Can I restore EXIF data?

Peter Zack · 10-28-2007, 08:57 PM

I've been using and HDR program for a few shots and the only flaw I see is that when it saves the shot, the EXIF data is lost. The program's help file tells me that this will happen with the version I'm using. I'll upgrade the software for future work but I'm interested in some of the shots I've already worked on. Is there a program or method that can restore the data to the shot after saving it?

Mr. The Guy · 10-28-2007, 11:27 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

Is there a program or method that can restore the data to the shot after saving it?

ExifTool by Phil Harvey

PDL · 10-28-2007, 11:28 PM

You can use PPL to extract the EXIF information out into a spreadsheet. After the editing is completed, there are EXIF editors that will allow you to "modify" the EXIF of the resulting file. My experience with these programs - one from OPanda and one from hungery (I think) is that the "free" ones are manually intensive.

You might do a search here - some people have used a PERL tool to pull EXIF and replace EXIF information in images. The Linux users here should have the best practical knowledge on how to do this - since the PS series of software products do not run on Linux (or I don't think they do).
Edit = the PERL tool mentioned in Mr. The Guy's post is the one I was thinking of.

Opanda.com - Professional Photography Software (DigitalFilm, PowerExif, IExif, PhotoFilter)
:: kiwi's digital experiment ::

The elitiest - formerly known as PDL

Peter Zack · 10-29-2007, 08:10 AM

Thanks guys. I found Phil Harvey's, either didn't work on Vista or I just can't figure it out at all. The Opanda program was easy to load and a snap to figure out how to reload EXIF data to a shot.

The reason I wanted this was I had some shots that were edited in either an HDR program or run through Neat image. Both don't save the EXIF data when you are running the freeware versions. So with Opanda I can go back to the original shot and reload the EXIF data as it was. Then it can be accepted by the Pentax gallery or any other site that needs the info. Including here when others want to see the shooting info.

Very cool. Thanks for the info and quick replies. I tried Opanda, tested a shot on the Pentax Gallery and it worked just fine.

mattdm · 10-29-2007, 01:57 PM

You can also use jhead:

Exif Jpeg header and thumbnail manipulator program

for this. (Use the -te option.)

10-28-2007, 08:57 PM	#1
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Can I restore EXIF data? I've been using and HDR program for a few shots and the only flaw I see is that when it saves the shot, the EXIF data is lost. The program's help file tells me that this will happen with the version I'm using. I'll upgrade the software for future work but I'm interested in some of the shots I've already worked on. Is there a program or method that can restore the data to the shot after saving it?

10-28-2007, 11:27 PM	#2
Mr. The Guy Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vilcabamba, Loja Posts: 216	Read, Write and Edit Meta Information Originally posted by Peter Zack Is there a program or method that can restore the data to the shot after saving it? ExifTool by Phil Harvey

10-28-2007, 11:28 PM	#3
PDL Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: PNW USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,128	You can use PPL to extract the EXIF information out into a spreadsheet. After the editing is completed, there are EXIF editors that will allow you to "modify" the EXIF of the resulting file. My experience with these programs - one from OPanda and one from hungery (I think) is that the "free" ones are manually intensive. You might do a search here - some people have used a PERL tool to pull EXIF and replace EXIF information in images. The Linux users here should have the best practical knowledge on how to do this - since the PS series of software products do not run on Linux (or I don't think they do). Edit = the PERL tool mentioned in Mr. The Guy's post is the one I was thinking of. Opanda.com - Professional Photography Software (DigitalFilm, PowerExif, IExif, PhotoFilter) :: kiwi's digital experiment :: The elitiest - formerly known as PDL Last edited by PDL; 10-28-2007 at 11:31 PM. Reason: Added comment

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
EXIF data - how to see it please?	Nass	Pentax DSLR Discussion	7	09-04-2009 05:10 PM
EXIF data	Rykoh	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	1	12-27-2008 01:33 PM
Name in exif data	Mikk	Pentax DSLR Discussion	4	12-07-2008 10:22 PM
EXIF Data	deludel	Pentax DSLR Discussion	3	11-13-2008 11:15 AM
EXIF data	Camera lucida	Photographic Technique	26	10-10-2008 11:47 PM

10-29-2007, 08:10 AM	#4
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643 Original Poster	Thanks guys. I found Phil Harvey's, either didn't work on Vista or I just can't figure it out at all. The Opanda program was easy to load and a snap to figure out how to reload EXIF data to a shot. The reason I wanted this was I had some shots that were edited in either an HDR program or run through Neat image. Both don't save the EXIF data when you are running the freeware versions. So with Opanda I can go back to the original shot and reload the EXIF data as it was. Then it can be accepted by the Pentax gallery or any other site that needs the info. Including here when others want to see the shooting info. Very cool. Thanks for the info and quick replies. I tried Opanda, tested a shot on the Pentax Gallery and it worked just fine.

10-29-2007, 01:57 PM	#5
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	You can also use jhead: Exif Jpeg header and thumbnail manipulator program for this. (Use the -te option.)