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Snap And Mark - Lightroom Plugin
Snapshot selected photos and leave a corresponding note in the edit history list. Or, just add notes to the edit history list at will.
Featuring:
Quick Links (intra-page)
Background Information
Screenshots
How to Use
Snapshot And Mark FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Revision History
Download
See the readme file after downloading for usage and other notes.
File Menu, initially (can be customized)
RC Standard Snapshot & Mark:
Black&White virtual copy, after extensive editing that includes:
- Use of modified Adobe Standard camera profile
- Cropped (2848x3440)
- Custom White Balance (WB)
- Split toning adjustments (ST)
- Conversion to Greyscale (BW)
- Tonecurve adjustment (T)
- Pointcurve adjustment (P)
- etc. - documented below...
After adding a custom note to the edit history:
This is what I started out to be able to do,
the snapshotting was an afterthought ;-)
After adding auto-wrap feature in v1.1:
Another possible use for marking:
To be able to tell where one local adjustment stops and another begins.
If you don't want to take the time to add a description, just invoke the
canned markers for new paint pin, switch paint pins, new gradient, and switch gradient pins - these were added in v1.1 and only require a single keystroke (on Windows anyway - see FAQ below for Mac keyboard solutions).
Use your imagination! - Ever wanted to be able to add notes to the edit history? - Now you can...
This plugin has come a long way since inception. The initial motivation was to be able to make a mark in the edit history that cleared the top without changing any settings, and included a timestamp. One thing led to another, and now you have the ability to use the edit history list for consolidated settings and metadata reference, if you want, or to break up editing into timestamped chunks for edit history "orientation". I suspect many people will use this capability in many different ways: some mostly to snapshot, some mostly to mark, some for both. Some will prefer simple markers, while others will prefer multi-line annotations full of information summarizing current photo settings and metadata.
| Snapshot | A list of develop settings and metadata, stored in catalog (and xmp if saved). Note: virtual copies and masters share the same snapshots. It shares the same name as the corresponding mark in edit history. |
| Mark | The operation of replacing or appending to top of edit history with a note that typically includes some text and a timestamp. Can be simple or elaborate. |
- Install (see readme file in downloaded zip file)
- Configure in plugin manager
- See quick tips on file menu
- Invoke snapshot & mark functions via file menu.
The following settings are standard fare provided by the elare plugin framework. Most of Snap&Mark's configuration are via text file that opens when you click the 'Edit Advanced Settings' button in the Preset Manager section.
Preset Manager
| Preset Name | Most people leave this blank and just use one set of settings. But, you can give them names here to have multiple sets. Example use - define two sets: |
| Select Preset | Useful for switching between sets. You can also just enter the name of an existing set above. |
| Delete Preset | Deletes the presently selected (named) preset - will not delete the default (un-named) settings. |
| Load Defaults | Resets the presently selected preset to factory default values. |
| Edit Advanced Settings | Opens the plugin configuration file (corresponding to the preset selected) in a text editor - there are instructions inside the file. |
Additional Settings
| Wrap Width | Width in real character where to wrap to next line in the edit history. If you're getting the '...' at the end of your lines, then you need to make this number smaller. If you're getting wrappage when there is still room at the end of the line, then make this number bigger. |
The file menu as delivered is like a sampling. You can run with it just the way it is, or you can modify it by editing Info.lua and following the instructions inside. As delivered, you have:
Simple, fast, and no questions asked: for when you just want a quick snap&mark.
Simple, fast, and no questions asked: for when you just want a quick snapshot, without the mark.
Simple, fast, and no questions asked: for when you just want a quick mark, without the snapshot.
Presents form where you choose the text to be used and which operations (snapshot and/or mark) to perform: for when you want something on-the-fly that's not been pre-configured.
Presents form where you choose from a list of pre-configured naming styles, and which operations (snapshot and/or mark) to perform: For when you want something you've already spent the time to configure, but have not added it directly to the file menu.
This is what I mostly use. You might like it too (can be invoked with snapshot only, or mark only via the other "RC Standard" menu items)
Snapshot Name (included in first line of edit history note)
Copy name & snapshot timestamp
2nd & 3rd lines of edit history include:
Camera Profile Name (prefixed with asterisk if shadow-tint, or rgb hues or saturations have been modified).
Detail Summary: compact summary of all develop settings, and selected metadata (e.g. cropped dimensions), separated by semicolon:
| {width}x{height} | cropped dimensions, if cropped. |
| WB | Custom white balance |
| ST | Split toning has non-zero settings enabled. |
| BW | Black & White. |
| HSL | HSL tool has adjustments. |
| T | Parametric tone curve has adjustments. |
| P | Point curve has been modified. |
| LensC LensP LensM |
Lens Corrections (prefixed by asterisk if profile accompanied by manual adjustments too):
Notes: |
| PCV | Post crop vignette |
| Gn | Grain |
| DSR | Dust Spot Removal |
| Gd | Graduated filters |
| Pt | Paint |
| RdE | Redeye reduction |
These FAQs come partly from users, and partly from my imagination. Please let me know if there are errors or omissions in this FAQ - thanks.
NOTE: The following Q&A's assume that the plugin is working as I expect... If, after your best effort, still "no go", please let me know.
Question: Why would I ever need or want such a thing as Snap & Mark?
Answer: Warning: this plugin is addicting! - I often add a mark just as a quick way to get an informational summary of my photo, instead of scrolling through all the settings & metadata. Also, there is no way with Lightroom proper to get a snapshot of more than one photo at a time. PS - If editing the text configuration file is too much for you to get the name & notes the way you want, consider TPG Snapshotter instead for your snapshotting needs - you can still use Snap & Mark just for marking notes in the edit history.
Question: Does marking clear the entire edit history?
Answer: No, just from the selected step upward. If you are already at the topmost step, then nothing will be cleared, and the marking notes will simply be appended to the edit history.
Question: How do I figure out what to put in the advanced settings to define a naming style?
Answer: All develop settings and metadata are documented in the online api doc (the configuration file indicates which sections to refer to). You can also get it in the Lightroom SDK. The Lua reference manual may also be helpful if you intend to modify or create new transform functions. Instructions are in the file opened when you click 'Edit Advanced Settings' in the plugin manager.
Question: Any other hot tips I should know about?
Answer: Yes
Question: What are the limitations of Snap and Mark and what are your plans for the future?
Answer:
(reverse chronological order)
- Certified for Lr4.
- Fixed bug in preset manager - it was requiring two tries to switch presets after switching to another plugin and back in plugin manager.
- Added button to plugin manager, for updating the plugin, and uninstall.
- Fixed bug in mark detail - was wrongly assessing point curve mods when strong or linear, was only correct for medium contrast curve.
- Integrated various internal framework changes, and changed the format of the built-in snaps & marks so they line up better in the snapshot list in Lightroom.
- Added auto-wrapping, so edit-history notes can be an unlimited length, and won't be truncated. Instead, they will continue on the next line in the edit history.
- Added non-prompting menu items for new paint pin, switch paint pins, new gradient pin, and switch paint pin markers.
- Initial release.
acceptance of Download Terms & Conditions will be required
Snap And Mark 1.5 - Latest & greatest: this is the one to download.
Snap And Mark 1.4.1 - for fallback in case latest has a problem, in which case please tell me.
| Static content updated 2011-08-05 | Copyright 2007 - robcole.com - all rights reserved. | Dynamic content updated 07:27:31 PM |