# Need to insert numbers onto photos on a Mac.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-insert-numbers-onto-photos-on-a-mac/641269>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 17, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-insert-numbers-onto-photos-on-a-mac/641269 "2012-11-17T02:12:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-insert-numbers-onto-photos-on-a-mac/641269/1 "2012-11-17T02:12:38Z")

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I’m preparing an insurance claim for damages from Hurricane Sandy. Many photos, much visual data to assist in our claim. Hundreds of articles of clothing and other property ( including a much-beloved 23" Apple HD Cinema Display Monitor ☹ )

I’m noodling at preparing a PDF with numbers embedded onto the photos that coordinate with a spreadsheet. Two documents so a person doesn’t have to bail from the photo to find the matching descriptor.

I’d love to NOT spend money on software. Any ideas? A clear bright number in a corner is all I need.

Thanks !!

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**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-insert-numbers-onto-photos-on-a-mac/641269/2 "2012-11-17T02:16:19Z")

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You can do it right in Preview with the Annotate tool.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-insert-numbers-onto-photos-on-a-mac/641269/3 "2012-11-17T02:24:11Z")

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You can probably use Automator to do this as batch.

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**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-insert-numbers-onto-photos-on-a-mac/641269/4 "2012-11-17T02:51:34Z")

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Automator ?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-insert-numbers-onto-photos-on-a-mac/641269/5 "2012-11-17T03:02:04Z")

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> [@Cartooniverse](#):
>
> Automator ?

[Automator](http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2488)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-insert-numbers-onto-photos-on-a-mac/641269/6 "2012-11-17T04:22:40Z")

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Must poke at this, thanks !!! It’ll be mighty useful if I can bulk number the photos.