Upload Asset
Upload images, PDFs, and other assets to your AEM DAM with automatic metadata enrichment.How it works
- Create a task describing what you want to upload and any relevant context (campaign, brand, usage).
- Attach your assets to the task request.
- Gradial processes the upload — the AEM Authoring Agent uploads assets, applies naming conventions, and populates metadata; the AEM QA Agent validates all assets meet guidelines.
- Review the results in the Artifact Preview panel.
What Gradial does automatically
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Applies naming conventions | Renames files to match your DAM standards (e.g., Coca-Cola-Global-HolidaySanta-2025) |
| Generates descriptions | Creates searchable descriptions based on image content |
| Tags from your taxonomy | Applies relevant tags from your controlled vocabulary — brand, campaign, season, asset type, geography |
| Detects duplicates | Identifies if an asset already exists and marks it as “Reused from DAM” instead of creating duplicates |
| Sets DAM location | Places assets in the correct folder path based on brand and campaign |
Asset status badges
In the Artifact Preview, each asset displays a status badge:- Newly Uploaded — Asset was added to the DAM for the first time
- Reused from DAM — Asset already existed; Gradial linked to the existing version instead of duplicating
Viewing asset details
Click any asset in the Artifact Preview to see file information, auto-generated description, applied tags, DAM folder path, created date, and a direct link to open the asset in AEM.Example
“Upload these holiday assets for our Holiday campaign 2025”Gradial uploads with proper naming (e.g.,
Brand-Global-HolidayHero-2025), generates descriptions from image content, and applies 10–15 taxonomy tags including brand, campaign, season, theme, asset type, and geography.
Update / Validate Alt-Text
Ensure your image assets have accurate, accessibility-compliant alt-text.How it works
- Create a task requesting alt-text validation or generation for specific assets or folders.
- Gradial scans the assets to identify missing or inadequate alt-text.
- Alt-text is generated following accessibility best practices.
- Review and approve the generated alt-text before it’s applied.
Alt-text standards
Gradial generates alt-text that:- Describes the content and function of the image
- Stays concise (under 125 characters when possible)
- Avoids redundant phrases like “image of” or “picture showing”
- Includes visible text and brand elements
- Distinguishes informative images from decorative ones
“Product bottle held against red background with seasonal decorations; Holiday Campaign 2025 key visual.”
Update Asset Metadata
Keep your DAM metadata accurate and consistent with bulk updates and automated governance.How it works
- Create a task describing the metadata changes needed.
- Specify the scope — individual assets, folders, or assets matching certain criteria.
- Gradial updates the metadata according to your request and taxonomy.
- Review changes in the task results.
Common use cases
- Campaign ended — Update campaign status metadata across all related assets
- Taxonomy change — Replace old terms with new controlled vocabulary
- Rights expiration — Flag or archive assets approaching license expiration
- Missing fields — Populate required metadata fields left blank on ingestion
- Bulk corrections — Fix inconsistent tagging across a set of assets
Asset Swap
Replace an existing asset with a new version while preserving all DAM links, metadata relationships, and downstream references.How it works
- Create a task identifying the asset to replace and providing the new asset.
- Gradial validates that the new asset meets specifications.
- The swap is executed — DAM link/Asset ID preserved, metadata reviewed and updated, alt-text regenerated for the new image.
- Downstream systems receive the updated asset automatically.
Swap options
Upload New File — Attach the replacement asset directly to your task. Gradial uploads it as a new version of the existing asset. Link to Existing DAM Asset — Reference another asset already in your DAM. Gradial creates a redirect from the old Asset ID to the new one.What Gradial handles
| Aspect | How it’s managed |
|---|---|
| DAM link | Preserved — existing URLs continue to work |
| Alt-text | Regenerated for the new image content |
| Metadata | Carried forward with option to update |
| Relationships | Updated across linked/derivative assets |
| Version history | Previous version retained for rollback |
Asset Search
Coming soon. Expanded asset search — by metadata, visual similarity, content fragment, and expiry status — is on the roadmap. Current folder-browsing capability is available today through the DAM Librarian agent. Contact your Gradial team to join the early access list.
Tips for best results
Be specific in your task requests. Include campaign names, brand guidelines, and any special requirements so Gradial can apply the right metadata. Use consistent terminology. Reference campaigns, brands, and asset types using the same terms defined in your taxonomy. Review before publishing. Always review generated metadata and alt-text before final approval. Check for duplicates. Watch for the “Reused from DAM” badge — it means Gradial found an existing match and avoided creating a duplicate.For how Gradial governs asset quality and rights exposure, see Digital Asset Management.