Lightroom Classic plugin

Caption selected photos from inside Adobe Lightroom Classic on Mac. Captions, titles, and ranked keywords write back to your catalog; an optional export filter restores keyword order in the files you deliver to agencies.

1. Enable the bridge in CaptionSmith

1. Open CaptionSmith.
2. Go to Settings → Advanced.
3. Turn ON “Enable Lightroom Classic bridge”.
4. Confirm status shows Listening on http://127.0.0.1:48219.

The bridge is loopback-only (this Mac). It is not reachable from other devices on your network.

2. Install the plugin

1. In the same Settings section, click Install Lightroom Plugin….
2. Choose a folder:
   • Recommended: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Modules (create Modules if it does not exist).
   • Or Desktop / any folder — you will use Plug-in Manager → Add next.
3. Finder opens on CaptionSmith.lrplugin.

3. Load it in Lightroom Classic

1. Lightroom Classic → File → Plug-in Manager.
2. If CaptionSmith is not listed, click Add and select CaptionSmith.lrplugin.
3. Open the CaptionSmith section → Test Connection.

Expected: Connected — CaptionSmith … (bridge API 2).

4. Caption photos

1. Select photos in the Library.
2. Library → Plug-in Extras → CaptionSmith: Caption Photos.
3. Review titles and captions, uncheck any photos to skip, then Write to catalog.

Writes land in the catalog only. To put them into the files: select the photos → Metadata → Save Metadata to File (⌘S), or enable automatic XMP write in Catalog Settings.

5. Keyword order on export (optional)

Lightroom alphabetizes keywords on export. To keep CaptionSmith’s ranked order in delivered JPEGs/TIFFs:

1. File → Export, open your delivery preset.
2. Under Post-Process Actions, double-click CaptionSmith Keyword Order.
3. Right-click the preset → Update with Current Settings.

CaptionSmith must be running (bridge enabled) during that export. Photos you never captioned with the plugin export unchanged.

Troubleshooting

“CaptionSmith isn’t running” / not answering

• Settings → Advanced → enable the bridge; status must say Listening.
• Quit and reopen CaptionSmith after enabling if needed.
• Check for a macOS firewall or local-network prompt.

Plugin missing after install

• Plug-in Manager → Add → select the CaptionSmith.lrplugin folder (not a parent folder).
• Restart Lightroom Classic after copying into Modules.

Captions in catalog but not in exported files

• Use ⌘S (Save Metadata to File) or automatic XMP write — catalog writes do not modify original files by themselves.

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More help: Support & docs. App Store: CaptionSmith.