Author Topic: PhotoMechanic Manual  (Read 8253 times)

Offline Deirdre

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PhotoMechanic Manual
« on: August 24, 2012, 08:27:46 AM »
What is the latest version of the PhotoMechanic Manual?

Has is been updated for PhotoMechanic 5?

I am a newby... and wanting to use PM5 to pre edit before going into LR4...
Need Preference Selection help and Ingest screen help...

Very nervous I am going to screw it up

Many thanks

Offline Kirk Baker

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Re: PhotoMechanic Manual
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2012, 08:42:49 AM »
Deidre,

The most current manual is from PM 4.6 which you can get here:

http://camerabits.fileburst.com/Photo_Mechanic_4.6.3_Manual.pdf

A manual for PM 5 specifically has not been started yet.

-Kirk

Offline Deirdre

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Re: PhotoMechanic Manual
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2012, 08:56:29 AM »
Thank You...

Is it safe to use this version, especially when I am setting up my preference  and ingest screens?

Offline Deirdre

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Re: PhotoMechanic Manual
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2012, 09:00:20 AM »
Thank You...

Is it safe to use this version, especially when I am setting up my preference  and ingest screens?

Just want to add:
I have MacPower Book 10.6.8, have upgraded to PM5...

Offline Kirk Baker

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Re: PhotoMechanic Manual
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2012, 09:16:04 AM »
Deirdre,

Is it safe to use this version, especially when I am setting up my preference  and ingest screens?

Just want to add:
I have MacPower Book 10.6.8, have upgraded to PM5...

Not a whole lot has changed in regards to Ingest since PM 4.6 so you should be good there.

Preferences panes have changed a little bit on PM 5 vs. 4.6, but in general the defaults should be fine.

Is there something specific that you need help with?

-Kirk

Offline Deirdre

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Re: PhotoMechanic Manual
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2012, 09:36:21 AM »
Many Thanks kirk...

I don't want to take up your valuable time...

But I am most concerned with being able to get into LR4 without any mishap...

I want to be able to use the LR4 Cataloguing
Are PM file Names and Keywords  compatible LR..
Will LR rename the file?
Will the PM keywords be saved in LR?

I will be using Stars and eventually colors...

Best... and grateful... Deirdre

Offline Kirk Baker

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Re: PhotoMechanic Manual
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2012, 09:50:50 AM »
Dierdre,

But I am most concerned with being able to get into LR4 without any mishap...

I want to be able to use the LR4 Cataloguing
Are PM file Names and Keywords  compatible LR..
Will LR rename the file?
Will the PM keywords be saved in LR?

I will be using Stars and eventually colors...

If you're using RAW files, make sure you're not embedding IPTC or XMP into them.  Adobe's applications work best with a pure XMP sidecar file workflow.
To get color class labels working between the two, you'll have to make sure that the text labels are the same in both applications.  I'd just copy them from LR and paste them into the General section of Photo Mechanic's Preferences dialog in the corresponding color slots.

Filenames should be fine.  As far as I know LR has no filename restrictions.
Keywords, including hierarchical (we call them Structured Keywords) keywords should be just fine.
Star ratings should just work.

Please note that you will likely have to tell LR to re-read XMP if you have already imported your photos into LR and you later make changes in Photo Mechanic.  This is because LR uses a copy of the metadata in its database and doesn't automatically check for external changes.  There may be a setting in LR that will make it check for changes, but I don't know if they added such a feature.

HTH,

-Kirk

Offline Deirdre

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Re: PhotoMechanic Manual
« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2012, 06:21:03 AM »
Many Thanks Kirk..
You are terrific...