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johnrellis
johnrellis
Legend
Jun 17, 2011 9:25 PM UTC
Open for Voting

P: Can't clear caption in JPEG exported from master imported with a caption

You can't clear a caption in a JPEG exported from a master that was imported with a pre-existing caption (e.g. from an annoying Olympus camera).   Even after clearing the caption in the Metadata panel, the exported JPEG will still contain the pre-existing caption. 

 

For JPEG masters, the workaround is to do Metadata > Save Metadata To File after clearing the caption, but this doesn't work for raws.  For raws, you must set the caption to a non-blank value, e.g. "-".

 

This bug was reported at least as far back as LR 3, and it continues to annoy users with Olympus cameras.  (Up until recently, Olympus insisted on setting EXIF:ImageDescription to "OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA".)

 

See here for recent complaints:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic/lightroom-cc-fills-in-description-field-on-export/m-p/11987182#M229579 

 

To reproduce:

 

1. Download an Olympus raw and JPEG from here:

https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/3959253679/olympus-e-pl9-sample-gallery/5069314962

 

2. Use Exiftool to observe that the raw and JPEG have EXIF:ImageDescription set to "OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA":

 

exiftool -a -G -imagedescription -caption-abstract -description P3010036.ORF 5069314962.jpg

 

3. Import the raw and JPEG into LR.

 

4. Observe that the Metadata panel shows the non-blank captions for both.

 

5. Uncheck the option Catalog Settings > Metadata > Automatically Write Changes Into XMP.

 

6. In the Metadata panel, clear the Caption field of the raw and JPEG.

 

7. Export the raw and JPEG as JPEGs, with the options Include: All Metadata and Remove Person Info and Remove Location Info unchecked, Write Keywords As Lightroom Hierarchy checked.

 

8. Use Exiftool to observe that EXIF:ImageDescription, IPTC:Caption-Abstract, and XMP:Description are all set to the original caption, "OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" (bug).

 

9. Do Metadata > Save Metadata To File for the raw and JPEG.

 

10. Re-export the raw and JPEG.

 

11. Use Exiftool to observe that the JPEG exported from the raw still has the original caption in  EXIF:ImageDescription, IPTC:Caption-Abstract, and XMP:Description (bug), while those fields are blank in the exported JPEG (correct).


Test in LR 10.2 / Mac OS 11.2.3.

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    22 replies

    joep67994378
    Participating Frequently
    Apr 6, 2023 2:47 AM UTC

    The bug is still present in Lr Classic 12.2.1 .

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      BruceClarke
      Known Participant
      Jul 31, 2021 1:17 AM UTC

      Olympus have stopped adding OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA to the ImageDescription on the E-M1 Mk III, but it's still there on the Mk I and Mk II, which I still use. I generally like to leave the caption field blank in LrC 10.3. Clearing the field in LrC on Raws and exporting to JPG still results in OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA reappearing in the caption field of the JPGs with the E-M1 Mk I and MkII. It really is very annoying to have to remember to clear the filed again after export. After 10 years, surely this could be fixed?

      Translate
      FeedbackCommunityMember
      Inspiring
      Apr 25, 2021 11:48 PM UTC

      Still a problem in 10.2

      Translate
      johnrellis
      johnrellisAuthor
      Legend
      Feb 19, 2013 5:08 PM UTC
      For future reference, here's another thread on the same topic:

      http://feedback.photoshop.com/photosh...
      Translate
      FeedbackCommunityMember
      Inspiring
      Feb 19, 2013 1:46 PM UTC
      Though an old thread, I found it useful, and am adding the comments that
      1) this is a problem in LR 3.6 as well
      and
      2) it is very annoying, adds an extra step to my workflow
      Translate
      johnrellis
      johnrellisAuthor
      Legend
      Feb 13, 2012 2:46 AM UTC
      The forum software is stripping metadata from JPEGs! Here's the test pic to use:

      http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21811200/capt...
      Translate
      johnrellis
      johnrellisAuthor
      Legend
      Feb 13, 2012 2:36 AM UTC
      This also happens to me with LR 4 beta, Windows 7 64-bit, with a new metadata-status bug that didn't appear in LR 3.6 (see step 5 below):

      1. Import the attached file into the catalog. Observe that Title and Caption are "OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA".

      2. In the Metadata pane, delete the Title and Caption. Observe that the metadata status changes to "Has been changed".

      3. Do File > Export as JPEG, without resizing, with Metadata = All, and Remove Location Info and Write Keywords As Lightroom Hierarchy unchecked.

      4. Observe that the fields EXIF:ImageDescription, IPTC:Caption-Abstract, and XMP:Description all have the value "OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA".

      5. Do Metadata > Save Metadata To File, and observe that Metadata Status briefly changes to "Up to date" and then back to "Has been changed". This new bug wasn't present in LR 3.
      Translate
      FeedbackCommunityMember
      Inspiring
      Feb 13, 2012 1:18 AM UTC
      Hi Becky,

      I finally borrowed a Snow Leopard MacBook and had a try (regretfully you stopped supporting Leopard). The result is the same as 3.6RC. For Olympus raw photos with a built-in caption, clearing the caption does not affect the exported JPEG files.

      John's suggestion still works. The bad part is that I will have a lot of .xmp files all over my disk.

      I wish you could have a chance to fix it. Sometime in the future I may have new camera that forces me to upgrade.

      Thanks!
      Translate
      Adobe Employee
      Bec Sowada
      Adobe Employee
      Feb 4, 2012 12:00 AM UTC
      Have either of you installed the Lightroom 4 Beta? The issue doesn't happen for me in that version, but I'd be interested to hear if your results are different.

      Thanks!
      Translate
      FeedbackCommunityMember
      Inspiring
      Jan 6, 2012 11:01 AM UTC
      The same problem exists with Sony SLT-A55v camera.
      I use the following command file to delete these tags with exiftool:

      exiftool.exe -k -P -overwrite_original_in_place -ImageDescription= %1\*.arw
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