Working with the Edit History Log
If you need to keep careful track of what's been done to a file in Photoshop, either for your own records, client records, or legal purposes, the Edit History Log keeps a textual history of what has been done to an image. You can view the Edit History Log metadata using the File Browser or the File Info dialog box (see Adding metadata to files).
You can choose to export the text either in an external log file, or you can store the information in the metadata of edited files. Logging many editing operations into a file's metadata can increase file size and slow the opening and saving of the file.
If you need to be able to prove that the log file hasn't been tampered with, keep the edit log in the file's metadata, and then use Adobe Acrobat to digitally sign the log file.
To set Edit History Log options:
- In Windows, choose Edit > Preferences > General. In Mac OS, choose Photoshop > Preferences > General.
- In the History Log Options pane, choose one of the following options:
- Metadata to store entries in the metadata of each image.
- Text File to export the text into an external file. You'll be prompted to name the log file and choose the location on your computer where you want to store the file.
- Both to store metadata in the file, and create a text file.
- From the Edit Log items pop-up menu, choose one of the following options:
- Sessions to include entries for each time Photoshop is launched or exited, and each time files are opened and closed (each image's file name is included).
- Concise to include the text that appears in the history palette in addition to the Sessions information.
- Detailed to include the text that appears in the actions palette in addition to the Concise information. Choose Detailed if you need to keep a complete history of what has been done to files.
- None to turn off the log.
To save the Edit History Log:
- In Windows, choose Edit > Preferences > General. In Mac OS, choose Photoshop > Preferences > General.
- In the History Log Options pane, click the Choose button.
- Choose the location where you want to save the log, and then click OK.