Metadata is all the information that sits in the background of your Illustrator files. However much you want there is up to you. (e.g. If copyright is very important to you - put it in your metadata.) If you have oodles of files, metadata can help you when searching and organizing.

Go to Illustrator - File - File Info... (⌥⇧⌘I) and this window opens:

Fill in as much info as you want in each of the dialog boxes provided. 

NOTE: Keywords will be especially helpful if you have to search for this document in the future.

SAVE TIME: If you find yourself repeating basic info when filling out a dialog box (or the same dialog boxes, e.g. Description and Video) - fill in the basics and make your own template for future use.

Example: Making a User-Specific Metadata Template for the Description Dialog Box

Fill in your basic constantly-used information and then select and click Export... (see below):

The Export window opens. Name your new template (see below) and click Save.

This will export your new template to the Metadata Templates folder and it will show up as a template choice where <no templates available> used to be.

Then, the next time you open a new document in Illustrator - choose your template and the Import Options dialog box opens. Choose any option (because it's a new blank document) and then click OK. (see below):

NOTE: At this point, if you had clicked on Import... (instead of your named template) - the window for Import (Replace) opens (see below) and it is here that you choose the specific template that you have made (which is an xmp file).

Anyway, your template opens and all the fields you filled in (in all the dialog boxes you felt necessary while making it) will already be completed and you can add more information if needed. Then click OK (see below) and get back to work.

Any questions?

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