13.5 screwed up my metadata when I import photos into the Photos app

[chris4565]

Hey everyone,

Since updating to 13.5 I have a weird issue with the Photos app. Let's say, I created a file with Affinity Photo YESTERDAY, then I export it as a .png file TODAY, and finally, I import the .png file into the Photos app.

Issue: It gets sorted into yesterday, what the heck?! I really don't understand it, since the .png file didn't even exist yesterday. Also if I rename the file and re-import it, the changes don't get reflected and I still have the old file name.

Anyone also having this issue? Thanks in advance!

 

[Slartibart]

Since updating to 13.5 I have a weird issue with the Photos app. Let's say, I created a file with Affinity Photo YESTERDAY, then I export it as a .png file TODAY, and finally, I import the .png file into the Photos app.

Issue: It gets sorted into yesterday, what the heck?!

The creation date of the file - similar to the date a photo is taken - is probably saved in the meta data by AP and this is used by Apple Photos. This makes sense, because if you take a photograph, edit it, and then export the edited photo to a new file, it should of course preserve the date taken/created as well as other EXIF data.

While in Finder there is an option to sort files according to their modified date, AFAIK this is not an option in Apple Photos; but you can adjust an image’s time and date in Apple Photos.

The second part of what you described I do not fully understand: if you create a copy of an image in Finder - A.png & A (copy).png - and import both images into Apple Photos, the information panel in Apple Photos shows the same name for both?

 

[chris4565]

The creation date of the file - similar to the date a photo is taken - is probably saved in the meta data by AP and this is used by Apple Photos. This makes sense, because if you take a photograph, edit it, and then export the edited photo to a new file, it should of course preserve the date taken/created as well as other EXIF data.

While in Finder there is an option to sort files according to their modified date, AFAIK this is not an option in Apple Photos; but you can adjust an image’s time and date in Apple Photos.

The second part of what you described I do not fully understand: if you create a copy of an image in Finder - A.png & A (copy).png - and import both images into Apple Photos, the information panel in Apple Photos shows the same name for both?

Thanks for your detailed explanation! This makes sense I guess. Maybe in the past I always created + exported on the same day, so I didn't notice this 😅

Regarding the second thing: This is indeed a bit weird. Iirc it's the following:
- Create file "a.afphoto" --> Export to "a.png" --> Import into Apple Photos --> Appears as "a"
- Export it again but this time as "b.png" --> Import into Apple Photos --> STILL appears as "a"

Also when I change the file name manually afterwards (in the Finder) and re-import it, it still doesn't update.

Maybe I have to SAVE the .afphoto again before I export it but it's still strange I think.

One more important note: The file name I'm referring to is the one that's displayed at the top when you view a photo in the Apple Photos app. I'm talking about the spot where the date or location of "normal" photos gets displayed. But for files that I created it normally states the file name. It does seem kind of confusing, haha.

 

[NoBoMac]

Guess: Photos is generating a signature/hash for the images. Both images have same hash, so a duplicate, ergo already imported.

Have not dug that deep into Photos to know for sure.

Can test this by making a copy in Affinity, modify the copy somehow, export it as "a" and import that. Guessing will have two "a" images, "a" and "a (1)".

 

[chris4565]

This would make sense, thanks!

 

[chris4565]

So now I took an old .afphoto file --> duplicated it --> renamed it --> opened & edited it --> saved it --> exported it as a new .png file --> imported that .png file into the Photos app --> It still gets sorted right next to the original file and shows the exact same old date.

I think that this behavior is quite odd 😅

 

[NoBoMac]

Not clear: So now getting two images with same date? If so, would expect that as the photos were “taken” at the same time.

As mentioned in post #2, EXIF data in the file is what is being used, specifically photo’s capture date/time (most likely DateTimeOriginal field).

(great tool for viewing/manipulating image metadata on Mac, exiftool)

 

[chris4565]

Not clear: So now getting two images with same date? If so, would expect that as the photos were “taken” at the same time.

As mentioned in post #2, EXIF data in the file is what is being used, specifically photo’s capture date/time (most likely DateTimeOriginal field).

(great tool for viewing/manipulating image metadata on Mac, exiftool)

Exactly, they show the same dates even though I did all the steps mentioned in my post.

 

[Slartibart]

Do you have the option to embed metadata turned OFF before finishing the export (screenshot is from AP on iPadOS)?

 

[gilby101]

I think your title is wrong. Maybe better: "13.5 preserved my metadata when...". I think that is the correct behaviour. But if you don't like that, use something (e.g. exiftool as @NoBoMac suggests) for change the photo creation tme.

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[chris4565]

Do you have the option to embed metadata turned OFF before finishing the export (screenshot is from AP on iPadOS)?

I just checked this setting: I had it turned on. Thanks for your reply 👍

 

[chris4565]

I think your title is wrong. Maybe better: "13.5 preserved my metadata when...". I think that is the correct behaviour. But if you don't like that, use something (e.g. exiftool as @NoBoMac suggests) for change the photo creation tme.

​

Uhm, yes, I think you're right, haha. Thanks for mentioning this tool!