How to remove exif using an action (Save for web has a problem)

JC
Posted By
JG_Cooke
Apr 26, 2004
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428
Replies
9
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Closed
I am trying to strip exif data from images that are to be posted. I have lots of them to do so I want to develop an action. I know of two ways to remove exif, convert to a non-exif supported format (tiff) or use Save for web.

The problem I am having with Save for web is that the "save" is really an "export" and it’s destination cannot be overridden in the action dialog box. This means that the files go to the directory that was indicated when the action was recorded, and not the directory I might choose in filling out the action dialog box. My tests indicate if I uncheck the "Override…" box in the destination folder, I will get a copy of the image in the directory I choose (containing exif) and another copy in the directory recorded in the action (without exif). My ideal solution is to have the files in the folder overwritten by a non-exif version of itself.

I realize I can start hauling files back and forth among directories or convert jpeg-tiff-jpeg, but such a simple requirement should have a more elegant solution. A forum search only indicates a one-liner "Use Save for web"

Thanks;
Jim

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brent_bertram
Apr 26, 2004
You might look at the IrfanView batch utility. It has a checkbox to save/or not save the original EXIF info in its options and overwrite original file with result of batch.

🙂
L
LenHewitt
Apr 26, 2004
JGC,

. This means that the files go to the directory that was indicated when
the action was recorded<<

No, the file will be saved in the LAST USED S4W folder rather than the one either indicated by the action OR the override folder.

By doing a S4W to the desired folder BEFORE running the action in Batch mode, the images will be saved to the folder you selected in Save for Web
JC
JG_Cooke
Apr 26, 2004
Len, I’m not sure I followed you correctly, this is what I did.

The recorded action had the saved files going to c:\photos. I set up two other directories …\S4W start and …\S4W start\done. I took one of the files from "start" and did a "save for web" to the "done" folder, this is now the last used folder, and the folder that will be specified as the destination folder in the action dialog box.

When I ran the action with the "Override action save as command" unchecked I got a copy of the images, with exif, in the "done" (specified) folder and a copy in c:\photos (recorded folder), without exif (desired result, wrong location).

Repeating the action with "Override action save as command" checked the files went to c:\photos, and nothing to "done" folder. Each folder was emptied before each test and the stand-alone S4W was done before each test.

From this it appears that the recorded save destination will take precedence over either "last used" or specified destination. If you meant the stand-alone S4W should be a new recorded action, with a new destination folder, I can see that as a work-around but it means a new action for every new destination.

Thanks;
Jim
L
LenHewitt
Apr 26, 2004
Jim,

but it means a new action for every new destination.<<

That shouldn’t be necessary. S4W remembers the last saved to folder, and even when used in an action, that is the folder S4W will save to regardless of any settings in the Action file or overrides in the Batch d/box.
JC
JG_Cooke
Apr 26, 2004
Len, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, it seems like a pretty simple procedure.

I took a file, S4W’d it to my desired folder, went back and ran the batch and they all went to the recorded folder, not the last used folder.

I can’t seem to get the action to have anything to do with the last used folder. The action only has two steps Open and Export, with the destination directory specified in the Export command, so there can’t be too much complicated activity going on in the action itself. If I check the override in the dialog box, the processed files to go the recorded folder, if unchecked I get two sets, one in the recorded folder and one in the folder specified in the dialog box. The last used folder is just not in play.

Why is it that S4W would behave differently in a batch then a normal save would i.e. overidding the batch dialog box? If you could give me a the specific procedure that you used, I will try and replicate it to see if there is something funky going on in my system.

Thanks
DR
Danny_Raphael
Apr 27, 2004
Jim:

As far as I’m concerned, you’re not going insane (small consolation).

FWIW (in PS7 anyway), my testing shows SFW (Export) ignores whatever one specifies in the File > Automate > Batch Destination / Folder / Choose dialog as well as SFW last used folder.

Regarding "That shouldn’t be necessary. S4W remembers the last saved to folder, and even when used in an action, that is the folder S4W will save to regardless of any settings in the Action file or overrides in the Batch d/box," this was news to me. Here’s how I tested it:
* I created an action which contained a single Export command, recorded to save files in folder "B."
* Then I invoked File > SFW against an open image. Specified folder "A," to establish the last used SFW folder – one different than the one recorded in the action.
* Finally I played the action via FAB. Results: Files from Source were saved in folder "B," as recorded in the Export command.

(Len: Don’t take this as me saying, "You’re wrong!" I’m just reporting that I’ve not been able to get the results you’re suggesting I should get. Pls. advise if I should have done something different in the testing.)

Back to "Why does it work this way?" I dunno. But from all the fiddling I’ve done with SFW, IMO it behaves (badly) in the ways you’ve discovered. Heavy sigh.
JC
JG_Cooke
Apr 27, 2004
Thanks for the reply Danny. I had this same type of situation on a previous topic where no one could get the results I was getting, then everyone started getting the results I was getting, and we all learned something.

Len may be doing something just a little bit different from what we are doing and getting the correct results but it seems to be such a simple task, there shouldn’t be to many permutations to have to go through.

S4W doesn’t do anything that can’t be done just as easy another way, other than strip exif, which is all I’m trying to do . . . as efficiently as possible.

Maybe there is an answer, maybe not. Even if it worked Len’s way, it’s still more work than a normal save would be in a batch because you have to do the stand-alone S4W to establish the last used folder.

Glad I’m not alone . . . I think.
L
LenHewitt
Apr 27, 2004
Sorry, Guys, but I can’t get it to work how I described either – must have been miss-remembering what I had previously done.

It would appear that the save as location in the action cannot be over-ridden by any means…
JC
JG_Cooke
Apr 27, 2004
Thanks Len, maybe that is something for the Christmas list.

Jim

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