How many times have you selected favorites in Picstome and then had to open Lightroom just to add the stars manually?
That extra step – small but repetitive – no longer exists.
Today we’re introducing Picstome Rater: a free desktop app for Mac and Windows that connects directly with your Picstome workflow and applies star ratings to your original files – JPG, CR3, ARW, NEF and all common RAW formats – in a single click.
How it works, step by step
1. Install Picstome Rater on your computer
Download the version for Mac (Apple Silicon or Intel) or Windows from the link below. Installation takes less than a minute.
2. Click “Rate my images” from Picstome
In your gallery, open the Export favorite list panel and select the App tab. You’ll see how many favorite photos are ready and a direct button to send them to the app.
3. Confirm the folder and rating in Picstome Rater
The app opens automatically with the last used folder already preselected. You can see the number of photos, adjust the stars with the rating selector, and confirm with a single click.
4. Done
The app writes the rating directly into the metadata of each file — both JPG and RAW with the same base name — without touching anything else or opening any other program.
Why metadata ratings matter
When you apply a rating to the original file’s metadata, that information travels with the photo forever. You’ll see it in Lightroom, Capture One, Mac Finder, and Windows Explorer. It doesn’t depend on any external database or having a specific program open.
It’s the cleanest and most durable way to save a selection: written directly into the file, standard, portable and universal.
For a photographer managing hundreds or thousands of photos per session, being able to close the selection loop in one click – from the client gallery to the RAW metadata – is a real time saving on every delivery.
Supported formats
Picstome Rater works with the most common formats on the market:
- JPG / JPEG
- DNG
- CR3, CR2 (Canon)
- ARW (Sony)
- NEF (Nikon)
- RAF (Fujifilm)
- ORF (Olympus)
- RW2 (Panasonic)
If the base file has both a JPG and a RAW with the same name, the app applies the rating to both files automatically.
Built for your real workflow
We know every photographer works differently. That’s why Picstome Rater is designed to not interrupt your flow:
- Remembers the last used folder – no need to select it again every time.
- You can change the rating before applying – even if Picstome sends a value, you have the final say with the star selector inside the app.
- Shows a detailed result – you can see exactly which files were rated, which ones weren’t found, and whether there were any errors.
- Works across different sessions – every time you receive a new selection, the app opens with the last folder ready to confirm or change.
Free for Mac and Windows
Picstome Rater is available for free to all Picstome users:
- macOS — Universal build (Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3/M4 and Intel)
- Windows — One-click installer
The app updates automatically when a new version is available. You won’t need to download anything manually.
👉 Download Picstome Rater for Mac and Windows
One last thing
Picstome Rater is the first step in a deeper integration between your online gallery and your local archive. We have more coming to close that loop between client selection and your editing workflow. If you have questions, suggestions, or simply want to share how you use it, write to us at info@picstome.com.
The time you save on every delivery is time you can spend behind the camera.