LR cc... can keywords be assigned as keyboard shortcuts?? Quick question regarding keywords. At work, we use LR cc on a mac platform to manage "snapshots" of our projects. We often...

Dano Loc: North Carolina

Quick question regarding keywords. At work, we use LR cc on a mac platform to manage "snapshots" of our projects. We often process 1,000+ images at a time. Our cataloging process works great except for keywording, which is often overlooked due to the extra effort. So in an attempt to make this easier on our folks, here's my question:

If we have 6 primary keywords that we use frequently, is there a way to assign them to specific hotkeys so that they can be added using a single keystroke during the review process? This would make our keywording significantly easier (and hopefully get our staff to actually do it!). BTW: Many images are coded with multiple keywords and common images (with similar coding) are usually scattered throughout the deck. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

I do not believe you can do this within Lightroom, but wouldn't it be easier to just store the keyword string in a Word document (keyword1,keyword2,keyword3, etc) and do a simple cut and paste?

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Dano wrote:

Quick question regarding keywords. At work, we us... (show quote)

You may want to explore the functionality to assign keywords during import. Another option is to select multiple images after import and assign keywords to the selected images. You might want to explore how they do it in this article:

http://laurashoe.com/2012/09/14/shortcuts-for-adding-keywords-in-lightroom/

Dano Loc: North Carolina

brucewells wrote:

You may want to explore the functionality to assign keywords during import. Another option is to select multiple images after import and assign keywords to the selected images. You might want to explore how they do it in this article:

http://laurashoe.com/2012/09/14/shortcuts-for-adding-keywords-in-lightroom/

This is exactly what I do with my personal photos, but here the common images are so scattered, that it's difficult to do. If we were only coding for 1 or 2 keywords, it wouldn't be so bad. It does help though. I do appreciate the thought and it's a good article. Thanks

Dano Loc: North Carolina

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

I do not believe you can do this within Lightroom, but wouldn't it be easier to just store the keyword string in a Word document (keyword1,keyword2,keyword3, etc) and do a simple cut and paste?

We've already defined them as hierarchal keywords so they display as soon as we begin typing a few letters, but I'm hoping to find a single keystroke solution.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Have you tried viewing in the Library module, selecting the desired photos, and clicking on the small box to the right of the desired keyword? You can also use the paint brush tool and pull it across the photos you want to keyword. Don't know if this helps, but I'm trying.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I select the images I want to use a specific keyword click the box to the left or you could use the paint can at the bottom ID keyword from the list and select the specific keyword

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

If you make a Keyword Set (right panel of Library module) with those 6 names included, they are all just one click away from being added to a photo (or photos). Don't know a way to assign a keyboard key to a keyword.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

You can use a second party program called PhraseExpress, free for personal use or a fee for business and network use. You can then assign keyword combinations to each keyword(s). As an example, you can assign the hotkey of <Windows-Alt-1> to be the keyword(s) "exterior insulation". This program works with Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone. You can adapt it for many other applications as well. http://www.phraseexpress.com/

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

via the lens wrote:

Have you tried viewing in the Library module, selecting the desired photos, and clicking on the small box to the right of the desired keyword? You can also use the paint brush tool and pull it across the photos you want to keyword. Don't know if this helps, but I'm trying.

Sorry, LEFT of the word. My brain fogs up at times.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Dano wrote:

This is exactly what I do with my personal photos, but here the common images are so scattered, that it's difficult to do. If we were only coding for 1 or 2 keywords, it wouldn't be so bad. It does help though. I do appreciate the thought and it's a good article. Thanks

Have you considered the Painter (spray can)?

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

You might want to contact a software designer and see if he can dssign a custom keyboard where the number pad can be re-purposed to single key stroke foe a specific word. Don't know if this is even possible, but worth a shot.

Dano Loc: North Carolina

Thanks everybody, these are great ideas. I did, however, just find out about a great aspect of using keyword sets. If you press the Option key, numbers are displayed alongside each word in your set. So hitting Option/Number inserts that keyword. This should do the trick. I am continually amazed at how much functionality is built into LightRoom... the only challenge is finding it. Thank goodness for all the great people who participate in forums! Thanks everyone!!!

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Dano wrote:

Thanks everybody, these are great ideas. I did, however, just find out about a great aspect of using keyword sets. If you press the Option key, numbers are displayed alongside each word in your set. So hitting Option/Number inserts that keyword. This should do the trick. I am continually amazed at how much functionality is built into LightRoom... the only challenge is finding it. Thank goodness for all the great people who participate in forums! Thanks everyone!!!

It is (watch the flame war start over this) well known that LR is very weak on Keywording.

I read all the replies and that is a great tip. Thanks.

And a question for you. What do you do for work that involves processing "thousands of images" at a time?

Dano Loc: North Carolina

JD750 wrote:

It is (watch the flame war start over this) well known that LR is very weak on Keywording.

I read all the replies and that is a great tip. Thanks.

And a question for you. What do you do for work that involves processing "thousands of images" at a time?

We do corporate team building and leadership training. When we have large groups (100+ people) involved in outdoor activities for an entire day (broken into small teams of 12-15 people), we may have 5-6 staff shooting photos. None of these are photographers so quality and quantity vary greatly, but 200-300 shots per person is about average. The images are intended to help participants remember the day, see how other groups approached similar challenges, and reinforce the concepts discussed. We almost always get some great shots, but also a lot of junk. LR helps us sort through these quickly, ID photos that may be useful for other purposes, and produce client accessible web albums. I'm sure LR has it's limitations and shortcomings, but for our needs, it's almost overkill. Thanks for asking.