delete history log in metadata

[laris99]

By mistake, I had my preferences set to record a history log in metadata.  I want to share the photo but without the recipient being able to see the changes I've made.  Is there a way to delete or clear the history log?  Or to send the photo without that information?  (It needs to be a good version of the image, so something like a screenshot won't work.)   (I'm using PS CS6 in windows).  Any help would be appreciated.  

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

If you don't have any other requirements for retaining metadata, you can use Export As or Export Save for Web (Legacy) which both strip metadata or offer options for retaining limited metadata for JPEG and PNG.

Another option is to select all layers, then use the Layer menu > Duplicate command to dupe the layers to a new file, which will not include document metadata, which is more useful if you need to share say a layered PSD.

Other options would be a custom script for Photoshop, Bridge or using 3rd party software such as ExifTool.

A generic XMP metadata removal option is part of the following script (not specifically history):

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/free-script-remove-selected/m-p/10104...

[laris99]

Thanks very much for all the suggestions.  Using the layers menu trick worked and deleted all the metadata.  I've also downloaded the exiftool and tried that and it looks like that will delete the history log and leave some camera info so that should be helpful.  I tried to use Export As but for some reason the only options that show there are Paths to Illustrator and Zoomify -- I'm not sure what those are but when I tested them they unfortunately  didn't seem to be usable.  Thanks again for the help.

[Stephen Marsh]

I've also downloaded the exiftool and tried that and it looks like that will delete the history log and leave some camera info so that should be helpful.

By @laris99

The three scripts that I posted will do similar to ExifTool, only removing the History Log metadata.

For the sake of completeness, the ExifTool command would be similar to:

exiftool -XMP-photoshop:History= "C:\Path to\File.jpg"

[Stephen Marsh]

I tried to use Export As but for some reason the only options that show there are Paths to Illustrator and Zoomify -- I'm not sure what those are but when I tested them they unfortunately  didn't seem to be usable.  Thanks again for the help.

By @laris99

What version of Photoshop are you using?

You should see something like this:

[laris99]

I only have PS CS6.  This is what I see.

[Stephen Marsh]

Ah, but you still have Save for Web if needed in CS6.

[laris99]

Ah, but you still have Save for Web if needed in CS6.

By @Stephen Marsh

yes I do, and that works too.  Should have mentioned that before, sorry!  Thanks again for the help.  

[jane-e]

@laris99 

Save for Web wasn't "legacy" yet in CS6! 😊 I don't remember when it became legacy, though. @Stephen Marsh do you remember?

Jane

[Stephen Marsh]

@jane-e - I can't recall when (Legacy) was added, some time after Export As was introduced.

[Stephen Marsh]

Here is an example of a Script that would remove Photoshop History Log metadata from an open document:

// Remove Photoshop History Log Metadata from Open Doc.jsx

#target photoshop

removeHistoryLogMeta();

function removeHistoryLogMeta() {
    if (!documents.length) return;
    if (ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript == undefined) ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript = new ExternalObject("lib:AdobeXMPScript");
    var xmp = new XMPMeta(activeDocument.xmpMetadata.rawData);
    XMPUtils.removeProperties(xmp,XMPConst.NS_PHOTOSHOP, "History", XMPConst.REMOVE_ALL_PROPERTIES);
    app.activeDocument.xmpMetadata.rawData = xmp.serialize();
} 

Depending on workflow requirements, a script that processed a folder of files, or a version for Adobe Bridge script may be preferred.

EDIT: Here is one for a folder of supported file formats, you can add/remove file extensions as required from the code:

// Remove Photoshop History Log Metadata from Folder of Files.jsx

#target photoshop;  

var inputFolder= Folder.selectDialog ("Please select folder to process");  
if(inputFolder != null){  
var fileList  = inputFolder.getFiles(/\.(jpg|jpeg|tif|tiff|psd|png)$/i);  
for(var a in fileList){removeHistoryLogMeta(fileList[a]);}  
}  
function removeHistoryLogMeta(selectedFile) {          
if (ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript == undefined) ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript = new ExternalObject("lib:AdobeXMPScript");       
var xmpFile = new XMPFile( selectedFile.fsName, XMPConst.FILE_UNKNOWN, XMPConst.OPEN_FOR_UPDATE | XMPConst.OPEN_USE_SMART_HANDLER );   
var xmp = xmpFile.getXMP();  
xmp.deleteProperty(XMPConst.NS_PHOTOSHOP, "History");  
if (xmpFile.canPutXMP(xmp)) {   
        xmpFile.putXMP(xmp);  
         xmpFile.closeFile(XMPConst.CLOSE_UPDATE_SAFELY);   
         }                
};    

EDIT 2:

Here is one for selected files in Adobe Bridge (look in the Tools menu once installed):

/*
Remove Photoshop History Log Metadata from Adobe Bridge.jsx
Based on:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/hide-camera-raw-settings-in-jpeg-metadata/m-p/10306319
*/

#target bridge

if (BridgeTalk.appName == "bridge") {
    removeHistoryLogMeta = new MenuElement("command", "Remove Photoshop History Log Metadata", "at the end of Tools");
}
removeHistoryLogMeta.onSelect = function () {
    if (ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript == undefined) ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript = new ExternalObject("lib:AdobeXMPScript");
    var sels = app.document.selections;
    for (var a in sels) {
        var thumb = new Thumbnail(app.document.selections[a]);
        var md = thumb.synchronousMetadata;
        var xmp = new XMPMeta(md.serialize());
        if (thumb.hasMetadata) {
            XMPUtils.removeProperties(xmp, XMPConst.NS_PHOTOSHOP, "History", XMPConst.REMOVE_ALL_PROPERTIES);
            var updatedPacket = xmp.serialize(XMPConst.SERIALIZE_OMIT_PACKET_WRAPPER | XMPConst.SERIALIZE_USE_COMPACT_FORMAT);
            thumb.metadata = new Metadata(updatedPacket);
        }
    }
};

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html

[laris99]

Thanks very much for this.  Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to install a script (still pretty much a newbie) but I'll keep this info if I figure it out!

[Stephen Marsh]

Thanks very much for this.  Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to install a script (still pretty much a newbie) but I'll keep this info if I figure it out!

By @laris99

I provided a link to my blog with full instructions. Please do try again when you have time.

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html

[laris99]

Thanks very much. Will do!

[Luxseniors]

Hi! I tried to follow all of the steps from your blog for Bridge, but there is no script anywhere in Bridge. I don't know much and I 'm just trying to be able to remove all edit history from my files. Thanks for any help!

[Stephen Marsh]

---

@Luxseniors wrote:

Hi! I tried to follow all of the steps from your blog for Bridge, but there is no script anywhere in Bridge. I don't know much and I 'm just trying to be able to remove all edit history from my files. Thanks for any help!

---

In this example, the script named "Clear History from Metadata.jsx" was saved as a plain-text file (not rich-text) in the Startup Scripts folder:

After restarting Bridge, you should receive a message that a new script has been installed and do you wish to enable the script. I'm not seeing this in Bridge 2024, however, going into preferences I can see that the script is installed and active:

Then select the images and go to the Tools menu:

[Jimmy_D_Photo]

HI  Stephen,

I'm not familiar on writing scripts.  I am interested in obtaining the script you wrote for Remove Photoshop History Log Metadata from Adobe Bridge.jsx.  Could you please email the completed .jsx file for MAC OS? 

Thanks,

Jim Di Loreto

Smithsonian Photographer

Washington, DC USA

[Stephen Marsh]

@Jimmy_D_Photo 

Just copy and paste the code into a plain text file using the instructions provided in this topic at my blogpost for saving and installing scripts in Adobe apps. It's all in this topic discussion.

[Jimmy_D_Photo]

Stephen,

Still does not work for me.  Gov't issued computers limit what we can do.  If you can email the file, Remove Photoshop History Log Metadata from Adobe Bridge.jsx. that will be the best option for me. 

[email link removed as per forum guidelines]

[Stephen Marsh]

Stephen,

Still does not work for me.  Gov't issued computers limit what we can do. 

By @Jimmy_D_Photo

Surely you can:

1. Copy the code text to the clipboard
2. Open a new blank file in a plain-text editor (not in a word processor)
3. Paste the code in
4. Save as a plain text format file – .txt
5. Rename the saved file extension from .txt to .jsx
6. Install or browse to the .jsx file to run (see below)

?

[Jimmy_D_Photo]

 @Stephen Marsh attached are the steps I did using Apple Text Edit app.  There is no option to save as a .txt, so I saved as .rtf and renamed to .jsx.

[Jimmy_D_Photo]

@Stephen MarshMicrosoft Word allows to save .txt.  Did that and same steps to remaune and install in scrips folder.  Still does not work.

[jane-e]

@Jimmy_D_Photo 

Use TextEdit and either convert to plain text for one time use or change your Preferences / Settings, as I do. 
Details here from Apple Support:

Change the document format

You can change the format of your document. Plain text (.txt) doesn’t allow formatting. Rich text (.rtf) allows formatting, tables, and images. When you change a rich text document to plain text, the document loses all text styles and formatting options.

• In the TextEdit app on your Mac, choose Format > Make Plain Text or Format > Make Rich Text.

• If there’s a format you prefer for new documents, you can set the default format. Choose TextEdit > Settings, click New Document, then select “Rich text” or “Plain text” below Format.

https://support.apple.com/guide/textedit/open-documents-txte51413d09/1.19/mac/14.0

Jane

[Jimmy_D_Photo]

@jane-eI got it to work.  thanks.

[jane-e]

Thanks for letting us know @Jimmy_D_Photo , and I'm glad TextEdit is working for you now!

Jane