External Devices & Automation
A physical button can do more than trigger a single command. On Mac, you can use an Elgato Stream Deck, a programmable keypad, or keyboard-macro software to send PhotoCuller shortcuts and text—or combine them into a repeatable sequence.
This is a way to build your own controls around the tasks you repeat most. Keywording is one example, not the limit of what you can do.
How It Works
Configure the device in its own software to send the same keystrokes you would use on your keyboard. Start with a single shortcut, then combine actions once each step works reliably.
- Cull and review: put ratings, color labels, flags, favorites, and navigation on dedicated buttons.
- Reach an editor field: assign an IPTC field-focus shortcut for Caption, Keywords, or another supported field instead of opening and scrolling the editor manually.
- Enter repeated text: combine a field-focus shortcut with text entry for names, teams, locations, or other frequently used information.
- Build a short sequence: focus a field, enter text, commit the edit, and return to reviewing. Saving and navigation can be separate buttons.
Choose and check bindings in Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts. See Keyboard Shortcuts for defaults and IPTC Field Focus for field-specific setup and restrictions. A macro has the same source and editing limitations as the actions performed manually.
These examples use ordinary keyboard and text actions, not a dedicated PhotoCuller Stream Deck plug-in or an automation API. A device must be able to send those inputs through its software. For PhotoCuller’s built-in game-controller support, see Controller settings.
Keywording with Stream Deck
Review a photo, press a button for each matching athlete, car, team, or event, then save and move on. This works well when several keywords may apply to the same photo.
Set Up Once
- Open Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts > IPTC Field Focus and assign Focus Keywords a shortcut, for example Cmd + Option + K. This is a suggested custom binding, not a default; resolve any conflict reported by Settings.
- Open a folder, select one photo, and press Space for Full View. Wait for its metadata to load. The focus shortcut opens the IPTC editor and puts the cursor in Keywords for you.
- In Stream Deck, create a Multi Action for each keyword using hotkey and text actions. For a button labelled Car 27, use this sequence:
| Action | What to send |
|---|---|
| Focus the field | Your Focus Keywords shortcut |
| Enter the keyword | Text: Car 27 (without an automatic Return) |
| Add it to the draft | Return |
| Return control to the photo | Esc |
Add a short delay after the focus shortcut if needed to let the editor open, and between other actions if input is being missed. Duplicate the button and change its text for each person, team, or subject you use often.
Tag, Save, and Move On
Press as many keyword buttons as apply to the current photo. Keep navigation separate so the first keyword button does not advance before you add the others.
With the Full View IPTC editor open, create a separate Save & Next Multi Action: send Cmd + Return to apply the draft, allow enough time for saving to finish, then send Cmd + N to move to the next photo. Use Cmd + B for the previous photo instead. The navigation keys are the PhotoCuller preset defaults; match your buttons to your own bindings.
Adding a keyword is not the same as saving it. Return adds it to the draft; Escape returns focus to the photo. Neither saves metadata. Use Apply or Cmd + Return to save without moving, including on the last photo. The explicit Apply step in this macro means you do not need auto-save enabled. Navigating with an unsaved draft and auto-save off can show a save/discard prompt.
You can also perform this sequence on an ordinary keyboard, or use the Saved Keywords picker without a macro device.
Make Your Automations Reliable
- Keep PhotoCuller frontmost and start in the view and selection state your macro expects. Close dialogs before running it.
- Test every step manually, then test the complete sequence on one photo before using it on a shoot.
- Allow time for fields to gain focus, metadata to load, and saves to finish. A fixed delay does not verify that an operation succeeded; check errors before continuing.
- Return works differently in different fields: it adds a keyword, but may insert a line break in a caption. Do not reuse a sequence blindly across field types.
- Plain letters can type text instead of triggering culling actions while an editor has focus. For field switching during typing, use shortcuts containing Command, Control, or Option.
- Keep destructive actions out of early experiments. Macros send input; they do not understand which photo is selected or whether a dialog appeared.