Adobe Stock Keywords and Metadata CSV
Titles, ordered keywords and a category number for every photo, exported in Adobe's CSV column layout
Stock agency output needs a Pro or Studio plan. See pricing.
Try it free →Titles Within Adobe's Limit
Each title is plain and descriptive, at most 70 characters, with no commas. That matches Adobe's published guidance for titles, so you do not have to trim them by hand.
40 to 49 Ordered Keywords
Keywords are ordered by importance, with no hashtags, no duplicates, and no brand names, trademarks, camera names or private people's names. Adobe allows up to 50.
Category Number 1 to 21
Adobe's CSV takes the category as a number. PhotoScanr picks one from Adobe's list of 21 and writes the number, so there is no lookup table to keep open.
One-Click Adobe Stock CSV
The Export menu has an "Adobe Stock CSV" option with the columns Filename, Title, Keywords, Category and Releases. Releases is left blank for you.
Batch Processing
Pro handles up to 25 photos per batch and Studio up to 100. Run a shoot through in batches and export once the review is done.
Review First
The "Stock agencies" view in the results shows every field for review, with copy buttons. Make your fixes in the exported CSV before you upload it. Nothing is sent to Adobe for you.
Why Metadata Decides Whether Adobe Stock Photos Sell
Buyers Find Photos by Search
Nobody browses a library of this size. A buyer types a phrase, and the files whose titles and keywords match rank. A sharp, well-lit photo with weak keywords can sit unseen for years while a plainer shot with good metadata sells.
The work is repetitive: forty or more keywords per file, a title, a category, hundreds of files per shoot. That is the part PhotoScanr takes over.
The First Ten Keywords Carry the Weight
Adobe's guidance is that keyword order matters and the first ten are the most important. Most contributors paste a keyword list in whatever order a tool produced it. If the tenth keyword is "background" and the twentieth is the actual subject, you lose ranking on the term that matters.
PhotoScanr orders keywords by importance, so the subject and the most searchable concepts lead.
Rejections Cost You Time
A file rejected for a trademark in the metadata or a misleading keyword costs a review cycle. Stripping brand names, camera names and personal names at the generation step removes one of the most common avoidable causes.
It does not remove the need to look. Visible logos in the image itself are a separate problem that no keyword fixes.
CSV Beats Typing in the Portal
Adobe lets you edit file by file in the Contributor portal, which is fine for ten files and miserable for three hundred. The CSV import fills every row in one pass once your files are uploaded.
PhotoScanr writes the file in Adobe's column layout so the import is a single upload, not an afternoon.
Adobe Stock Workflow, Step by Step
Turn on Stock agency output
On the PhotoScanr home page, tick the "Stock agency output" checkbox above the upload area before you add photos. It is available on Pro and Studio. If you forget, you will need to analyze the photos again.
Upload the exact files you will submit
Add your photos, up to 25 per batch on Pro or 100 on Studio. Use the same files you plan to upload to Adobe, because the CSV records each file's original name. Photos are resized in your browser before analysis, and your original files stay on your computer. Only a resized copy is sent for analysis.
Open the Stock agencies view
In the results, choose "Stock agencies" from the Platform dropdown. Each photo shows its title, description, Alamy caption, keywords, Adobe category number and Shutterstock categories.
Review every photo
Check the title against the image. Delete keywords that are wrong or that you would not defend to a reviewer. Confirm the location if it is named. Check the category. Add the specific species, landmark or technique that only you know.
Export the Adobe Stock CSV
Open the Export menu and choose "Adobe Stock CSV". Apply the fixes from your review in the CSV, using a text editor or a spreadsheet saved as CSV UTF-8. Fill the Releases column with the release file name for any photo that needs a model or property release. Leave it blank otherwise.
Upload files, then the CSV
In the Adobe Stock Contributor portal, upload your image files first. Then import the CSV so Adobe can match each row to a file by file name. Set editorial and AI-related flags in the portal, because they are not part of the CSV. Check the results, then submit.
What the CSV Looks Like
This is an illustrative example of one row, shortened for display. A real export has 40 to 49 keywords per row, and Adobe's own template is the final word on the header names.
Filename,Title,Keywords,Category,Releases IMG_4821.jpg,Red fox standing in a snowy field at sunrise,"red fox, fox, wildlife, snow, winter, sunrise, field, mammal, predator, nature, cold, morning",1,
Notes on the format:
- The Keywords value sits inside quotes because the keywords themselves are separated by commas.
- Category is a number. 1 is Animals in this example.
- Releases is empty here. If a model release applies, put the release's file name in this column.
- Adobe limits a CSV to 5,000 rows and 1 MB, which is far above a batch from PhotoScanr.
- Open the file in a text editor, not just a spreadsheet, if something fails to import. Spreadsheet programs can change quoting and encoding on save.
Adobe Stock Metadata Rules and Common Rejections
What the CSV Import Requires
- Upload the files first, then add the CSV in the Contributor portal.
- The header row must match Adobe's template exactly.
- Filename must match the uploaded file exactly, including the extension.
- Title: 70 characters is Adobe's guidance, and no commas.
- Keywords: up to 50, comma-separated. Order matters.
- Category: a number.
- Releases: the release file name, when one applies.
Common Causes of Trouble
- Mismatched file names. A row can only apply to a file Adobe can find by that exact name. Re-exporting or renaming in Lightroom after analysis is the usual cause.
- Brand names and trademarks. Product names, logos and camera names in metadata invite rejection. PhotoScanr leaves them out, but check titles you edit.
- Irrelevant keywords. Keywords that do not describe the image are treated as spam. Remove anything you cannot see in the frame.
- Missing releases. Recognizable people and private property in commercial work need releases. A keyword cannot substitute for one.
- Wrong editorial status. Editorial content is flagged in the portal, not in this CSV.
Adobe Stock Category Numbers
The CSV needs the number, not the name. PhotoScanr picks one for you and you can change it during review. For reference, the list is:
A photo often fits two categories. A hiker on a ridge could be Landscapes, Travel or Hobbies and Leisure. Pick the one a buyer would be most likely to browse under, since you only get one.
Tips for Better Adobe Stock Metadata
Fix the first ten keywords by hand
Reorder if the subject is not first. Put the concrete subject, then the setting, then the concept a buyer would search for, such as "solitude" or "teamwork". Generic terms like "beautiful" belong near the end or nowhere.
Add what the AI cannot know
The exact species, the building's name, the town, the season, the technique. If you know it and the image supports it, add it. Specific terms face less competition than broad ones. See the photo keywording guide for how to layer keywords.
Keep file names stable
Decide on the final file names before you analyze. If you batch-rename afterward, edit the Filename column to match, or the import will not line up.
Test with a small CSV first
Upload five files and a five-row CSV the first time. If Adobe rejects the header or a row, you find out in a minute, not after cleaning up three hundred rows.
Keep a copy in your catalog
If you manage your library in Lightroom Classic, PhotoScanr also has a Lightroom output. The Lightroom metadata guide explains how to bring titles and keywords into your catalog so the work is not lost after the CSV is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What columns does the Adobe Stock CSV from PhotoScanr contain?
Filename, Title, Keywords, Category and Releases. The Releases column is left blank for you to fill in with the release file name if a photo needs one. Adobe requires the header names to match its template exactly, so check the file against the template in the Contributor portal before you upload.
Does the Filename column have to match my uploaded files?
Yes. Adobe matches each CSV row to an uploaded file by file name, including the extension. PhotoScanr writes the original file name of each photo you analyzed, so the CSV only matches if you upload that same file. If you export a resized or renamed copy for Adobe, the names will not match and you will need to fix the Filename column.
How many keywords does Adobe Stock allow, and does order matter?
Adobe allows up to 50 keywords per file, separated by commas. Order matters: the first ten carry the most weight in search, so the most important and most accurate terms should come first. PhotoScanr returns 40 to 49 keywords ordered by importance.
Does PhotoScanr set the editorial or AI-generated flags?
No. Those flags are set in the Adobe Stock Contributor portal, not in the CSV. You are responsible for marking editorial content and for following Adobe's rules on AI-generated material.
Which PhotoScanr plan do I need for stock output?
Stock agency output and the CSV exports are available on Pro and Studio. Studio has a larger batch size. See the pricing page for current plan details.
Do I still need to review the metadata?
Yes. AI can misread a subject, guess a place wrongly or choose a poor category. You are responsible for everything you submit to Adobe Stock. Read each title and keyword list, remove anything inaccurate, and then export.
Try It Free
Analyze a photo and see the metadata PhotoScanr writes. Stock agency output and CSV export need Pro or Studio.
Generate Adobe Stock Metadata →See pricing for plan details
Related Guides
Adobe Stock is a trademark of Adobe Inc. PhotoScanr is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Adobe. PhotoScanr generates metadata that you review and submit yourself, and you are responsible for following Adobe Stock's contributor terms and guidelines.