Find photos using the Library Filter bar



The Library Filter bar at the top of the Grid view of the Library module offers three modes for filtering photos: Text, Attribute, and Metadata. You can select and use any one mode, or combine them to perform more complex filtering.

Text
Allows you to search any indexed metadata text field, including filename, caption, keywords, and EXIF and IPTC metadata.

Attribute
Filters by flag status, star ratings, color labels, and copies.

Metadata
Provides up to eight columns of metadata criteria that you can select to filter photos.

  • Click any mode name to show and hide its options. The mode label is white when those options are open. One, two, or all three filter modes can be open at once.
  • Shift-click a second or third label to open multiple modes at once.
  • Click None to hide and turn off all filter modes.
    Note: When Metadata filter options are open, you can resize the Library Filter bar by moving the pointer over the lower edge of the bar. When it becomes a double-arrow, drag the edge up or down.

    For a video about using the Library Filter bar, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid2204_lrm.

Search for photos using the Text filter

The Text filter lets you search through the catalog or selected photos using a text search field. You can search any indexed field or choose specific fields, and you can specify how the search criteria is matched.

The found photos that are displayed in the Grid view and the Filmstrip depend on whether you searched the entire catalog, specific folders or collections, or the Quick Collection. The number of photos that match the search criteria appears in the Filmstrip Source Indicator.

  1. In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.
  2. In the Library Filter bar, select Text.
  3. Choose the field you want to search from the Any Searchable Field pop-up menu.
  4. Choose a search rule from the Contains All pop-up menu.
    Contains
    Searches for the specified alphanumeric sequence(s), including partial words. For example, performing a Contains search for flo returns results that include the word flower. If multiple sequences are entered, Lightroom finds photos that contain any of the individual sequences.

    Contains All
    Searches for text that contains all specified alphanumeric sequences. Say, for example, you have a folder of photos of a family gathering, and each photo is tagged with the names of the individuals in the shot. You could perform a Contains All search on Joh and Su to find all photos that contain both John and Susan.

    Contains Words
    Searches for text that contains all specified alphanumeric sequences as whole words. To find photos with the keyword flower using a Contains Word search, for example, type flower.

    Doesn’t Contain
    Searches for text that does not contain any specified sequence.

    Starts With
    Searches for text that begins with the specified alphanumeric sequence.

    Ends With
    Searches for text that ends with the specified alphanumeric sequence.

  5. Type the text in the search box.
    Add an exclamation point (!) before any word to exclude it from the results. Add a plus sign (+) before any word to apply the Starts With rule to that word. Add a plus sign (+) after any word to apply the Ends With rule to that word.

    The photos with the specified text criteria appear in the Grid view and the Filmstrip.

  6. (Optional) To refine your search, apply an Attribute or Metadata filter.
    Note: When two or more filters are specified, Lightroom returns photos that match all criteria.

Find photos using the Attribute filters

The Attribute options in the Library Filter bar let you filter photos by flag status, star ratings, labels, and copy. The Attribute options are also available in the Filmstrip. See Filter the photos displayed in the Filmstrip and Grid view.

  1. In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.
  2. In the Library Filter bar, select Attribute.
  3. Click an option to filter the selected photos by flag status, star rating, color label, or copy.

    The photos with the specified filter criteria appear in the Grid view and the Filmstrip.

  4. (Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text or Metadata filter.
    Note: When two or more filters are specified, Lightroom returns photos that match all criteria.

Find photos using Metadata filters

You can find photos by selecting specific metadata criteria using the Metadata options in the Library Filter bar. Lightroom supports metadata embedded in photos by your digital camera and by other applications such as Photoshop or Adobe Bridge.

  1. In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.
  2. In the Library Filter bar, select Metadata.
  3. Choose a metadata category from the left column by clicking the header and choosing from the pop-up menu. Then, choose an entry in that column. For example, choose Date, and then select All Dates. Lightroom displays the number of selected photos that match that criteria next to the entry.
    Shift-click and Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) to select multiple entries in a column.
  4. In the next column, choose another metadata category, and choose an entry from that column.
  5. Continue to choose as many metadata categories and criteria as you like. Click the pop-up menu at the right side of any column header to add or remove the column, change the sort order, and switch between hierarchical and flat view.

    The photos with the specified metadata are displayed in the Grid view and the Filmstrip.

  6. (Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text or Attribute filter.
    Note: When two or more filters are specified, Lightroom returns photos that match all criteria.
    You can also find photos by clicking the right-pointing arrow that appears next to certain metadata text boxes in the Metadata panel.

Customize the Library Filter bar

Lightroom provides six predefined filters to let you quickly perform common filters and restore default settings.

 In the Library Filter bar or the Filmstrip, choose any of the following from the Custom Filter menu:
Default Columns
Opens the Metadata options to the default four columns: Date, Camera, Lens, and Label, and all metadata selected in each category.

Filters Off
Turns off all filters and hides all filter options.

Flagged
Displays photos with a Pick flag.

Location Columns
Filters photos by Country, State/Province, City, and Location metadata categories.

Rated
Displays photos with a star rating of one or higher.

Unrated
Displays photos that have no star rating.

Save Library Filter bar settings as a preset

To expedite common searches and filter operations, save your filter criteria as a preset.

  1. Using the Text, Attribute, and Metadata options in the Library Filter bar, specify criteria to filter your photos.
  2. Choose Save Current Settings As New Preset from the Custom Filter menu at the right side of the Library Filter bar or the Filmstrip.
  3. Type a name for the preset in the New Preset dialog box, and click Create.

Apply a Library Filter bar preset

 To apply a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu.

Delete a Library Filter bar preset

 To delete a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu and then choose Delete Preset “Preset Name.”

Rename a Library Filter bar preset

 To rename a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu and then choose Rename Preset “Preset Name.”