In this walkthrough, we will cover:

• Launching a Workspace
• Fast RAW Preview
• Star Rating System
• EXIF Keywording
• Batch Rating + Keywording
• Remove a File From a Workspace
• Delete a File From a Workspace
• Finalizing Ratings and Keywords for Export
  
• Exporting from a Workspace
• Exporting to (iOS) Photos or (Android) Gallery
• Exiting a Workspace
• 3rd Party App Integrations: Adobe Lightroom CC and Affinity Photo

Launching a Workspace

To preview images, add star ratings, or edit/add metadata you will need to launch a Workspace. Launching a Workspace is required because this enables pre-loading of information for quick review. The GNARBOX uses Photo Mechanic’s powerful image review technology to give you the fastest review experience possible.

1. Navigate to your files, tap the Select button and choose the files you wish to open in a Workspace.
2. Once your files are selected, tap the Quick-Action icon from the menu.
3. Then, choose Open Photo Workspace.
4. Your workspace will begin to generate.
5. Once loaded, your workspace will launch with a thumbnail grid of your files.

To import additional images you will need to create a new Workspace.

 

Fast RAW Preview

Under the hood, the GNARBOX App is powered by Photo Mechanic’s technology to quickly render your raw images.

1. To preview an image, tap its thumbnail.
2. The image will open up in a new preview screen.

Once you’ve entered the image preview screen, you can rapidly move through previewing your images by tapping the left and right sides of the screen.

 

Star Rating System

A Star Rating System allows you to review, rate and organize your photos before passing them into an editor such as Adobe Lightroom. You have the option to embed your star ratings directly into your existing files, or you can save your work into duplicate files to leave your original set untouched. Both options allow for culling preservation amongst software platforms that support a star rating system.

1. To rate an image, open up an image preview in your Workspace.
2. On the bottom of the screen tap the star rating you wish to apply to the image.

To remove a rating, tap the current applied rating.

 

EXIF Keywording

Keywording is a great way to add additional info to your images for searching, filtering, and general organization. The GNARBOX App provides the ability to add keywords to your images that will carry across industry-standard programs.

1. To add a keyword to an image, open up an image preview in your workspace.  On the bottom of the screen tap the tag icon.
2. Type the keyword you wish to add to the image and press Add. Continue this until you have successfully added each keyword.
3. To exit out of the popup, press the X button on the right.

To remove a keyword, press the X next to the keyword you'd like to remove.

 

Batch Rating and Keywording

It is easy to rate or keyword multiple images with the same information.

1. From the main Workspace screen, press the Select button.
2. Select the images you wish to keyword and press Rating or Keywords from the bottom menu.
3. Select the rating or add the keyword you wish to apply to the selected images and press Apply.

Remove a File From a Workspace

If you wish to remove a file from your Workspace, you can do so with either of the following methods.  Please note that removing a file from a workspace does not actually delete the file.  It simply removes the file from view in the current workspace.

Remove a file via Image Review:

1. Preview the image you wish to remove.
2. Tap the Quick-Action Icon in the lower right next to the image name.
3. Choose Remove from Workspace from the menu.

Your image will be removed from the Workspace.

Remove a file via Grid View:

1. From the grid view, tap Select.
2. Select the image you wish to remove.
3. Tap the Quick-Action Icon in the lower right.
4. Choose Remove from Workspace from the menu.

Your image will be removed from the Workspace.

 

Delete a File From a Workspace

If you wish to permanently delete a file from your Workspace, you can do so with either of the following methods.  Please note that this will permanently delete the file.

Delete a file via Image Review:

1. When previewing an image, tap the Quick-Action Icon in the lower right next to the image name.
2. Choose Delete from the menu.
3. You will be prompted to confirm.  Choose Delete to continue.

Your image will be removed from the workspace and permanently deleted from the source it was imported from (GNARBOX SSD, external hard drive, memory card, etc).

Remove a file via Grid View:

1. From the grid view, tap Select.
2. Tap the Quick-Action Icon on the bottom right.
3. Tap Delete.
4. You will be prompted to confirm.  Choose Delete to continue.

Your image will be removed from the workspace and permanently deleted from the source it was imported from (GNARBOX SSD, external hard drive, memory card, etc).

 

Finalizing Ratings and Keywords for Export

Once you’ve added your Star Ratings and Keywords to the images in your Workspace, you’ll notice the Pending Metadata Actions notification at the top of the Workspace grid.  This indicates that your Star Ratings and Keywords need to be saved, either to the existing files or to XMP Sidecar files.

To save your Star Ratings and Keywords:

1. Tap the Save All button.
2. You'll be presented with 3 options to move forward with:
   • Write to Existing Source Files will save your Star Ratings and Keywords to the existing files.
   • Write to XMP Sidecar Files will save your Star Ratings and Keywords to an XMP sidecar file, which can later be ingested into your desktop editor of choice.
   • Create New Sources Files allows you to export an entirely new copy of the files to a new location on the GNARBOX.  You are then able to write your Star Ratings and Keywords to those existing files or XMP sidecar files.

If you choose to Write to Existing Source Files or Write to XMP Sidecar Files, you’ll be reverted back to your Workspace.

If you choose to Create New Sources Files, you will be presented with the following:

1. Tap Create New Sources Files.
2. Choose the option that best fits your workflow.
   • Only New Source Files will export a new set of files with your metadata written directly to those files.
   • Write to XMP Sidecar Files will export a new set of files with metadata written to XMP Sidecar files.
3. You will then be prompted to choose the desired location for your export.  You can create a new folder if you wish.  Once you've located your desired location, tap Save Here.

Once processed, your images will export to the new location.

Please note that the following file types are not currently supported for XMP sidecar file capabilities on the GNARBOX:

• DNG
• TIF
• TIFF
• FFF
• JPEG
• JPG
• PSD
• PNG

Exporting from a Workspace

If you choose to save your Star Ratings to your existing files, you’ll have the option to Sort by Rating in your Workspace.  This can be helpful if you wish to export certain ratings for import into your favorite editing apps.

To do this:

1. Tap Sort by 
2. And select Rating from the menu.

To select a specific set of files for export:

1. Tap Select
2. Then select All on the group of files you wish to export.
3. Tap the Quick-Action Icon.
4. Choose Export Files from the menu.
5. Choose the option that best fits your workflow.
   • Only New Source Files will export a new set of files with your metadata written directly to those files.
   • Write to XMP Sidecar Files will export a new set of files with metadata written to XMP Sidecar files.
6. Then select a destination for your export.

Once processed, you’ll be reverted back to your Workspace.

 

Exporting to (iOS) Photos or (Android) Gallery

Saving files from a Workspace can be useful for quick upload to social media or sharing an image via email or text.

To export a file to (iOS) Photos or (Android) Gallery in grid-view:

1. Tap Select.
2. Choose the file you wish to export.
3. Tap the Quick-Action Icon in the lower right.
4. Choose Save to iOS Photos or Save to Android Gallery.

Once processed, you'll be reverted back to your Workspace.

To export a file to (iOS) Photos or (Android) Gallery during image review:

1. Open a file you wish to preview.
2. Tap the Quick-Action Icon in the lower right next to the file name.
3. Choose Save to iOS Photos or Save to Android Gallery.

Please note that you are currently only able to export a single file at a time to Photos or Gallery.

 

Exiting a Workspace

To exit a workspace, tap the Exit button at the top left of the Workspace screen.

 

3rd Party App Integrations

If you wish to edit your photos, we highly recommend leveraging one of our third-party app integrations. GNARBOX quickly connects you to mobile editing apps such as Affinity Photo and Adobe Lightroom CC (Mobile). There’s no need to transfer the files to your mobile device. Simply open your files in the app of your choice directly from the GNARBOX to continue your workflow.

Check out our integration walkthroughs here.

 

Please note that some 3rd party app integrations do not support metadata viewing.

 

 

 

Technical Support

Need assistance? We’re here for you! Browse our walkthroughs for full tutorials and troubleshooting tips. If you’d like one-on-one assistance, you can always email us at support@gnarbox.com or use our live chat in the bottom right!

  Live Chat Hours:

Mon-Fri: 10AM–5PM PST