Packaging strips EXIF and IPTC Location info from “Link” files

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    • #14375591
      Jeff
      Member

      I have a project where the supplied images are taken by a third party for the client. I bring them into Lightroom, organise them, correct various inconsistencies and then build the captions assembling information from various fields of the images metadata.

      I export the original raw files, saving them as TIFFs ,into a folder structure for use by Bridge. I place the images in InDesign using Bridge. At this point all the Metadata is intact.

      When I initiate the “Package” command I get the standard set of files & folders associated with the project. I then send the package files to the client for verification and signoff. The problem I’m having is that when the client goes to verify the locations of each photo (EXIF and IPTC Location info), they find the metadata is all there except for the EXIF and IPTC Location info.

      I have verified that up until the “Package” command is run, the images contain the correct and full metadata.

      Any ideas what is causing the files transferred to the Links folder using “Package”, to lose the location metadata?

    • #14375688

      Whoa, that’s not good. What are they using (software, OS) to examine the EXIF and IPTC Location info?

      Related to that, have you verified that after you package a project, you yourself can open the images and see that the EXIF and IPTC Location info is gone?

      AM

    • #14375696

      I just did a quick test and couldn’t replicate the problem.

      1) Saved out a PSD w/metadata as a TIFF from Photoshop, discarding the layers. (I don’t use Lightroom.)
      2) Inspected the TIFF in Bridge to make sure all the metadata was there, including Location info in IPTC and all the EXIF info
      3) Placed the TIFF into ID (I’m using 2023), saved it, packaged it, including making a copy of the links
      4) Opened the dupe of the image from the Package folder in Bridge; metadata was all there.

      ?

      AM

    • #14375703
      Jeff
      Member

      I’m running M1 PowerBook, Ventura ,InDesign 17.4. I am currently using Lightroom, Bridge, MetaImage, HoudahGeo and Exif Viewer to review metadata for my workflow. I always try to get a non Adobe view of the meta data for this particular project.

      I verify the metadata each time the asset is transferred, modified, or copied in the workflow. The last image change is when it is placed into the InDesign layout from Bridge. I double check the metadata with a script that does a lookup of the placed image in the Lightroom catalogue which is the system of record for the images.

      When I finish running a “Package” routine, all the image files (non vector art) have the EXIF and IPTC location information blown away. The other key fields remain unaffected, including Lightroom custom built fields such as caption, title and keywords.

      I have tried to track down what could be causing this but I’ve exhausted my knowledge base on this one.

    • #14375763
      David Blatner
      Keymaster

      I just placed an image in InDesign, saved the file, and then packaged it. When I use Bridge to look at the image inside the Links folder (in the packaged file), the IPTC and EXIF data is all intact. No problems.

      I’m using a Mac, InDesign 2023 (18.0), but it would really surprise me if this were different on Windows.

      Are you checking the metadata with Bridge? Or some other tool, which may not be seeing it?

    • #14375811

      Well I see three variables here, diff. than what David/I are doing and you, Jeff.

      Trying to narrow it down.

      1) You’re using Ventura, I’m not, I’m on Monterey … David which OS? I can’t see how the MacOS would affect what happens with Packaging from ID, but possibly?
      2) You’re using ID 2022 (and assumably Bridge 2022), I”m using 2023 of both and I’m guessing David too. Jeff, possible to try w/2023?
      3) You’re using a script, is that right, to check for metadata? You said “I always check with something non-Adobe.”

      I didn’t change the first two variables to match, but I did upload the packaged image to https://exif.tools/ and all the data was there.

      Do you want to try to link to one of your before packaging/after packaging images so we could download and test?

      Here’s the one I used: https://www.dropbox.com/s/95k6yvvcjo1018r/Fresholivesinabowl.tif.zip?dl=0

      AM

    • #14375813
      Jeff
      Member

      I’ve just had a moment to take a breath from trying to figure the problem and I’m thinking that supplied images are corrupted. I don’t know how or by what, but I heavily suspect source file corruption.

      When I used known images, I get the same results as you do, everything works as it should. But when I re-run using the client supplied images I get metadata errors using the “Package” routine in InDesign. I cannot narrow it down to any processes on my end.

      Monday, I’ll be asking the client for raw, just out of the camera images with no third party software intervention. Hopefully that will solve the problem.

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