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Task Guide: Culling and Organizing a Timber-Frame Architecture Shoot

These instructions describe the checked LightCraft foundation as of 14 October 2026. XiLight Alpha is free; public installer availability and XiKey integration are not yet verified.

Scenario

You photographed 450 camera RAW frames documenting a mass-timber public library building across dawn, midday, and dusk lighting conditions. You need to cull unfocused brackets rapidly, rate hero exterior and joinery shots, organize selections into a Smart Collection, and tag IPTC copyright and structural zone keywords.

Step-by-Step Workflow

1. Import and Triage with Pick/Reject Flags in Library View

  1. Press Ctrl+Shift+I (Cmd+Shift+I) to import the folder of RAW files into your catalog.
  2. Press G for Grid and enable Photo ▸ Auto Advance if you want to advance after rating or flagging.
  3. Open Detail with D to inspect a photo. Use flag controls for Pick and Reject, then return to Grid.

2. Compare Joinery Variations in Compare and Survey Views

  1. In the Filmstrip, select four candidate angles of the glulam roof truss connection and press N to open Survey view (View ▸ Survey), which displays all selected candidates side by side.
  2. Narrow down to your top two frames and press Shift+C for Compare view (Select vs Candidate) to inspect wood grain sharpness at 100% zoom (Z).
  3. Use star ratings and colour labels to distinguish exterior dusk photos from interior joinery details.

3. Build a Smart Collection and Apply Batch IPTC Metadata

  1. Filter for at least four stars and the Pick flag, then choose New Smart Album from Filter to save the selection rule.
  2. Select the filtered photos, open Keywords (K) and Info (I), and apply appropriate keywords, creator and copyright metadata. Check the selected photos before a batch edit.

Sources