iPhoto 08 can now edit EXIF Capture Date

Old Toad wrote:
In addition to the Capture Date iPhoto 08 will write the Title to the IPTC Title field, the original file name to the Headline field, the Comments to the Description field and the keywords to the Keyword field upon exporting.

What method of exporting does that? I'm not finding any IPTC metadata in files exported using the *File > Export… > File Export* dialog. Thanks for any help.

It works! In iPhoto 8, I assigned a title, keyword, and description to a photo. I then go File > Export. In resulting "Export Photos" box, select File Export. From "Kind" menu select JPEG or TIFF. When selecting JPEG or TIFF, the "Include: Title and keywords" box becomes active. Click it to select, then export photo. Checked the photo in Adobe Bridge, and, sure enough, the description I assigned in iPhoto shows up in the Description field in IPTC Core metadata, the keyword I assigned in iPhoto shows up in the Keywords field in IPTC Core metadata, and the title I assigned in iPhoto shows up in the Title field in IPTC Core metadata. Works as advertised. By the time I had checked it in Bridge I also found the photo from the newly added title, keywords and description through Spotlight. Cool.

Peter Zimowski wrote:
It works!

Thanks for the detailed example. I just did another test and this time Photoshop Elements displayed the relevant IPTC metadata. And keywords I added in PSE imported correctly into iPhoto. Not sure what was wrong last time since I definitely had "Include: Title and keywords" checked when exporting.

As expected, star ratings still don't survive any export/import process.

Almost forgot about this problem until I saw the new 7.0.2 update.
After looking into it some more it seems that it is not a new problem in iPhoto 08. My older files that I have edited in '06 are also missing info.

Original file (located in Originals)

$ exiv2 IMG_0359.JPG
File name : IMG_0359.JPG
File size : 1052088 Bytes
Camera make : Canon
Camera model : Canon DIGITAL IXUS 50
Image timestamp : 2005:06:10 20:42:41
Image number : 103-0359
Exposure time : 1/60 s
Aperture : F2.8
Exposure bias : 0
Flash : No, auto
Flash bias : 0 EV
Focal length : 5.8 mm
Subject distance: 125
ISO speed : 50
Exposure mode : Easy shooting (Auto)
Metering mode : Multi-segment
Macro mode : Off
Image quality : Fine
Exif Resolution : 1944 x 2592
White balance : Auto
Thumbnail : JPEG, 3711 Bytes
Copyright :
Exif comment :

Edited file

$ exiv2 IMG_0359.JPG
Error: Directory Makernote with 4864 entries considered invalid; not read.
Warning: Failed to read Makernote, rc = 6
File name : IMG_0359.JPG
File size : 1320073 Bytes
Camera make : Canon
Camera model : Canon DIGITAL IXUS 50
Image timestamp : 2005:06:10 20:42:41
Image number :
Exposure time : 1/60 s
Aperture : F2.8
Exposure bias : 0
Flash : No, auto
Flash bias :
Focal length : 5.8 mm
Subject distance:
ISO speed :
Exposure mode :
Metering mode : Multi-segment
Macro mode :
Image quality :
Exif Resolution : 1944 x 2592
White balance :
Thumbnail : JPEG, 4584 Bytes
Copyright :
Exif comment :

This picture was edited for red-eyes with '06 so this is apparently not a new problem.

To reproduce the problem, edit any image and compare the EXIF data from the original and the one in the modified folder. Imports does not seem to do touch the EXIF data. I am using Exiv2 0.13 to compare the images.

I didnt realize there was an "adjust date and time" menu option with the choice of changing the original. My camera date was off for many pictures so I changed the date in the info window. Did this do the same thing? Changing the date there (including the year) caused iphoto 08 to move the photo file into a folder for the new year that I entered. Does this mean that the date was corrected in the original file or do i have to use the "adjust date and time" option and not just change it in the info window. Also.. I REALLY want the keyword info embedded into the original file for ALL my photos. I tested it by exporting one photo to my desktop and it worked.. I think that now I can actually see the keyword metadata and search for them in spotlight for all my pictures. not just the few I exported.. Is that possible or just wishful thinking? What is the best way to get all the keyword info included and maintain my current pictures and not have to export and duplicate each photo to get that info included. thanks!

+My camera date was off for many pictures so I changed the date in the info window. Did this do the same thing? ... Does this mean that the date was corrected in the original file or do i have to use the "adjust date and time" option and not just change it in the info window.+

No, changing the date in the info window doesn't seem to update the file. You can always double check by control-clicking on the photo, and use "Show Photo Info". That will show you what is actually stored in the file itself.

Keywords aren't stored in the files either while they are in your iPhoto library. They only get written into the files on export.

so if I want my entire library to have the keywords written to the file.. and then have all new pictures imported into iphoto to have the keywords written. is there a way to do this without having to copy every picture and then reimport it?

I do this with an Apple Script from Andrew Turner ( http://highearthorbit.com), somewhat modified and exiftool in iPhoto 5.0.4. I am curious if this will continue to work in iPhoto '08.

I like to have my metadata, even when iPhoto is no longer around. For that, it has to be in the file and not in some database structure.