Choose ingest names, metadata, and output folders

Use these options after choosing the source and destination in Ingest → Card Ingest. Begin with a practice copy if you are creating a new naming convention or template. These choices are optional; you can copy first and caption later.

The setup column places Source above Copy To. The image grid sits in the middle, with Rename and Metadata in a separate right column. On narrower windows, the columns stack.

Use Browse beside the source path to choose a different folder on the card. The chosen folder remains the source instead of reverting to the automatically detected card.

Set up a repeatable copy

1. Ingest always makes copies. Confirm the source and destination paths. To apply a template to existing files, select them in the grid and use Templates beside Metadata, or right-click → Apply Metadata Template…. Choose a template, review the editor, then Save Changes. Define reusable templates in gear icon → IPTC Templates.
2. Leave Rename files off to preserve camera names. To rename destination copies, enable it, choose the pattern, fill the intended job/date/text values, and inspect the examples. Check the starting number to prevent an accidental repeated sequence.
3. Enable metadata stamping only when ready. Open the preset list and click Preview beside a name to inspect its populated metadata without changing your draft. Click Load this preset when ready, or Close to return. Load an existing IPTC/XMP template or preset, inspect the fields, and apply only the intended shared values. Typing in an ingest metadata field automatically selects it for stamping, including Caption, Headline, Title, Assignment, and Usage Terms. Each selected value replaces that field on every ingested image; a generic caption therefore becomes the caption on every destination image. Camera EXIF remains intact. You can uncheck a field afterward to preserve its existing value. Untouched Caption and Headline remain skipped by default. A blank caption should not be used as a casual way to erase captions. Metadata-write failures are reported as ingest errors. Each editor has a Common values dropdown. Type a value and click Add beside that field to keep it on this Mac; choose it later to fill and select the field for stamping. The dropdown displays the chosen value. Values from your saved metadata templates also appear. Custom fields and code replacements remain in gear icon → IPTC Templates → Metadata Template Wizard.
4. Choose One destination folder when all selected photos belong together in a folder of manageable size.
5. Keep Auto organize (recommended) to use the automatic threshold above 2,000 images, or choose Split into folders and select 2,000, 5,000, or a custom target.
6. Set the folder slug, optional ingest date, separator, and starting folder number. Save a named folder preset if you will repeat that convention. Inspect the destination preview before starting.
7. Resolve existing numbered folders by choosing a different starting number or a different destination. Wait for the destination and preparation checks to finish.

The Rename pane shows each original filename above its new name, with long names wrapping. Scroll the pane to review the first 20 examples. Variables opens the available naming tokens; select one to append it to the pattern.

How splitting works

Targets are approximate group sizes, not hard caps. The splitter finishes the burst after reaching the target and keeps matching RAW/JPEG and XMP companions together. RAW and JPEG count as separate image files; XMP sidecars do not count toward the image target. If reliable subsecond timing is missing, an uncertain source-folder group can stay together and exceed the target. Read the uncertainty message instead of expecting an exact count.

Each source folder begins its own output group. One combined ingest can copy the whole selected source into several numbered folders without stopping after every output folder. With Open grid after ingest, visible completion opens the first folder. Open the others from the folder tree.

Saved data and verification

Copy mode preserves the originals. Rename and template actions affect the copies; companions retain the shared renamed stem. Folder presets retain your naming choices. The planned destinations are used for space/collision checks. Confirm actual names and metadata on the resulting copies before reuse on an assignment.

Common problems

If splitting is unavailable, check Copy mode and preparation errors. If the preview is still preparing, let it finish or cancel preparation; do not treat a partial plan as complete. Smaller folders may improve browsing, but the target is not a guaranteed speed improvement. For stopping, partial copies, and eject behavior, read Ingest progress. For reusable caption fields, read Templates.

Check the folder preview before trusting a split

A current macOS development-app check encountered burstManager is not defined while preparing a split. The controls exist, but that run did not produce a usable split plan. If you see this error, follow split recovery and use One destination folder only when appropriate for your batch. Do not assume automatic splitting above 2,000 images has passed runtime acceptance.

After Cancel Ingest → Stop Ingest, IBP finishes the current file before stopping. The progress icon spins while that work is active and stops when the cancelled result appears. It also stops after completion or an error.

The Card detected prompt uses readable light and dark appearances. Choose Ingest Card to copy through Ingest or Go to Grid to browse. In Settings, Photo Card Detection controls the prompt.

Shoot recipes and common values

Choose the intended saved shoot and filename recipe before enabling Rename files during ingest. Custom answers and expanded recipe editing live in Metadata Template Wizard, outside ingest. Legacy Custom1/Custom2 patterns use saved fields with those names. Missing required metadata or read failures block filename preparation.

Metadata groups can collapse; hidden or disabled fields should not be mistaken for absent saved values. Review preset previews before loading, common values before stamping, and the field selection after typing. Template application to existing files belongs in the grid's Apply Metadata Template action.