Rate, filter, and compare photographs

Use ratings, color labels, and IBP picks to narrow a take while preserving the originals. You need local images loaded in the grid. Decide what your marks mean before starting—for example, one color for caption work and a star level for candidates.

Review a take

1. Select an image and open its large viewer. Move through the sequence and inspect the subject, moment, composition, and available detail.
2. Apply stars, a color label, or an IBP tag using the visible controls. In grid-focused review, the shortcut strip shows the available keys. Check the active selection before using a multi-image action.
3. Use the header's rating and color filters to show matching work. No star rating and No color label are actual filter choices, not instructions to clear marks.
4. Use the search field for filenames, tags, or loaded metadata. Choose a sort such as name, capture date, rating, color, or file type. Clear search and filters when returning to the whole take.
5. Select the comparable candidates and choose the comparison action, or use the configured Compare shortcut. Inspect the images side by side. Use the comparison zoom/pan and available synchronized controls to compare the same subject area.
6. Make your human selection and create a Selection Set. Leave original deletion for a separate, deliberate file-management decision.

Know which mark you are changing

An IBP pick is separate from keywords, stars, colors, and a camera's protection/tag flag. Tag selected and Untag selected act on the current multi-image selection. Camera Tagged has its own shortcut and filter. Hiding camera-tag badges in Display preferences does not erase the flag or change burst covers.

Review metadata uses the app's file/sidecar and saved-state paths. Changes can take time or fail on read-only sources. Session undo/redo covers supported review actions; it does not guarantee recovery from every file operation.

Verify and troubleshoot

Check the mark on the intended photograph and verify it after reopening the folder when persistence matters. If too many images changed, stop and inspect the available Undo action. If the grid is unexpectedly empty, clear all active filters, not just the text search. A generated RAW preview is not full-resolution sharpness proof. If two files represent the same capture, check RAW/JPEG stacking and bursts before treating one as a duplicate to delete.