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Phosor
Internal Beta

Recommended Workflow

Beta Status

Phosor is currently in an Internal Beta stage. Features may change before the public release. Performance may occasionally be inconsistent depending on hardware, image formats, and library size. Unexpected bugs may still occur. Feedback from beta testers is highly appreciated.

This page describes the complete Phosor culling workflow, from opening a folder to executing the final batch move.

Overview

The Phosor workflow follows these steps:

  1. Launch Phosor
  2. Open a Folder containing photos
  3. Configure Categories with names, colors, keybindings, and output folders
  4. Sort Photos using keyboard shortcuts
  5. Review & Undo as needed
  6. Execute Move to distribute photos to category folders

Step 1: Launch Phosor

The welcome screen displays the application name, tagline ("Less clicking, more shooting."), and an Open Folder button.

See First Launch for details.

Step 2: Open a Folder

Click Open Folder or use the change-source button in the sidebar to select a directory containing photos. Phosor recursively scans the folder for supported image files.

  • The first photo appears immediately.
  • Adjacent photos are preloaded in the background.

Mixed formats

You can open folders with mixed JPEG and RAW files. All supported formats are included automatically.

Step 3: Configure Categories

In the sidebar, customize categories by:

  • Renaming them (e.g., "Keep", "Reject", "Review")
  • Assigning a color label for visual identification
  • Binding a keyboard shortcut (click the keybind badge, then press any key)
  • Setting an output folder where sorted photos will be moved

Output folders required

Each category needs an output folder set before executing the move. Categories without output folders will be skipped.

See Categories for full details.

Step 4: Sort Photos

Navigate through photos using arrow keys. Press a category's bound key to assign the current photo to that category. The application automatically advances to the next photo after each assignment.

Sorting Modes

Mode When to use
Single Mode (default) Careful, deliberate sorting
Continue Mode (⌘B / Ctrl+B) Rapidly flagging sequences of similar photos
Shift Burst Temporary burst sorting without toggling Continue Mode

See Sorting Photos for full details.

Step 5: Review & Undo

Use undo and redo to correct mistakes:

Action macOS Windows/Linux
Undo ⌘ Z Ctrl + Z
Redo ⌘ ⇧ Z Ctrl + Y

The history system supports up to 100 levels of undo. Undo navigates back to the affected photo and restores its previous category assignment.

History is cleared on new folder

The undo history is cleared when a new folder is opened.

Step 6: Execute Move

The Execute action moves all flagged photos to their assigned category output folders in a single batch operation.

Before Executing

  1. Flag photos by assigning them to categories using keyboard shortcuts.
  2. Ensure each category has an output folder set (click the output strip in the category row).

Executing

  1. Click "Execute →" in the sidebar.
  2. A confirmation dialog shows the total count of photos to be moved.
  3. Confirm to start the move. A progress modal displays real-time status.
  4. After completion, a summary dialog shows the number of successfully moved photos and any failures.

Irreversible operation

The move operation is irreversible — there is no "undo move" feature. A confirmation dialog warns about this before proceeding.

What Happens During the Move

  • The application checks for flagged photos and valid categories before executing.
  • If any flagged categories lack output folders, a warning dialog lists them and offers to continue with the remaining photos.
  • During the move, all state-mutating actions (navigation, sorting, undo/redo) are blocked to prevent corruption.
  • Successfully moved photos are removed from the collection.
  • The application navigates to the next available photo after the move.
  • If a file already exists at the destination, that file is skipped and reported as an error.
  • Cross-device moves (source and destination on different filesystems) are handled automatically.

Safe operation

Existing files are never overwritten. Failures are reported individually without aborting the entire batch.

Post-Move State

  • Successfully moved photos are removed from the collection.
  • The application navigates to the next available photo.
  • Category counts are recalculated.

Current Limitations

  • The move operation is irreversible — there is no "undo move" feature.
  • Photos without an assigned category are not moved.
  • The move does not create subfolders by date or any other criteria — files go directly to the category's output folder.

See Also