IPhoto and EXIF Metadata

Is there any way to set iPhoto 6 so that it will preserve all metadata in an image, even if the image is modified in iPhoto? It seems like the EXIF metadata is preserved in my photos upon import into iPhoto, but if I adjust an image using iPhoto all my EXIF metadata (shutter speed, aperture, etc.) is overwritten or lost.
This is very annoying. Why does iPhoto behave this way? It has no business overwriting this metadata that should, by all logical accounts in my mind, remain with the image.

Jim:
How are you checking the metadata? I find that when I edit, like a crop, the modified jpg contains all of the EXIF data that the original has. I've verified that with other applications that read all the metadata.
The only metadata that is not saved for use by other applications are the comments and keywords. Those are kept in the iPhoto database file.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

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How to synchronise metadata between Lightroom catalogue and exif metadata (e.g. Orientation and rating)?

Hi there,
i have some third-party tools that also read my original photos that I use in my workflow. That is especially my private synology cloud, from which I can watch my images in the browser and in mobile devices like my iPhone/iPad.
i Ido not want to export a second copy of the pictures from Lightroom to be used by the other tools and still want to be able to synchronise the two most important values between these tools and Lightroom: orientation and rating.
is there any way to store orientation and rating from lightroom in the original photo's exif data? vice versa is there a way to synchronise these values back from the exif metadata to Lightroom? Especially orientation is an issue, because I have older cameras that do not set the orientation tag and I have to orient them in Lightroom.
rationale: I'd like to use web or mobile devices to rate pictures with my friends and family and do not to have everybody gather around my Lightroom PC.
I don't want to be trapped in the adobe product family. Buying Lightroom-mobile is not an option as I don't accept public clouds and the pricing of it.
Any hints?
cheers,
Meike

Use the Metadata > Save Metadata To File command to write orientation and rating from the LR catalog back to the photo's metadata. Or set the option Catalog Settings > Metadata > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP.
If an external tool changes a photo's metadata, LR will display an indicator in the upper-right corner of its thumbnail in Library grid mode:
You can tell LR to reread all the metadata from the file by doing Metadata > Read Metadata From File (this will replace all the metadata in the LR catalog, so beware).
You can find all photos that have changed metadata in the file by using the Metadata Status column in Metadata browser of the Library Filter bar.

Removing EXIF and other Metadata from iPhoto 5 Library

This post is intended for users who have upgraded to iPhoto5 and have suffered extensive slowdowns because of metadata that has accumulated in their iPhoto library, specifically in the Library.iPhoto file.
This occurs if certain Pentax, Canon, and other digital cameras are used for pictures. Search this forum for "metadata" or "EXIF" or "makernote" (no quotes) for additional information about this issue.
If you are affected by this issue and want to rid your iPhoto 5 library of this extra garbage, follow the steps below.
1. Make two copies of your complete iPhoto Library folder and put them someplace else other than in the normal location. If something goes wrong, you'll have the backups. In any event, understand that if you follow these instructions, you are responsible for any problems, errors, or loss of photos. If you aren't prepared to take that responsibility, then do not read any further.
2. Go to http://www.versiontracker.com and search for and download the free SmallImage application. Install it in your Applications folder.
3. In your original iPhoto library, trash the Library.iPhoto file.
4. Launch SmallImage by dragging your entire (ORIGINAL) iPhoto Library folder on top of SmallImage.
5. There are 5 categories (checkboxes) of metadata (called profiles) that you can eliminate. I selected them all. Uncheck the "Recompress at quality:" checkbox. You don't want your photos altered. Uncheck the "Add Suffix" checkbox so that SmallImage will overwrite your photos with ones without the metadata. Select whether you want keep any custom file icons or not. Then, hold your breath and push the "Process Files" button in the SmallImage toolbar. If you have thousands of photos and/or a slow computer, it might take many hours.
6. When SmallImage is finished, lauch iPhoto5, holding down the command/apple, option and shift keys. Before iPhoto fully loads, you'll be presented with the library rebuilding dialog box. Check ALL 4 options (especially the last one) and then allow iPhoto to rebuild the library. This also can take a very long time, depending on computer speed and the number of photos you have. When iPhoto is finished rebuilding the libary and reloading your photos, you'll have an iPhoto library without any the metadata that seems to be slowing it down. If you hold down the wrong keys and don't get the library rebuilding dialog box, don't panic. Quit iPhoto, and try it again. Your photos are still there.
7. If you stay with your current camera (that is generating the metadata), manually transfer your picture files to your computer (but not directly into iPhoto) and use SmallImage to remove the metadata BEFORE you manually import them into iPhoto5.
Hopefully, future versions of iPhoto5 will include an import option to strip metadata from photo files. If SmallImage can do it, why can't our favorite fruit company?
Best of luck.
12 inch 1.5Ghz Powerbook Mac OS X (10.4.3)
12 1.5Ghz Powerbook Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Link the two Macs together and use iPhoto Library Manager
Regards
TD

EXIF, metadata and iPhoto 6

Hello,
I am trying to understand how iPhoto 6 deals with EXIF and metadata: namely, what is preserved during import and what is lost (if anything) during export.
I read many posts on similar topics, but I am not totally clear.
I use iPhoto 6 as my photo library and Photoshop Elements for advanced editing. Up until now I have imported the pictures straight from my camera into iPhoto.
1. Do I loose any EXIF data when importing into iPhoto?
2. Are all EXIF data retained when I export from iPhoto?
3. As for metadata (keywords, comments), I believe they are lost if I export photos. Is that correct?
Thanks in advance for your help!
iMac G5 20" 2GHz; 1.5GB RAM; 250 GB HDD Mac OS X (10.4.6) iPod 5G 30GB; 250GB FW HDD; Powershot S3IS; PIXMA iP6000D

Trick question... Here's a link to EXIF Properties for your reading pleasure...
I rarely use iPhoto to download images, I will usually use Image Capture. Family type images downloaded using iPhoto and then exported into an Image Editing software will usually give me this window 'The Exif of the file is corrupted (it contains 2 orientation tags). So only one tag will be used (depending on the prefs).' I have't tried to analyze what that means but I am only working on family stuff...
Downloaded images through Image Capture will contain more info as well as the same info load up ok in my Image Editing software. (Graphic Converter)
Images used between Macs and PC's will not display the same Exif info, at least not using my current Image Editing software (2 apps) on my PC.
I think there's a ton of variables to be considered, my only advise would be to download via Image Capture, this seems to retain more file info and then import into iPhoto after doing any digital optimizing, which is what I do. So essentially, I use iPhoto to store and index finished images but I still retain the orginal in a separate folder. It's a cumbersome method but my only guarantee of retaining as much info as possible as well as the orginal image.
Rick
iMac G5 iSight 20" - 30G iPOD in Slimming Black - Mac OS X (10.4.7) - HP Pav 15" WS and Toshiba Sat 17" WS LP's - Canon 20D & A620

IPhoto geotags not save in EXIF metadata

Why if I geotag a picture using iPhoto, that geotag won't be saved into the EXIF metadata? Exporting for example that picture in, say, Adobe Lightroom, or uploading it to Flickr won't show the location I picked in iPhoto, simply because that information is not stored in the EXIF metadata.
Is it this behaviour what iPhoto is supposed to do? Or is it a bug? Conversely, if I geotag a picture in Lightroom, that geotag will be saved in the EXIF metadata, and correctly read by any other application

iPhoto stores the location data in the edited version and does not write it into the original image file. To create a geocoded image file, export the edited version with the location data included:

I have 2 Macs - an iMac that holds my entire iPhoto library and a Mac Book Pro that I use to hold a subset of the main library - how can I transfer photos and their metadata from the main library of the iMac to my Mac Book?

I have 2 Macs - an iMac which holds my main iPhoto library and a Mac Book Pro which holds a subset of the library. How can I transfer photos and their metadata from the main library to the smaller 1 on the Mac Book Pro?

Link the two Macs together and use iPhoto Library Manager
Regards
TD

Importing from one iPhoto library to another and retaining metadata.

I have an iPhoto 11 library stored on DVD. Each image in the Library has a number set as its title, 1 through to 350.
The actual names of the images in the filesystem have the format 'P1010004.jpg'.
I want to export the images from iPhoto so that they use the title for the filename so that they're numbered 1.jpg, 2.jpg etc (effectively renaming all the files to use the image title instead of the camera generated title). I know this possible using the File > Export dialog.
With the DVD inserted, the library appears in iPhoto in the 'Shared' section in the left-hand pane. I can navigate through the library on the DVD and the titles and metadata are appearing correctly when I click on 'info'
When I try to export directly from the DVD, the 'File > Export' option is disabled / greyed out. So I presume I need to import these images to my local library to allow me to then export them.
However, when I try and copy the images to my local library by dragging the images from Shared library to my local library (all within the iPhoto window), the image title data is lost, the title becomes the filename 'P1010004'.
I've tried copying the Image Library from the DVD to my local drive, then opening iPhoto with the 'alt' key to select this library, however iPhoto won't open it and the following error appears: You can’t open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto. However, I know that the DVD was created by iPhoto 11, the same version I'm using.
Can anyone please tell how I can import these images to my local library and retain the metadata.
Thanks,

I'm just wanting to export to a local folder.
I've looked at iPhoto Library Manager but it didn't seem to want to load Library I'm trying to merge, and I'm not convinced that iPLM is fully compatible with the latest version of iPhoto.
What I really don't understand is that iPhoto immediately recognises the library stored on the DVD, and it automatically pops up in the 'Shared' list on the left hand side.
However, if I first copy the Library from the DVD to my local drive, then try and open iPhoto with this library using the ALT key, I get the following error:
You can't open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto
You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iPhoto. Do you want to quit and use the latest version of iPhoto, or do you want to create a new photo library?
... which is strange because I'm using the latest version of iPhoto, and I know the iPhoto Library on the DVD was created using iPhoto 11.

EXIF: and TIFF: metadata is missing from XMP block in Lightroom 4

I've recently purchased Lightroom 4 and on the whole I'm very happy with it, but I have run into a problem. I have a few scripts which grab information from the XML-based XMP metadata block that's embedded in the DNG and JPG files that I use. I've found that images processed with Lightroom 4 no longer export the exif: and tiff: data.
To illustrate, a photo I exported with a previous version of Lightroom has the following data in the XMP block
   tiff:Make="Canon"
   tiff:Model="Canon EOS 40D"
   tiff:ImageWidth="850"
   tiff:ImageLength="567"
   tiff:XResolution="240/1"
   tiff:YResolution="240/1"
   tiff:ResolutionUnit="2"
   exif:ExifVersion="0221"
   exif:ExposureTime="1/800"
   exif:ShutterSpeedValue="9643856/1000000"
   exif:FNumber="71/10"
   exif:ApertureValue="5655638/1000000"
   exif:ExposureProgram="3"
   exif:DateTimeOriginal="2010-08-22T10:52:07.58+01:00"
   exif:DateTimeDigitized="2010-08-22T10:52:07.58+01:00"
   exif:ExposureBiasValue="0/1"
   exif:MaxApertureValue="4625/1000"
   exif:SubjectDistance="428/100"
   exif:MeteringMode="5"
   exif:FocalLength="80/1"
   exif:CustomRendered="0"
   exif:ExposureMode="0"
   exif:WhiteBalance="0"
   exif:SceneCaptureType="0"
   exif:FocalPlaneXResolution="3888000/876"
   exif:FocalPlaneYResolution="2592000/583"
   exif:FocalPlaneResolutionUnit="2"
   exif:PixelXDimension="850"
   exif:PixelYDimension="567"
There is, of course, a lot more information in the XMP block, but in a file exported using Lightroom 4 there is nothing in the XMP block with the exif: or tiff: namespaces so none of this information is available to any script which queries the XMP metadata. I'm pretty sure that the metadata is still there, embedded in the original EXIF data, as I can view it using the metadata panel in the Library module, but that's not accessible to my scripts as it's not in the XMP block. I've made doubly sure that the metadata has been saved and also double-checked all my settings and even tried to export the files multiple times with every different setting that I can think of (even though my current settings worked fine in previous versions) but the files never get the exif: or tiff: data.
I have called Adobe, but the best help they could give me so far was to post here and hope someone can help!

I just compared two JPEGs exported with LR 3.6 and LR 4.1RC. The tags you mentioned are exported neither by 4.1 nor by 3.6. These tags are only present in the normal Exif metadata, but not in XMP. Which version of LR 3.x did you use before? Perhaps Adobe changed something already in the later versions of LR 3.x. If this is the case, you have to use a script or tool that is able to read the Exif metadata directly.
In the XMP metadata in the file exported by LR 3.6, I see only crs (camera raw), aux (e.g. serial no.) and some other XMP namespaces, but no exif or tiff.
P.S. I viewed the metadata of the exported files with exiftool. File format was JPEG (with "quality" setting, not with "limit file size", because apparently there are still some XMP differences between these two modes).

Missing Camera and Lens Metadata after iPhoto Import

I've noticed that the Photos for Mac app seems to have "lost" all of the Camera and Lens Metadata associated with each of my photos. Has this happened to anyone else?
No matter which photo I choose, the Info inspector window shows "No Camera Information" and "No Lens Information". I've confirmed that the Camera and Lens metadata is still present in the original iPhoto Library.
If I create a new iPhoto Library with just a dozen or so pictures and then choose that Library when launching Photos for Mac, by pressing the Option key while clicking the Icon, the photos are imported with the Metadata intact. Clearly something went wrong with the import of my much larger main iPhoto library. (The main library has over 100,000 photos in it.)
I'm wondering if there is some way to force Photos for Mac to re-index the Metadata. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Michael

I have the same problem.. no lens metadata
will rebuild library with alt-cmd-start-Photos help?
first pic imported in photoshop from Photos app
second pic from iPhoto

IPhoto 6 and Exif information?

Hi All,
My first posting since switching from Windows, so please take it easy on me?
I have a reasonable large digital photo collection from my old PC. I have imported this into iPhoto and allowed iPhoto to copy the images to its folder so it can take care of them. All of this so far has worked well.
I have a question about the Exif information within the actual picture files.
Before the images are imported into iPhoto, from Finder, I can do a “get info” on them and it will tell me information about which camera manufacture, model, etc… However, after importing in to iPhoto, again from Finder, this information is no longer available. But you can see this information from within iPhoto.
Does this mean that the import process has “changed” the files and maybe removed the Exif tags copying them in to the iPhoto database (or something?).
Thanks in advance.
Ady.
20" iMac (2GHz Intel Core Duo, 2GB RAM) Mac OS X (10.4.6) 4GB iPod Nano (Black)

Ady:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. I'm not able to duplicate that stripping of the EXIF data. All that gets changed in the info window is the size, lost 0.2 MB out of 1.8 in size, and the "Last Opened" time was different. Now this is in the Info window brought up by Command+I in the finder. The files are from a Canon PowerShot S400.
Actually there was one bit of info lost. The file had a keyword associated with it and it did no show up on the edited version of the files in iPhoto but did show up on the original file in iPhoto.
Interesting to note is that if I do an edit, like a rotate, the only info that changes is the size. Again, another 0.2MB is lost. Then do some red eye removal and we gain back 0.1MB. Very strange. But the EXIF info is retained throughout.

Cannot write exif and tiff metadata in image file

Hi,
I have a public XMP text file containing exif and tiff metadata: http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/ and http://ns.adobe.com/tiff/1.0/.
I want to write these XMP data in an image file and it doesn't work. I don't get any exceptions, just the metadata are missing in the image file.
C#
using (var xmpFiles = new XmpFiles())
      if (!xmpFiles.OpenFile("test.jpg", handler.FileFormat, OpenFlags.OpenForUpdate))
          xmpFiles.OpenFile("test.jpg", FileFormat.Unknown, OpenFlags.OpenUsePacketScanning | OpenFlags.OpenForUpdate);
     using (var xmpCore = new XmpCore())
          xmpCore.ParseFromBuffer(xmpPublic.ToString(), ParseFlags.None);
          if (xmpFiles.CanPutXmp(xmpCore))
               xmpFiles.PutXmp(xmpCore);
     xmpFiles.CloseFile(CloseFlags.None);
Public XMP:
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
<rdf:Description xmlns:_ns_2="http://ns.adobe.com/tiff/1.0/" rdf:about="">
    <_ns_2:ImageLength>4252</_ns_2:ImageLength>
</rdf:Description>
<rdf:Description xmlns:_ns_3="http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/" rdf:about="">
    <_ns_3:ApertureValue>8/1</_ns_3:ApertureValue>
</rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>
Result XMP in image file:
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
<rdf:Description rdf:about=""/>
</rdf:RDF>
Does anyone can help with that problem?
Thanks,
Alexandra

I found the answer by myself.
According to the last guidelines from metadata working group, exif and tiff data should not be saved as XMP data in jpeg images anylonger because jpeg natively supports exif data.
"The most recent (as of mid-2010) XMP specification describes the usage of Exif/TIFF properties within XMP itself. Both Exif ( http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/) and TIFF ( http://ns.adobe.com/tiff/1.0/) namespaces have been defined so that corresponding Exif properties can be stored. This is particularly useful if Exif properties need to be stored but the file format does not support native Exif (e.g. PNG). [...]However, this document changes this earlier XMP guidance and recommends that Exif and Tiff device properties only be mapped into XMP in the case the file format does not support Exif natively."
See http://www.metadataworkinggroup.org/specs

How can I preserve the date and time of photos when moving them from iPhone to iPhoto and then to other folders on my computer?

In the past I’ve had no problem moving photos from my iPhone 4 into various folders on my computer while retaining their original date and time. I would import into iPhoto, then drag the photos from iPhoto into other folders via the Finder or Adobe Bridge (which is my principal image organizer). The original date and time of the photo would always travel with the jpeg into iPhoto and then into other folders. However, sometime during a recent session transferring photos in this way, the dates of the photos started to change at the point when I copied them out of iPhoto. Within iPhoto itself, the various original dates of the photos are retained. But in Finder and Bridge, copies of those same photos all carry the same (worthless) date: the date and time that they were imported from my iPhone. I can’t figure out what would have changed on my Mac to make it start re-dating my photos. I was happily dragging and dropping photos, and suddently I started to lose the original dates. Did I inadvertently change some settings? (I am running OS 10.6.8 and using iPhoto 8.)

(I use iPhoto only to import from my iPhone; I organize all my images, including thousands of RAW files, in folders on a big external drive.)
Why are you using iPhoto at all? use image capture or drag and drop the photos
The problem is that the files I am copying are getting stripped of the EXIF metadata
eliminating iPhoto from your work flow will eliminate one oppertunity to have this happen For photos in iPhoto it is best to export them rather than drag an drop them - this assures your EXIF and IPTC data is correct and uptodate
Why would I be able, over many years, to retain EXIF metadata in photos imported from an iPhone--then one day find that the same workflow strips such photos of EXIF data?
Because exporting is the supported way to "export" photos - I never drag and drop photos out of iPhoto and I never use thrid party programs on the photos in the iPhoto library - try exporting as suggested above and see if that is the solution
LN

Finder and EXIF - creation date

The 'date of creation' of pictures, normally stated in the exif-file of the picture, will be used to sort the pictures after the date of creation, as in iPhoto and any other photo program. In the finder, however, another 'date of creation' is used.
Is it not possible to force the finder tot use the exif data? What data is the finder now using?
Regards,
Goos.

In the finder you can show and sort on EITHER the modification date or the creation date of a file. I believe by default the finder view only shows the Mod date and not the creation date. So if you go into view options and then turn ON showing the creation date column (you can also turn off the mod date column if you like) give you the correct date and time or did iPhoto mess those up as well? If they are there, then now all you have to do is resort by that new column in the finder.
Otherwise, you will have to use a third party application to batch modify the date and time of the files to match those contained in the EXIF metadata. There are a large number of programs that will do that including Graphics Converter.
Patrick

IPhoto cuts EXIF info when eksporting ?

I've encountered a slight problem with iPhoto. It seems when i import a RAW picture (Nikon NEF file) directly into iPhoto from the SD card, and then drag/drop the picture from iPhoto to my desktop, iPhoto converts the picture from RAW to JPEG (which is fine) but it also cuts a lot of the EXIF information.
The RAW file has all the EXIF info before entering iPhoto and getting converted to JPEG - but somewhere along the line in iPhoto, a lot of the information is lost.
-Is this a well know 'feature' in iPhoto? Or am i exporting to jpeg in the wrong manner (if i want preserve all EXIF info)?

The User Comment field in the Exif was designed for use with Tiff files and is deprecated now.
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/780507
Modern practise would expect to find that in the IPTC core data. "Aperature" (or Aperture as it's more commonly called) supports IPTC Core.
iPhoto never claimed access to all Exif or IPTC metadata. It's an app aimd squarely at the home user with a point and shoot camera
Regards
TD

IPhoto and the Modified Folder

Hello,
I do NOT modify any of original pictures and yet I have a whoppingly large (52 gb!) modified folder. I do use iPhoto to upload my pictures onto my facebook. Is iPhoto modifying the originals and uploading it into facebook, and thus creating items into my modified folder? Since it's so large of a file, I'd like to deleted the modified folder, but I don't want to lose said photos on Facebook. If I deleted it, would anything happen to my Facebook photos that I uploaded? I am using iPhoto '09 8.1.2 (424) and OS 10.6.8
Thanks!

Usual reasons for unexpected images in the Modifieds folder include:
1. You're importing Raws. Iphoto creates a Jpeg preview of each Raw on import.
2. You're importing Jpegs with Exif tags such as Auto-Rotate. A camera does not actually rotate any pixels in the file, but instead flags it with an instruction: "Display me this way". This is a tag in the Exif metadata. When you import a file with this tag iPhoto creates a modified version. It does this because most of the apps that integrate with it - email clients, word processors etc - simply don't understand this Exif tag. So if you used the shot in a word processing doc, uploaded it to many Web site etc, the shot would come out sideways.
And
I've actually done it before. I moved my originals folder somewhere else and nothing happened to my library.
If you did that then your library is a mess and that may be part of the issue - you simply can not change the contents of the library withou causin gissues
LN

IPhoto and EXIF Metadata

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