How to write EXIF/GPS data to masters?

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Level 1

0 points

How to write EXIF/GPS data to masters?

I have an Aperture library captured with a non-GPS camera. I added geotagging data through Aperture, but am now migrating to Lightroom. Obviously I want to import my masters into Lightroom without losing geotagging/GPS information, but it's also obvious that Aperture will not write EXIF data to masters (other than time/date, and it doesn't seem to be doing that right, either).

I have installed the Maperture plugin, and while Maperture can see my Aperture-made geotags, it will only write GPS data to masters if you change the Aperture data: simply clicking the "save" button without altering the geotag results in no action.

I also have the trial version of HoudahGeo installed. This won't seem to do the job, either, as it only recognizes about 70% of my pictures. For example, if I select an Aperture project with 17,000 images (all geotagged), it only recognizes the library as containing 11,000 images. Even worse, it only recognizes about 1,000 of those images as containing GPS data.

Are there any other options for writing this GPS data to my masters? Thanks for your assistance.

Posted on Jul 2, 2014 11:06 PM

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Answer 1

Karen P

Level 2

232 points

Jul 4, 2014 7:01 AM in response to bwv812

I use HoudahGeo, but I'm not having these problems.

You mention that it doesn't recognize all your images. I don't think it recognizes different versions, just the master. Have you created new versions? Could that be why it is not recognizing some of your images? I'd also suggest contacting Pierre at HoudahGeo and seeing if he can help with your problems.

Have you had any other problems with Aperture? Have you tried repairing/rebuilding your Aperture Library? Sorry, I know that it is probably as helpful as "Restart your computer", but if you're having other problems it is worth a shot.

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

194,761 points

Jul 4, 2014 8:50 AM in response to bwv812

Why not export your originals with an IPTC4XMP Sidecar file? This way, you will save all metadata with your originals and most image editors will understand this format.

You can select this option in the export panel.

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Answer 3

bwv812 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 5, 2014 8:04 AM in response to léonie

Thanks for the response, léonie.

Ideally I would like to have the metadata written to EXIF, and I would prefer not to create duplicates of my masters. Is there a way to write the sidecar files only, without creating duplicate masters via export? And is there any utitity I could then use to write the sidecar metadata to EXIF?

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Answer 4

bwv812 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 5, 2014 8:13 AM in response to Karen P

Thanks for the suggestion, Karen.

My library has been rebuilt recently, so I don't think it's a library issue. It affects all project, and it's not a matter of it simply not recognizing alternate versions or stacks. It just simply is recognizing about 30-40% of the pictures in any given library.

On other issue I'm having with Aperture is that it isn't handling date and time adjustments very well: in addition to adjusting the time/date in the way requested, it also shifts the time zone to my current time zone, EST. For example, I might have an image from China with the EXIF time of 7:30pm, UTC+8. I use "Adjust Time and Date" to set the time to 8:00pm. The end result is an image with the time of 8:00am, UTC-4 (EST). While the adjustment has offset the time by the correct amount, it has also changed the time zone for some reason. I understand that a simply workaround would simply be to use the time zone adjustment to achieve the same effect, but it's not always possible and shouldn't be necessary. I very much doubt this has anything to do with he HoudahGeo issue, though.

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Answer 5

léonie

Level 10

194,761 points

Jul 5, 2014 8:42 AM in response to bwv812

Ideally I would like to have the metadata written to EXIF, and I would prefer not to create duplicates of my masters.

Aperture 3.5.1 will write IPTC to the original file, if the file type of the original supports it (Metadata > Write IPTC to the original). Which Aperture version are you using?

You can also export a text file with a list of the Metadata of the selected files (File > Export > Metadata). But I do not know any utility to use this list to tag your original files. You would have to write an AppleScript yourself to do this with the help of exiftool.

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Answer 6

bwv812 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 5, 2014 2:30 PM in response to léonie

Aperture 3.5.1 will write IPTC to the original file, if the file type of the original supports it (Metadata > Write IPTC to the original). Which Aperture version are you using?

I'm running 3.5.1. Unfortunately, IPTC isn't a huge help because my primary objective is to include GPS data.

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