Batch export with captions

[LCL999]

Lightroom Version

3 and CC

Operating System

1. Windows 10

I'm creating a book with lots of photos in it.
Within LR these pics have titles and/or captions filled in.
I would like the exported pics to have the captions embedded, or else boxed just below. If embedded, white text. I don't need a huge selection of fonts or colours, just something not too obtrusive. As an alternative, just the titles without the ".jpg", no quote marks either.
There is a huge range of software available to caption pics, but none that I could find to pick the titles out of the metadata and do a whole batch.

Comments please

LCL

 

[Rob_Cullen]

"3 and CC" So what Versions and Version Numbers of Lightroom are you using?

The Book Module ( in recent versions of Lightroom-Classic) can easily show metadata under/on photos in the book.

Or you can create JPG exports from the PRINT Module in which you can edit the text on each print. You can construct any combination of metadata in the 'Edit' template- Then use these JPGs in a Book (Lightroom-Classic or other software.)

 

[Gnits]

There are several Mail Merge style methods, which take a level of effort and knowledge to setup, but then become easy to run.

It requires the use of a plug-in, such as ListView to export the required metadata to a CSC or Excel file. Then a template of the layout and metadata fields and their position needs to be created, using various Adobe and Non Adobe apps.

Photoshop and InDesign have mail merge options. The last time I used these features, this software is clunky and non intuitive to use, where various codes need to be inserted in the metadata or templates to get the desired results.

Photoshop and InDesign Using a scripting language, such as JavaScript (other scripting options possible). This is by far the most powerful, but requires coding skills and use of Adobe ExtendScript tools.

Simple MailMerge using Word or PowerPoint. This should be the easiest to use, it is possible, lots of video tutorials. But…. Microsoft makes it more difficult than it should be to insert the Image within the template page. I got this to work and used it regularly, but sometimes it fails to work, even though I can find no fault with the syntax used. Frustrating.

Affinity Publisher (and possibly other Affinity tools).
The Mail Merge features within Affinity Publisher has been designed by people who seriously understand the needs of an easy to use and functionally rich Mail Merge engine (Ie merging images and their related metadata items in a professional manner). I was gobsmacked by the quality, design, functionality and usefulness of this tool. This is a model which should be implemented by Adobe and puts the Adobe implementation to shame.

Further, all the functionality for a very good tool to marry metadata in a structured, user configurable manner already exists and is fully functional within the Slide Module and just needs to be ported into the Print Module. I originally thought this did not happen because Adobe were trying to protect InDesign. I am not so sure any more, I think Adobe have just ignored this functionality. Adobe InDesign is a functionally rich desktop publishing tool, but I have always hated using it. It’s mail merge tools are more akin to mainframe software development, where the end user needed to be an expert than the software assisting the end user to get good results, easily. I have always found InDesign to be too clunky and non intuitive for me. While I am no longer have frequent need for marrying metadata and images to create professional layouts, my Go To tool of choice remains Affinity Publisher.

I am so disappointed Adobe have not provided this basic functionality within the Lr Module and have not upgraded these tools within the Photoshop and InDesign family of products.

Note. I am no longer actively researching this functionality, as I now have a tool that works for me. It is possible that Adobe have upgraded these features in the interim or other, better solutions might be out there. I welcome any comments in relation to any developments or options in this area.

 

[Gnits]

Here is a sample with metadata placement. I have used most of techniques above to create this style of metadata placement.

 

[Paul_DS256]

I'm creating a book with lots of photos in it

Check the software with your publisher. I would be surprised if some may not offer the ability to read and place metadata fields either on the image or below as text.

 

[Gnits]

I am aware that the Book module has had some useful updates and Blurb may also have some good features since I last checked.

These may be very useful for smaller sizes, but unlikely to be useful if printing a3, a2, a1 etc.