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Lynnea1941
Inspiring
March 8, 2017
Answered

Unable to add metadata to some TIFF files

  • March 8, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 2889 views

I have a template for basic metadata which I apply to all images.  But, there are a few older images which cannot be updated.  Other TIFF images in the same folder can be updated.  I am able to open the images in Photoshop, but Bridge does not show a thumbnails for the images to which I cannot add the metadata.

I am using Created Cloud with the latest update.

Any suggestions?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Lynnea1941

Thanks for the link Lynnea1941, this is interesting…

First, I used ExifTool to rebuild the file’s metadata:

exiftool -v -all= -tagsfromfile @ -all:all -unsafe -icc_profile /Users/username/Desktop/file.tif

Which did not help with Bridge being able to keyword.

So, I then used ExifTool to add the keyword:

exiftool -subject='test' /Users/username/Desktop/file.tif

Which did result in the keyword being embedded and is visible in ExifTool and other non-Adobe software… However, as far as Bridge is concerned, there is no keyword!

My next thought was that this may have something to do with document compression, however that was not the case either.

I then noticed that the layered original was using RLE layer compression, and you had also noted that this file worked when flattened… I personally always use ZIP layer compression, not RLE.

Guess what? Simply changing over to ZIP layer compression allowed me to write metadata to the image, without having to flatten! I did have to purge the Bridge cache for this folder as I had left this open and it did not recognise the change. So, please try saving your layered originals with ZIP layer compression and let the forum know if this works for you too (of course this makes no sense and is not applicable when I create a new file, so it may just be something that is messed up with your older files from the recovered backup).


It works as you suggested using ZIP layer compression!!!  I opened the document and saved it with a new title with ZIP layer compression.

I can add the metadata, I can now see File Information in the drop down menu in Bridge, there is a thumbnail for the image, and it opens with all the layers.  It looks normal again.

Thank you so much.

1 reply

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2017

First, try the tools menu option to purge the cache for the selected image or the entire folder. If this is just a display issue, then you are all good to go.

If the metadata template is still not working, what about using the metadata panel in Bridge to see if there is a difference? Or how about File Info?

Otherwise if after purging the cache and or using File Info to double check if the metadata is there, you could try opening the TIFF and re-saving it. Does the metadata now embed using the template or other methods?

L
Lynnea1941Author
Inspiring
March 8, 2017

I tried the purge the cache for the selected image.  Still doesn't display.

There is no file information for the image.

When I open the file in Photoshop, I am able to add a keyword, but when I save it, and look at the image in Bridge, again File Information is grayed out.

If I try to add the keyword in my keyword list I get this message: "...cannot store XMP metadata.

I did try opening and resaving with a different name, but that didn't fix the problem.

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2017

Sounds like these files are a bit messed up…

Try this: Open the file in Photoshop, select all, copy, create a new file and paste (presuming a flattened TIFF with no alpha channels, paths or existing metadata that you wish to retain). Save the file and try to apply the metadata template.

If you have many of these files, you can use a script to automate this process, retaining the original filenames (which are lost with the steps above).

If you can upload one of these stubborn files to DropBox or a similar file sharing site I can try using a couple of different approaches using ExifTool.

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