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User profile for user: Democritas
Democritas Author
User level: Level 1
6 points

iPhoto is adding a string of unwanted numbers to my photos, why? And how can I get rid of them?

I am trying to send photos to a site called Trekearth but Trekearth keeps putting up a notice saying no more than 15 characters allowed.Upon inspecting the photos I find that my MacBook Air has added a huge string of characters to the photos and I can not find out how to remove them.The added characters appear pale grey.The Windows system does not do this but I have to use my Windows machine to overcome this.

I bought the MacBook as I thought it looked to be excellent for photographers.


MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Apr 30, 2021 2:44 AM

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
197,619 points

Posted on Apr 30, 2021 7:17 AM

Are you trying to save photos by copying and pasting them from the Photos window to a folder?

Photos is internally storing the photos and the previews of the photos by creating new, long, unique filenames as strings of hexadecimal characters, for example copying and pasting an edited image with the original filename "IMG_1300.HEIC" just resulted in a saved file named "F12B6FAF-3143-407C-9E03-D261A8CE9E4B_1_105_c.jpeg". Also files transferred by shared albums may have such strange filenames.

To save a file from Photos with its original filename do not just drag and drop or copy and paste it, but use the Export command. Select the image, then use "File > Export > Export 1 image" and select a folder to save it.

To ensure, that the original filename will be used, check the "File Naming" preset in the Export panel - it should be set to "Use Filename", unless you want to rename the files on export.

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
197,619 points

Apr 30, 2021 7:17 AM in response to Democritas

Are you trying to save photos by copying and pasting them from the Photos window to a folder?

Photos is internally storing the photos and the previews of the photos by creating new, long, unique filenames as strings of hexadecimal characters, for example copying and pasting an edited image with the original filename "IMG_1300.HEIC" just resulted in a saved file named "F12B6FAF-3143-407C-9E03-D261A8CE9E4B_1_105_c.jpeg". Also files transferred by shared albums may have such strange filenames.

To save a file from Photos with its original filename do not just drag and drop or copy and paste it, but use the Export command. Select the image, then use "File > Export > Export 1 image" and select a folder to save it.

To ensure, that the original filename will be used, check the "File Naming" preset in the Export panel - it should be set to "Use Filename", unless you want to rename the files on export.

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User profile for user: Democritas
Democritas Author
User level: Level 1
6 points

Apr 30, 2021 8:15 AM in response to léonie

Hello Leonie,

Thank you for your help.I think it best to tell you what you what I am trying to do.There is a website for people interested in photography called Trekearth. Using my old Windows XP I can easily post a photo but using my recently purchased Mac book after selecting and sending a photo I get a message saying that no more than 15 characters can be used.Upon going back to the photo on the MacBook I find the machine has added a stack of numbers all of which are in pale grey.

I will try your suggestion to overcome this.

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User profile for user: Democritas
Democritas Author
User level: Level 1
6 points

Apr 30, 2021 9:07 AM in response to TonyCollinet

Hello Tony

I recently bought a MacBook Air and I am confused as to how it works.

I open up a thing called Trekearth where one can send photos .

It says go to the photo,select,load .

So I go to Photos on the MacBook then select the photo I want to send but when I look on Trekearth I find a small picture of the photo and above a message saying that no more than 15 characters can be used. On going back to Photos I find that a huge string of numbers have been attached to it and it is these that seem to prevent it being accepted. These appear in pale grey and there does not seem to any way to remove them.

Using my Windows computer which is now very old all photos go with no problem.

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iPhoto is adding a string of unwanted numbers to my photos, why? And how can I get rid of them?

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