Brad Snyder
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2007
- Messages
- 6,293
- Location
- Port Deposit, Maryland USA
- Lightroom Experience
- Intermediate
In the Library Module's Grid View, LR provides the Painter Tool (I'll call it PT) which is represented by the Spray Can icon (SC)*. Unlike other graphics/photo oriented programs, the PT doesn't spray paint. Its purpose is to enable you to add various settings and tags to your photos in a quick and easy visual manner.
The refinement tags that can be painted on are Keywords, Labels, Ratings, Flags. In addition you can 'paint' on Rotation, Metadata and Develop settings. The first five offer the same options in paint that are offered in the Toolbar. The latter two allow you to apply any of your existing presets.
The SC tool is quite simple in concept, but is a little more complex in action. The tool has several application modes that change as you move the mouse cursor over the grid.
a) If you hover over the actual image portion of a thumbnail in the grid, the cursor is the SC, and a single-click will apply the option currently selected for the PT.
b) If you hover over the actual image portion of a thumbnail in the grid, which has already had the selected PT option applied, the cursor is an eraser, and a single-click will remove the option currently selected for the PT.
c) If you hover over the gray bezel frame of a thumbnail, the cursor reverts to normal (even though the PT remains selected) and you can use the mouse to alter which photos are selected/highlighted. You can alter which photos are selected using the usual shift - ctrl/command - click options applicable to your OS.
With the PT selected, you can apply the settings to an unselected image by single clicking the SC on the image portion of its thumbnail. Additionally you can click and drag the SC across multiple thumbnails to apply the setting to each. If you have created a selection prior to choosing the PT, single-clicking the SC on any thumbnail image in the selection will apply the PT setting to all the images in the selection. In addition, by using the technique in c) above, you can change your photo selections, without de-selecting the SC tool, and continue painting "on-the-fly".
To select the Painter tool, simply click on the SC icon on the Toolbar below the grid and above the Filmstrip. If the Toolbar isn't visible hit 'T' or Menu > View Toolbar to show it. If the SC icon is not shown on the Toolbar, click the black down triangle at the right end of the Toolbar and apply a checkmark to the Painter tool on the available Tool configuration list which drops down.
To deselect the Painter tool, return it to the empty "parking spot" left behind on the Toolbar and click.
When the Painter tool is enabled, the cursor will alternate between three states as outlined above. Directly to the right of the "parking spot" is a drop down list activated by clicking on the double-headed up/down arrow.
Choose any of the options, and a corresponding additonal choice will be exposed to the right.
Label: Select one of the 5 available color labels displayed (option: in the text box, change the label text)
Ratings: Select the number of stars to apply
Flag: Select the flag to apply from the drop-down list
Rotation: Select any of the 4 choices from the drop-down list
Keywords: Select the displayed text box and enter comma separated keyword(s) to be applied. Remember to hit enter to commit the text box entry.
Metadata: Choose the appropriate metadata preset from the drop down list
Settings: Choose the appropriate develop preset from the drop down list
Unfortunately, you can't change the metadata or develop presets during this process, so be sure that your presets are finalized amd ready to go before you select the PT.
There you have it. Set the thumbnails to a comfortable size, close both the side panels (Alt/Opt-Tab) and hide the filmstrip to maximize your grid view. Put one hand on the mouse, the other on the page down key and start painting. Fast, easy and visual.
* In the US, the common name of the device depicted in the icon is 'Spray Can'. I'm hopeful that the terminology is recognizable elsewhere. My apologies if not.
The refinement tags that can be painted on are Keywords, Labels, Ratings, Flags. In addition you can 'paint' on Rotation, Metadata and Develop settings. The first five offer the same options in paint that are offered in the Toolbar. The latter two allow you to apply any of your existing presets.
The SC tool is quite simple in concept, but is a little more complex in action. The tool has several application modes that change as you move the mouse cursor over the grid.
a) If you hover over the actual image portion of a thumbnail in the grid, the cursor is the SC, and a single-click will apply the option currently selected for the PT.
b) If you hover over the actual image portion of a thumbnail in the grid, which has already had the selected PT option applied, the cursor is an eraser, and a single-click will remove the option currently selected for the PT.
c) If you hover over the gray bezel frame of a thumbnail, the cursor reverts to normal (even though the PT remains selected) and you can use the mouse to alter which photos are selected/highlighted. You can alter which photos are selected using the usual shift - ctrl/command - click options applicable to your OS.
With the PT selected, you can apply the settings to an unselected image by single clicking the SC on the image portion of its thumbnail. Additionally you can click and drag the SC across multiple thumbnails to apply the setting to each. If you have created a selection prior to choosing the PT, single-clicking the SC on any thumbnail image in the selection will apply the PT setting to all the images in the selection. In addition, by using the technique in c) above, you can change your photo selections, without de-selecting the SC tool, and continue painting "on-the-fly".
To select the Painter tool, simply click on the SC icon on the Toolbar below the grid and above the Filmstrip. If the Toolbar isn't visible hit 'T' or Menu > View Toolbar to show it. If the SC icon is not shown on the Toolbar, click the black down triangle at the right end of the Toolbar and apply a checkmark to the Painter tool on the available Tool configuration list which drops down.
To deselect the Painter tool, return it to the empty "parking spot" left behind on the Toolbar and click.
When the Painter tool is enabled, the cursor will alternate between three states as outlined above. Directly to the right of the "parking spot" is a drop down list activated by clicking on the double-headed up/down arrow.
Choose any of the options, and a corresponding additonal choice will be exposed to the right.
Label: Select one of the 5 available color labels displayed (option: in the text box, change the label text)
Ratings: Select the number of stars to apply
Flag: Select the flag to apply from the drop-down list
Rotation: Select any of the 4 choices from the drop-down list
Keywords: Select the displayed text box and enter comma separated keyword(s) to be applied. Remember to hit enter to commit the text box entry.
Metadata: Choose the appropriate metadata preset from the drop down list
Settings: Choose the appropriate develop preset from the drop down list
Unfortunately, you can't change the metadata or develop presets during this process, so be sure that your presets are finalized amd ready to go before you select the PT.
There you have it. Set the thumbnails to a comfortable size, close both the side panels (Alt/Opt-Tab) and hide the filmstrip to maximize your grid view. Put one hand on the mouse, the other on the page down key and start painting. Fast, easy and visual.
* In the US, the common name of the device depicted in the icon is 'Spray Can'. I'm hopeful that the terminology is recognizable elsewhere. My apologies if not.