Embed original filename in EXIF

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Level 1

8 points

Embed original filename in EXIF

I'm looking for a way to embed the name of an image file in the EXIF data inside a jpeg. Ideally I would like to see that as an option in Aperture when importing images. Here is why I believe this is a very useful feature for photographers.

I have tens of thousands of photographs on my computer. I often take one, or a few, or a set, and process them for some specific purpose. I often rename the files to represent the occasion. At some later time I want to find the original and rework it, but because I renamed it I can't find it easily. My originals, with their original file names are stored doubly backed up on separate hard drives. So if I could look at the processed image's EXIF data and extract the original file name after which it's fairly easy to find the original.

Actually it would be nifty to specify one or more processed files and automatically search for the original (given perhaps a clue where these might be stored)

Is there a way?

I generally use EXIF Viewer to look at the EXIF data and I don't see the original file name. Similarly in Aperture.

Thanks,

Pete

2 x 3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.5.4), 9 Gb memory

Posted on Apr 16, 2010 5:50 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

Apr 16, 2010 6:26 AM in response to Pitiur

Not sure that you can, but if you're actually using Aperture the thing to do is assign a Title to the photos. This is quite independent of the filename and can be searched in Aperture - and indeed any of the usual hooks that integrate with it such as Media Browsers and so on.

You can write the Title to the Exif and you can also use the Title as a filename should you export as well.

The point of Aperture is to manage your photos.

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

Pitiur Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 16, 2010 8:00 AM in response to Yer_Man

Terrence,

I understand that Aperture manages photos. But, photos and derivatives of photos are used in many ways outside of Aperture. For example, you can publish them in galleries on the Internet using other software besides Aperture. Say a friend asks for a full copy of a particular image that he or she saw I would like to find the original quickly. I can think of various work flows and file tagging schemes, but they all require a lot of work and a lot of organization. Writing the filename used upon import into Aperture automatically into the title tag of the EXIF would be of immense value to me and I believe a lot of other photographers.

Thanks,

Pete

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

Apr 16, 2010 8:20 AM in response to Pitiur

Say a friend asks for a full copy of a particular image that he or she saw I would like to find the original quickly.

Search on the Title then File -> Export

How hard is that?

Regards

TD

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Answer 4

Apr 16, 2010 8:26 AM in response to Pitiur

Wouldn't the "date" field be a better index? It's (almost immeasurably) close to unique (as long as limited to photos taken by you), it's non-technical (so your clients are comfortable), it is very easy to search for, and it is already baked into the EXIF which is baked into the image file(s). This does not seem to be "a lot of work". Apologies if I am overlooking something.

I use a long and specific file-naming convention, and do not want to see that information repeated in the Title field.

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Answer 5

Pitiur Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 16, 2010 9:32 AM in response to Kirby Krieger

Kirby,

It crossed my mind but never really thought about that. Now that you mentioned it and I did think about it, and with 'ExifRenamer" that's a simple process and does what I want to do. The occasional 'same time' issue, which probably won't happen too often (might happen if I have photos from several cameras whose clock is not set identical or for which the internal clock got messed up),could be fixed with 'SetExifData'.

Thanks Kirby.

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Answer 6

Apr 18, 2010 10:26 AM in response to Pitiur

It is an option in Aperture when importing. Look for Rename Files in Import Settings. Allan

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Answer 7

Pitiur Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 18, 2010 8:58 PM in response to gocuk2@yahoo.

Alan,

Thanks. I finally figured out how to do what you suggested. The new name is, however, stored inside of the Aperture library package(BTW, the masters are much better organized in the Aperture 3 format than the Aperture 2 format). Unfortunately, Spotlite doesn't look for files there, which means that I can't search for that file by its file name. I've been working with ExifRenamer, which can create the same file name (or vice versa, Aperture can create the same name as ExifRenamer can). ExifRenamer is pretty fast and reliable, at least for me.

Thanks,

Pete

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