PHOTO MECHANIC - How to create CODE REPLACEMENTS and CAPTION images in Photo Mechanic 5

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through creating code replacements and captioning images using Photo Mechanic 5. By following these steps, you can streamline your workflow, especially if you're preparing for sports photography. This process involves setting up text files for team line-ups and incorporating them into your images for efficient captioning.

Step 1: Create a Text File for Team Line-Ups

1. Open TextEdit or your preferred text editor.
2. Obtain Team Line-Ups:
   • Visit a website like Football Squads to find the team line-ups.
   • For a Premier League game, copy the entire team list:
     • Place your cursor over the first name, hold the Alt key, and drag down to the last player.
     • Press Command + C to copy the selected text.
3. Paste the Team List:
   • In your TextEdit file, press Command + V to paste the copied team list.
4. Clean Up the Text:
   • Manually delete unnecessary text:
     • Hold the Alt key and highlight text to delete sections without chopping off player names.
   • Remove special characters (e.g., umlauts) from player names and replace them with standard letters.
5. Add a Team Identifier:
   • At the start of each player name, type an identifier (e.g., "A" for Arsenal).
   • Use arrow keys to navigate and fill in the identifier next to each player.

Step 2: Fill in Player Details

1. Add Manager and Additional Details:
   • Type the team's manager name and other relevant details in the text file.
   • Format your text clearly to ensure easy reading later.
2. Copy Presets for Captions:
   • If you have preset captions (e.g., actions like "scores a goal"), copy them from another text file and paste them under the team list.

Step 3: Save and Import the Text File into Photo Mechanic

1. Save Your Text File:
   • Name your text file appropriately (e.g., "Arsenal Jobs").
2. Import into Photo Mechanic:
   • Open Photo Mechanic and navigate to Edit Settings.
   • Select Code Replacements and click on Add.
   • Locate and double-click your saved text file to import it.

Step 4: Set Up Your Captioning System

1. Define a Delimiter Character:
   • Set a delimiter character for your shortcuts (e.g., a forward slash /).
   • Example: Type /A1 for the goalkeeper to generate the caption.
2. Test Your Setup:
   • To ensure everything is working, type in your delimiter followed by a player identifier (e.g., /A1).
   • Verify that the correct caption appears.

Step 5: Caption Your Images

1. Open Your Images in Photo Mechanic:
   • Load the images you wish to caption.
2. Copy and Paste Captions:
   • For each image, copy the relevant text from your text file.
   • Paste it into the caption field and delete any unnecessary parts for clarity.
3. Review and Edit Captions:
   • Ensure that captions are descriptive enough for someone unfamiliar with the context.
   • Make adjustments to text as necessary for clarity and detail.

Step 6: Update Your Text File as Needed

1. Make Changes in TextEdit:
   • If you need to update any player or team information, make those changes directly in your text file.
2. Reload the Updated File in Photo Mechanic:
   • In Photo Mechanic, go to Edit > Settings > Code Replacements.
   • Highlight your text file and select Reload All to refresh the contents.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you'll be able to create efficient code replacements and caption your images effectively in Photo Mechanic 5. This process not only saves time but also ensures accuracy in your sports photography captions. Feel free to experiment with different team line-ups and preset captions to optimize your workflow even further. Happy captioning!