Labeling and ratings in CS5

Question

Hi:
I'd like to move my image approval and organization process toward a metadata workflow. I know Bridge offers labeling and ratings of RAW formats and they are both captured in the XMP. Are there any existing concerns - that is, is this a persistent solution so that if I need to go back to the file 5 years from now, the metadata will still be compatible in the existing XMP file? I saw some postings on the labels going white, and unfortunately, I haven't had the time to check all the previous discussions. But I'm at the point where I need to implement something different with my team and real soon. I apologize if I'm just a smidge skeptical, but I want to be certain that this will work for the long term. Thanks

Answer 1

I know Bridge offers labeling and ratings of RAW formats and they
are both captured in the XMP. Are there any existing concerns
Yes there are always concerns, specially when using different Raw files and
different users.
Using Raw format and rating labeling creates a separate XMP file for the
original Raw file. This travels with the file automatically as long as you
use Bridge for moving them between folders. The XMP files are by default
hidden files and therefore not visible in Bridge (If you want to check
choose menu View/show hidden files). The first time you add stars, labels or
metadata info like IPTC to a Raw file it creates such a hidden file.
But losing that file for whatever reason causes also los of rating, label
and IPTC metadata. Once developed and saved as f.i. PSD  or jpeg the
metadata and rating/label is written into the file itself.
Therefore you might consider to switch to a DNG workflow. All metadata,
labeling and rating is saved into this file so no longer bothering about
losing separate XMP files.
is this a persistent solution so that if I need to go back to the file 5 years
from now, the metadata will still be compatible in the existing XMP file?
DNG is an open standard created by Adobe and as open standard likely to be
trusted for years to come. This is not certain for all the different Raw
files the vendors create for each new dSLR they produce, some of the early
ones are already hard to convert in current Raw apps.
Adobe has a free DNG Converter but if you ingest the files yourself from
card reader you could use Adobe Photo downloader and fill in some options
like converting to DNG, back up original Raw,rename and add copyright
template.
saw some postings on the labels going white,
First of all, planning to work on a filing system for your images also needs
a good back up strategy, there is always a chance something goes wrong...
The labels turning white is mainly caused by switching to other languages or
later in the process change label names to other then the default. If Bridge
can't compare the label name set in earlier times with current changed (or
other language) name it turns the label to white. However it still keeps the
name given to the file when original labeled. This is easy to select in the
filter panel where you can select all the files with same label name with a
checkmark in front.
Personally I still don't trust Bridge for using as Digital Asset Management,
have had to much trouble in the past and also believe you can't create an
app for all functions. I use Bridge very much and for all my files for
ingestion of raw files, rating, renaming metadata, open in ACR using
Tools/Photoshop/Batch, the output module for contact sheets etc etc. And I
really love it despite it is still not the app it can be.
But for my archive with 50K + of images I use Canto Cumulus Single user that
is designed for DAM. Also not perfect but very good compared with value for
money. Have also used Extensis Portfolio (to slow on my system, used
different versions) and for quit a long time iView media until Microsoft
took it over, changed the name to Media Expression and killed it not long
after.