From camera card to captioned JPG

READ THIS FIRST

Where the caption is actually saved

FrameNote keeps your original photo safe. Caption metadata is written only into a new file that you download from FrameNote.

Editing and autosave

• Type directly in the Caption box. FrameNote autosaves after a brief pause.
• Saved confirms that the current wording is stored; it is not a separate caption status.
• Once a caption exists, its queue status is Needs review until you finalize it. Downloaded appears only after FrameNote confirms delivery.
• Edits save automatically; use Finalize & Download JPG when the caption is complete.
• Autosave does not modify the photo file on your card or computer.

Finalizing the photo

1. Review the latest caption. Correct names, action, location, date, and any facts that matter to the editor.
2. Click Finalize & Download JPG. FrameNote finalizes the latest autosaved text and writes it into a new JPG. If delivery is interrupted, use Download JPG to try again.
3. Open the downloaded file. Look for Caption or Description in a metadata-aware program.

Single-photo filename: A photo such as DSC_1234.JPG downloads as DSC_1234-captioned.jpg.

Batch delivery: Download Captioned ZIP finalizes the included captions and downloads their captioned JPG copies.

Text export: Download Captions TXT creates a separate text file. It does not write metadata into a JPG.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT

Quick start: your first captioned photo

A new subscriber account opens with a private workspace and an empty job for the first assignment.

1. Sign in. Open FrameNote Capture and use the account created during signup.
2. Name the event. Use New event on the Events screen when you need a separate one. The switcher in the header keeps events and photos from mixing.
3. Complete Event Setup. Enter teams, date, venue, location, sport, photographer, publication or client, and rights line. Click Save Event.
4. Import a roster or code list. This is optional, but it helps FrameNote turn spoken numbers or short codes into accurate names.
5. Import photos and voice tags. Use the browser for selected JPG and audio files, or use the Mac app for card markers, RAW files, and large selective ingests.
6. Review the caption. Open Needs review, correct the caption, and wait for the Saved confirmation.
7. Finalize and download. Click Finalize & Download JPG. Deliver that downloaded copy, not the original upload.

Recommended event details

INGEST

Import in the browser

Browser import is the simplest path when you already know which JPGs and voice tags you want to send.

Pair files by name

Choose the photo and its matching audio file together. FrameNote pairs files that share the same filename stem.

Browser steps

1. Open Ingest. Confirm the correct job in the job switcher.
2. Choose files. Under Import Photos + Voice Tags, click Choose files and select JPG, WAV, or MP3 files.
3. Start import. Click Import files and keep the tab open while transfers and pairing finish.
4. Move to Review. Rows appear as completed files are registered. Processing can continue while later files upload.

When to choose the Mac app instead

• You want camera-protected, rated, tagged, or color-coded picks from a card.
• You are working with RAW or RAW+JPEG captures.
• You want FrameNote to skip files already ingested to the same job.
• You have a large card or folder and want a selective, retryable local scan.

MAC COMPANION

Use FrameNote Capture Local Ingest

The Mac app reads the card locally, selects the captures you asked for, and sends them to a FrameNote Capture job.

First use

1. Install and sign in. Download the Mac app from FrameNote Capture, open it, and use the same account. The session is protected with macOS Keychain-backed encryption.
2. Choose a source and job. Select a mounted card, DCIM folder, or local photo folder, then choose the destination FrameNote job.
3. Choose a filter. Select protected, tagged, rated, color-coded, any marked, tagged with audio, or all recognized photos.
4. Scan and review. Check the selected filenames, voice-tag matches, counts, and estimated size.
5. Send. Click Send to Capture and leave the card mounted until completion.

What happens automatically after you start

• Matching voice tags are paired by filename.
• Audio is sent first, and completed photos can be skipped on later scans of the same job.
• A same-stem camera JPG is preferred; supported RAW-only captures use a temporary embedded JPEG preview.

What the app does not do

• It does not auto-launch for a card or continuously watch folders in the background.
• It works directly with supported camera cards and local folders.
• It never uploads, edits, renames, moves, or deletes the RAW source file.

MAC REFERENCE

Filters, RAW files, and repeat scans

Use the filter that matches the way you mark keepers in camera or on the Mac.

RAW behavior

• Supported families: ARW, CR2, CR3, DNG, NEF, ORF, PEF, RAF, and RW2.
• RAW+JPEG with the same stem: FrameNote uploads the camera-created JPEG.
• RAW-only: FrameNote tries to extract a sufficiently large, decodable embedded JPEG preview.
• The RAW source stays on the Mac and remains byte-for-byte untouched.
• For the most predictable workflow across untested cameras, shoot RAW+JPEG.

Repeat and interrupted scans

Keep Skip photos already ingested to this job checked for normal work. FrameNote remembers completed photo and voice-tag fingerprints on that Mac, even if the card later mounts under a different path.

Marker compatibility: FrameNote reads supported camera, Finder, rating, and color markers when they exist.

REVIEW

Review, finalize, and download

FrameNote drafts from the voice tag, event details, roster matches, and available photo metadata. You remain the final editor.

Read the status first

Review each photo

1. Open the photo. Select its row in Review. Use the arrow buttons or queue filters to move efficiently.
2. Read the status. Needs review still needs your decision. Finalized is fixed for export. Downloaded confirms delivery.
3. Edit the Caption box. Correct facts and wording. FrameNote autosaves after a brief pause.
4. Check Review notes when shown. Open the compact notes panel only when it contains a useful suggestion.
5. Confirm Saved. This confirms that the latest wording is stored in the job.
6. Use Improve Caption only when useful. It regenerates from the available voice tag and assignment context; review the result again.
7. Finalize and download. Finalize & Download JPG uses the latest autosaved caption. The status becomes Finalized while the file is prepared, then Downloaded after delivery is confirmed.

DELIVER

Download the files that carry the caption

FrameNote creates delivery copies. Your imported original remains unchanged.

One photo

1. Open the photo in Review. Make sure the Caption box shows the final wording and the save confirmation says Saved.
2. Click Finalize & Download JPG. FrameNote finalizes the caption, creates a new JPG, and writes the caption and event metadata.
3. Confirm the status. Finalized means the caption is fixed for export; Downloaded confirms the delivery transfer.
4. Send the downloaded copy. Deliver the file ending in -captioned.jpg.

Several photos

• Select rows and choose Download selected ZIP, or use Download Captioned ZIP for all captioned job photos.
• FrameNote finalizes the included captions, downloads framenote-captioned-jpgs.zip, and marks those rows Downloaded.
• Extract the ZIP before opening or sending individual JPGs.
• If included captions still have Review notes, FrameNote asks you to confirm before finalizing them.

Metadata written to the new JPG

VERIFY

Check the caption in another program

Use a metadata-aware application and make sure you opened the FrameNote delivery copy.

1. Find the downloaded file. Look for -captioned.jpg, or extract the JPG from framenote-captioned-jpgs.zip.
2. Open that exact copy. Do not reopen the original card file or the original JPG you selected for upload.
3. View metadata. Look for Caption, Description, IPTC Caption, or Caption-Abstract. Programs label the same family of fields differently.
4. Refresh if needed. Some applications cache metadata. Reopen the file or use the program's metadata refresh command.

Common viewing differences

• Metadata-aware photo editors and newsroom systems can display caption metadata, but their panels and labels differ.
• Finder and Preview do not expose every IPTC/XMP field, so a missing visible caption there does not prove the file lacks metadata.
• A newsroom system may map Description or Caption-Abstract into its own caption field.
• If the filename has no -captioned suffix, first confirm that it actually came from a FrameNote export.

Safe source-file behavior

• Browser imports do not rewrite the source file you selected.
• FrameNote Capture Local Ingest leaves source RAW files and camera JPEGs in place.
• Exports are separate delivery files, so you can compare or re-export without risking the card originals.

HELP

Troubleshooting and button reference

Start with the symptom below. Most issues come down to the selected file, filename pairing, filter choice, or an unfinished transfer.

Quick fixes

Caption is missing after download: Open the -captioned.jpg copy and view IPTC/XMP Caption or Description.

Photo has no voice tag: Check that the JPG and audio share a filename stem and were imported together.

Mac scan finds no picks: Confirm the folder and filter, or test with All recognized photos.

RAW file cannot be ingested: Use a matching camera JPEG or shoot RAW+JPEG.

Upload was interrupted: Retry it; the Mac app skips completed files on later scans by default.

Caption processing is stuck: Use Retry captions or correct the transcript under Voice tag source.

Button reference

Get help

Open Settings > Send Feedback and include the job name, filename, what happened, and what you expected.