Capture One FAQ
Capture One
questions answered.
Installation, XMP, metadata fields, Control Center behavior, shared credits and common Windows update questions.
Is MetaMagic a real Capture One plugin?
Yes. MetaMagic for Capture One is a dedicated Windows plugin. It is separate from the standalone MetaMagic Desktop application.
Which operating systems are supported?
The current Capture One plugin is available for Windows. A native macOS version is planned and marked Coming Soon.
Where do I download it?
Use the Capture One Download page. The current public package is MetaMagic-for-Capture-One.coplugin.zip.
How do I install the plugin?
Download and extract the ZIP, then double-click MetaMagic-for-Capture-One.coplugin. After installation, open Capture One Preferences → Plugins and select MetaMagic for Capture One.
Which Capture One XMP setting should I use?
Set Preferences → Image → Metadata → Auto Sync sidecar XMP to Load. MetaMagic also recommends Prefer Sidecar XMP over embedded Metadata for the sidecar workflow.
How do I run MetaMagic on a photo?
Right-click the selected photo, choose Open With, then Generate Metadata with MetaMagic.
What metadata can MetaMagic generate?
Depending on your settings, MetaMagic can generate Title/Headline, Description, Keywords, GPS-derived IPTC Location fields, Color Tag, optional Rating, IPTC Contact/Status fields and a structured MetaMagic AI summary.
Does MetaMagic create Capture One Albums or Smart Albums?
No. The plugin SDK used by MetaMagic does not expose the same collection-management API available in Lightroom. Use Keywords, Location, Color Tags and Rating with Capture One Filters and Smart Albums instead.
Do Capture One and Lightroom share settings?
They share the same MetaMagic account and generation credits, but Capture One has its own Control Center settings so editor-specific options remain independent.
What if Windows says the plugin folder is in use during an update?
Close Capture One and any File Explorer window opened inside the plugin folder. If the folder remains locked, restart Windows and then replace the old plugin folder.
Do I need to manually reload metadata after every generation?
The current Windows integration is designed to reload the updated metadata automatically after MetaMagic writes the XMP/IPTC result.
Can I keep existing keywords?
Yes. The Control Center lets you keep existing keywords and add AI keywords, or replace the existing set.
Can I use Color Tags?
Yes. MetaMagic can apply a configured Capture One Color Tag as a deterministic workflow status. Color Tags are not used as an AI aesthetic score.
Are credits shared with Lightroom and the Web App?
Yes. Supported MetaMagic clients use the same customer account and shared generation credit balance.