What Are Keywords?
Keywords in LunaFinder
Keywords (also called tags in parts of the app) are short labels you attach to photos so you can find and filter them later—like portfolio, instagram, rome-2024, or best.
You add keywords in the Properties panel on the right when one or more images are selected.
Non-destructive: your originals stay untouched
LunaFinder does not change your image files when you add or remove keywords. The pixels of your JPEG, PNG, or RAW file remain exactly as they were.
Instead, LunaFinder stores keywords in a small companion file that sits next to each image on disk. You never need to open these companion files yourself—the app manages them.
Why non-destructive matters
- Safe for archival and client work—no risk of overwriting masters
- Works with RAW and edited exports alike
- You can delete keywords in LunaFinder without re-exporting from another editor
Shareable tags
If you copy or move a photo to another Mac together with its companion file, LunaFinder on the other computer can read the same keywords (when you open that folder in LunaFinder there).
If you move only the image and leave the companion behind, keywords will not come with it.
Keywords vs metadata you see in Properties
The Properties panel also shows read-only information from inside the image file—title, camera settings, location, and similar fields from when the photo was taken or exported. Those fields come from the image’s own metadata.
Keywords you add in LunaFinder are separate, managed by LunaFinder’s companion storage, and are what power the Tags list and tag filtering.
Keywords vs AI Search
| Keywords | AI Search |
|---|---|
| You choose exact labels | You describe content in sentences |
| Great for workflows and publishing | Great for discovery without pre-tagging |
| Appear in the Tags panel | Results are temporary search views |