Lightroom Metadata Presets Overwriting the File

[KostFan2]

We know that customers can remove metadata from an existing file using export and after “Include” selecting “copywrite only”.  However, we want to remove the metadata from the existing file and not create a new file because we have to process over 1,275,000 and don’t want to take up so much hard disk space.

Is there any way we can use Lightroom’s “Metadata Preset” feature to do this?  We know how to overwrite existing metadata with new data.  However, we want to remove the existing data.

Any Ideas?

Thank you.

[GoldingD]

I was scratching my head on this. Does the existence of various bits of metadata embedded into an image file, eat up file space? And can it be reduced. A search on the web turns up, yes:

• https://calendar.perfplanet.com/2022/reduce-image-sizes-by-removing-metadata/
• https://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-to-reduce-the-file-size-of-an-image-or-picture/

As to the how. I am not too sure accomplishing this in LrC is the way to go. Remember that LrC does not show all metadata. Perhaps this should be done outside of LrC. Mind you, first make sure any metadata edits are saved from LrC to the files. Of course you will then need to fix the metadata conflicts when you relaunch the catalog.

Do not forget to not strip any metadata that you use for smart catalogs, etc.

[KostFan2]

GoldingD

This is one of the more obscure jobs we have been given.  The clients provided 2.4 million images with a huge amount of metadata entered manually over 7 years.  For example, one “Comment” field had over 450 characters.  Due to privacy and security issues, they want all the metadata removed before the images are shared on the web.

The smart catalog tip was fantastic.  Thank you

[JohanElzenga]

Yes, there is. Create a metadata preset where you check each field you want to remove, and keep that field empty. The caveat is that you can only remove added metadata this way, not embedded metadata like EXIF.

[johnrellis]

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Building on Johan's reply, here's a screenshot:

[KostFan2]

@JohanElzenga  and @johnrellis 

Thank you for your replies. However, from my testing, if the name of any field is in red, then the metadata preset will not run. Is your experience different from that?  In other words, if I select a field and enter “Dummy” data in it then the preset will run.  However, if I remove the data then the name turns red and the preset will not run.  My process to run them is as follows:
On the right side panel under “Metadata” select the drop-down arrow and select the preset you just created/On display, click the metadata icons and select “Save” This saves the changes to the hard drive.

[johnrellis]

"However, from my testing, if the name of any field is in red, then the metadata preset will not run."

I'm not sure what you mean by "will not run". The Clear All Fields preset shown above will clear all editable metadata fields.

If any of the photo's fields were previously not blank, then the metadata status icon in the upper-right corner of the thumbnail will change to a down-arrow, indicating that the metadata in the catalog has changed, and clicking on that down-arrow will ask if you want to save the metadata back to the photo's file on disk.

But if all of the photo's fields were previously blank, the same as the fields in the file on disk, then the metadata-status icon won't appear on the thumbnail (since what's in the catalog matches what's on disk).

[KostFan2]

John: Thank you for taking the time to create the video.  By “Run” I meant doing the same process you did by selecting the preset on the right side panel.  I have these questions for you:

• 1) Select All: When you created your preset, did you click “Select all” in the lower left corner of the preset screen?
• 2) Only 9 Fields: It seems that we are only able to remove the data in the 9 fields identified.  However, when you remove the data using the export option in file manager, ou can remove ALL data except Copywrite This includes the EXIF data (such as camera information) and IPTC data, including date created.
• 3) Metadata Adjustments: Although Lightroom is a “Parametric Editor”, my understanding is that, when you click the metadata icon and then “Save” you are writing the changes to disk and that is a “Destructive” process.  Is that correct?
• 4) Develop Adjustments: In Contrast, if you make develop adjustments the metadata icon will appear but when you click it and “Save” nothing is written to disk.  In order to save the changes, you have to export the file and create a new JPG. Is that correct?
• 5) Lightroom field mapping and Microsoft’s File Explorer: Do you know for a fact that Microsoft’s file explorer maps its fields to Microsoft’s proprietary address, copywrite, and label fields instead of using either IPTC or EXIF data fields?  Is there any way to add the EXIF or IPT fields to file explorer?  The only EXIF data they seem to support is “Dimensions”. File type is shared between the two as well as Size, but those are neither EXIF or IPTC fields.

[johnrellis]

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"It seems that we are only able to remove the data in the 9 fields identified."

There are many, many more than 9 fields. Make sure you're expanding each group by clicking the triangles to the left:

"Metadata Adjustments: Although Lightroom is a “Parametric Editor”, my understanding is that, when you click the metadata icon and then “Save” you are writing the changes to disk and that is a “Destructive” process.  Is that correct?"

For raw files, Save Metadata To File will write any changes to the a .xmp sidecar file rather than to the raw.

For non-raws (e.g. JPEG and TIFF), which are governed by industry standards, Save Metadata To File will write any changes to the industry-standard metadata sections of the files.

"In Contrast, if you make develop adjustments the metadata icon will appear but when you click it and “Save” nothing is written to disk."

No, the Develop settings are written to metadata fields on disk, just like other metadata. But the image itself is not changed.

"Lightroom field mapping and Microsoft’s File Explorer: Do you know for a fact that Microsoft’s file explorer maps its fields to Microsoft’s proprietary address, copywrite, and label fields instead of using either IPTC or EXIF data fields?  Is there any way to add the EXIF or IPT fields to file explorer?  The only EXIF data they seem to support is “Dimensions”. File type is shared between the two as well as Size, but those are neither EXIF or IPTC fields."

The mapping between the field names shown in Windows File Explorer and the Microsoft-specific and industry-standard metadata fields in the files is not fully documented (the last time I checked years ago). 

Similarly, the precise mapping between what you see in LR and the fields in the files is not fully documented

For both, you need to experimentation and use the authoritative Exiftool utility to know precisely the mapping and the values of fields in a file. Windows File Explorer, Mac Finder, and most other utilities (unless they use Exiftool) are not to be trusted when it comes to reading metadata.

[KostFan2]

@johnrellis :

Thank you, as always, for your very detailed answers.  They help a lot.  Word usage is SO important in these forums. However, it is helping me to deepen my understanding of how Lightroom works.

Looks like I will spend time tomorrow and over the weekend learning about ExiFTool.

[KostFan2]

.

[Lumigraphics]

Forget Lightroom. Use EXIFTool for a big batch job like this.

[KostFan2]

Thank you