User Guide

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PhotoTager User Documentation

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Getting Started
  3. Core Features
  4. Projects
  5. Batches
  6. Media Management
  7. Metadata Generation
  8. Keywords
  9. Templates
  10. Platforms
  11. Workflow Guide
  12. Credits System
  13. Export Options
  14. Troubleshooting
  15. FAQ

Introduction

PhotoTager is a powerful web application designed to help photographers, content creators, and media professionals organize, tag, and prepare their media for stock photography platforms and other distribution channels. It simplifies the process of generating high-quality metadata, including titles, descriptions, and keywords for your images and videos.

Getting Started

Account Setup

  1. Registration: Create your account using your email or Google account.
  2. Profile Settings: Complete your profile information in the settings page.
  3. Credits: Purchase credits to use for metadata generation (See Credits System section).

Basic Navigation

  • Dashboard: Upon login, you'll see your projects and batches.
  • Main Menu: Navigate through the main sections: Projects, Batches, Templates, Platforms, and Credits.
  • User Menu: Access settings, profile, and logout options.

Core Features

Projects

Projects are collections of media files (images and videos) that are typically related to each other.

Creating a Project

  1. Go to the "Projects" page.
  2. Click "Create New Project" button.
  3. Fill in the project details:
  4. Name: A descriptive name for your project.
  5. Context: Provide context for better metadata generation (e.g., "Wedding photoshoot" or "Product photography").
  6. Description: Optional additional details.
  7. Deadline: Optional due date.
  8. Client: If applicable, assign the project to a client.
  9. Template: Select a metadata template to use.
  10. Platforms: Choose distribution platforms for export formatting.
  11. Click "Create Project".

Managing Projects

  • View Projects: Browse all your projects from the Projects page.
  • Filter/Sort: Organize projects by date, status, or client.
  • Edit Project: Update project details by clicking on its name.
  • Delete Project: Remove a project and all its associated media.

Batches

Batches are larger collections that can contain multiple projects, useful for processing large amounts of media at once.

Creating a Batch

  1. Go to the "Batches" page.
  2. Click "Create New Batch" button.
  3. Fill in batch details (name and description).
  4. Upload your files, which will be automatically organized into projects based on folder structure.
  5. Click "Create Batch".

Processing Batches

  1. Select a batch from the Batches page.
  2. Click "Process Batch" to generate metadata for all media.
  3. Monitor progress through the batch status indicators.
  4. When complete, download the export files.

Media Management

Uploading Media

  1. Open a project.
  2. Click "Upload Files" button.
  3. Select files from your computer or drag and drop them into the upload area.
  4. Wait for uploads to complete.

Media Actions

  • View/Preview: Click on a media item to view it in full size.
  • Edit Metadata: Update titles, descriptions, and keywords.
  • Delete: Remove media items from your project.
  • Select Multiple: Use checkboxes or Shift/Ctrl+click to select multiple items.
  • Bulk Actions: Apply changes to multiple files at once.

Metadata Generation

Metadata generation is the core feature of PhotoTager, automatically creating titles, descriptions, and keywords for your media.

Generating Metadata

  1. Open a project containing uploaded media.
  2. Select the items you want to process.
  3. Click "Generate Metadata" button.
  4. Wait for the generation process to complete (this may take a few minutes).
  5. Review and edit the generated content as needed.

What Gets Generated

  • Title: A concise, descriptive title.
  • Adobe Title: Optimized for Adobe Stock and similar platforms.
  • Description: Detailed description of the media content.
  • Keywords: Relevant keywords for search optimization.

Keywords

Keywords are crucial for making your media discoverable on various platforms.

Managing Keywords

  1. Select one or more media items.
  2. Use the keyword sidebar to:
  3. Add new keywords (individually or comma-separated).
  4. Delete keywords by clicking the X beside them.
  5. Apply bulk keyword changes.
  6. Keywords are automatically saved when added or removed.

Templates

Templates control how metadata is generated for your media.

Creating Templates

  1. Go to the "Templates" page.
  2. Click "Create New Template".
  3. Configure template settings:
  4. Name: Template name.
  5. Tone: Professional, casual, creative, etc.
  6. Style: Descriptive, minimalist, narrative, etc.
  7. Length Control: Min/max length for titles and descriptions.
  8. Industry Focus: Specify your industry or niche.
  9. Custom Terms: Terms to include.
  10. Excluded Terms: Terms to avoid.
  11. AI Model: Choose which AI model to use for generation.
  12. Click "Save Template".

Using Templates

  • Assign templates to projects during creation.
  • Change a project's template at any time.
  • Set a default template in your profile settings.

Platforms

Platforms determine how your metadata is formatted for export to different stock photography sites.

Managing Platforms

  1. Go to the "Platforms" page.
  2. Choose from standard platforms (Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, etc.).
  3. Create custom platforms if needed.
  4. Configure CSV formats for each platform.

Workflow Guide

  1. Organize: Create a new project or batch.
  2. Upload: Add your media files.
  3. Generate: Use the "Generate Metadata" function.
  4. Review/Edit: Check the generated content and make any necessary adjustments.
  5. Export: Download CSV files formatted for your selected platforms.
  6. Upload to Stock Sites: Use the exported files to upload to stock photography platforms.

Efficient Batch Processing

For large volumes of media:

  1. Create a batch instead of individual projects.
  2. Organize your images in folders before uploading.
  3. Use bulk selection and editing tools.
  4. Process the entire batch at once.
  5. Export all projects in a single operation.

Credits System

PhotoTager uses a credit-based system for metadata generation:

  • Credit Cost: Each image or video consumes a specific number of credits when processed.
  • Purchasing Credits: Buy credits from the "Credits" page.
  • Credit Balance: View your current balance in the top navigation bar.
  • Usage History: Track your credit usage in the account section.

Export Options

CSV Export

  1. Open a project or batch.
  2. Click "Download CSV" button.
  3. If multiple platforms are selected, you'll receive a ZIP file containing separate CSVs for each platform.

CSV Format

Each CSV is formatted according to the requirements of its specific platform, typically including: - Filename - Title - Description - Keywords - Categories (if applicable)

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  1. Uploads Failing:
  2. Check file size (max 100MB per file).
  3. Ensure the file format is supported.

  4. Try using a different browser.

  5. Metadata Generation Taking Too Long:

  6. During peak hours, processing might take longer.
  7. Large batches naturally take more time.

  8. The process continues even if you navigate away or close the browser.

  9. Export Problems:

  10. Ensure your project has processed media with metadata.

  11. Check that you've selected at least one platform.

  12. Credit Deduction Issues:

  13. Credits are deducted when processing starts, not when it completes.
  14. Contact support if you believe there's an error with your balance.

Getting Help

If you encounter any issues not addressed in this documentation, please: - Email support at: support@phototager.com - Use the contact form on our website - Check our blog for updates and additional resources

FAQ

Q: How many credits do I need per image/video?
A: Each image typically requires 1 credit, while videos may require 2-3 credits depending on length.

Q: Can I reuse templates across projects?
A: Yes, you can create templates once and use them for multiple projects.

Q: How accurate is the generated metadata?
A: Our AI system generates high-quality, relevant metadata, but we recommend reviewing it before submitting to stock platforms.

Q: Can I process RAW files?
A: PhotoTager currently supports JPG, PNG, GIF, and WEBP for images, and MP4, MOV, AVI, and WEBM for videos.

Q: Is there a limit to how many files I can upload?
A: There's no strict limit, but we recommend batches of no more than 500 files for optimal performance.

Q: Can I share projects with team members?
A: Collaboration features are coming soon in a future update.

Thank you for choosing PhotoTager! We hope this documentation helps you make the most of our platform. If you have additional questions or feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us.