Rapid character scoring and tabulation of large leaf‐image libraries using Adobe Bridge

PREMISE: Digital image libraries are an integral part of specimen‐based research. However, coding and extracting metadata for hundreds of specimens on a personal computer can be complex. In addition, most existing workflows require downsampling or platform switching and do not link character data directly to the images. METHODS AND RESULTS: We demonstrate a method to code and embed into images the standard leaf architecture and insect‐damage characters that are widely used in paleobotany. Using the visual file browser Adobe Bridge, customizable and searchable keywords can be applied directly and reversibly to individual full‐resolution images, and the data can be extracted and formatted into a matrix using scripts. CONCLUSIONS: Our approach is intuitive and acts as a digital mimic and complement to the experience of sorting and analyzing specimens in‐person. Keywords can be easily customized for other data types that require visual sorting using image libraries.