For example, the Image Description tag set copies Headline, Description and related tags. Or the Copyright and Rights set which copies metadata tags related to copyright and usage.
You can also copy GPS coordinates and location data between files. IMatch automatically takes care for calculating depending tags like image direction or distance in that case.
When you copy keywords, IMatch copies XMP hierarchical keywords, XNP Subject (flat keywords) and legacy IPTC keywords to ensure they all stay synchronized properly.
Copying all metadata or entire metadata groups makes it possible to clone an entire XMP record or EXIF record between two files.
If you have enabled the option to protect unwritten metadata, IMatch will retain this data in the destination files if the All Metadata attribute is used. Otherwise all data in the destination files will be replaced with the copied data from the source file. See Edit > Preferences > Metadata 2 for details.
When All Metadata is checked, the copy attributes for individual metadata groups like IPTC or EXIF are ignored.
Copying the make
and model
tags between images created by different cameras can be harmful, because many RAW processors rely on these tags to select the correct process for rendering the image. If you absolutely must copy EXIF data between files, using this mode is safer.
When you copy EXIF data between files you may want to keep the original EXIF orientation of the target files. An extra attribute is available for this purpose.
When you want to copy GPS data between files you should normally use the XMP GPS Data set in this dialog. If MWG compliance is enabled, IMatch copies the GPS coordinates from XMP into the corresponding EXIF GPS tags automatically.
Adobe Lightroom adds a lot of custom metadata to image files. This data is stored in a special section (namespace) in the XMP metadata record. It also contains the important hierarchical keywords IMatch uses internally.
CRS data is the Camera RAW data Adobe software adds to XMP, e.g. when you process a file with Adobe Lightroom or the Adobe Camera RAW software.