tifSaveOptions not saving metadata (Keywords etc.)

[alex.furer]

Hey community, I am saving a tif vis a script using the following code and somehow the metadata is not saved with the file. I can't find any info in the reffernce PDF. Lat thing I tried adding is the "annotations". But to no avail.

Is there something I need to do outside of the script while photoshop and the file are open? Or is this normal when saving a file via script?

    //Set the TIF options
    tifSaveOptions = new TiffSaveOptions( );
    tifSaveOptions.alphaChannels = false;
    tifSaveOptions.annotations = true;
    tifSaveOptions.imageCompression = TIFFEncoding.TIFFZIP;
    tifSaveOptions.layerCompression = LayerCompression.ZIP;
    tifSaveOptions.layers = true;
    
    // Save
    activeDocument.saveAs( saveFile,tifSaveOptions, true,Extension.LOWERCASE );

Thanks & Cheers, Alex

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

That code is incomplete.

I have tested the following code on the Mac in versions 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the saved TIFF has the metadata found in the original file.

/* 
Save As TIFF with confirmation to overwrite
*/

#target photoshop

// Check for open doc - success
if (app.documents.length !== 0) {
    // Strip the file extension
    var docName = app.activeDocument.name.replace(/\.[^\.]+$/, '');
    // Offer a prompt to name the file using the original name as default (invalid characters are not considered)
    var docNameInput = prompt('Enter a filename (without extension):', docName);
    // Ensure that a filename extension if manually entered is removed
    var docNameOutput = docNameInput.replace(/\.[^\.]+$/, '');
    // Set the original doc source path
    var origPath = app.activeDocument.path.fsName;
    // Select a save location
    var docPath = Folder.selectDialog('Select a folder to save the TIFF image to...', origPath);
    // File save, path & name
    var saveFileTIFF = new File(docPath + '/' + docNameOutput + '.tif');
    // Conditional overwrite check
    if (saveFileTIFF.exists) {
        // true = 'No' as default active button
        if (!confirm("File exists, overwrite: Yes or No?", true))
            // throw alert("Script cancelled!");
            throw null;
    }

    // Call the TIFF function
    saveTIFF(saveFileTIFF);

    // TIFF function
    function saveTIFF(saveFileTIFF) {
        tiffSaveOptions = new TiffSaveOptions();
        tiffSaveOptions.embedColorProfile = true;
        // ByteOrder.MACOS or ByteOrder.IBM
        tiffSaveOptions.byteOrder = ByteOrder.IBM;
        tiffSaveOptions.transparency = true;
        tiffSaveOptions.layers = true;
        tiffSaveOptions.layerCompression = LayerCompression.ZIP;
        tiffSaveOptions.interleaveChannels = true;
        tiffSaveOptions.alphaChannels = true;
        tiffSaveOptions.annotations = true;
        tiffSaveOptions.spotColors = true;
        tiffSaveOptions.saveImagePyramid = false;
        // NONE | JPEG | TIFFLZW | TIFFZIP
        tiffSaveOptions.imageCompression = TIFFEncoding.TIFFLZW;
        app.activeDocument.saveAs(saveFileTIFF, tiffSaveOptions, true, Extension.LOWERCASE);
    }

    // Save notification
    alert('TIFF saved!');

    // Check for open doc - failure
} else {
    alert('You must have a document open!');
}

[alex.furer]

Thanks @Stephen Marsh ! 

I have to admit, this is (one) my Billy Madison moment(s). Because I create a new file in my script, it has no idea about the metadata. Sorry to have wasted your time!

For completion sake, here the full code where I save the file:

function SaveTIFF( saveFile ) {
        
    //Set the TIF options
    tifSaveOptions = new TiffSaveOptions( );
    tifSaveOptions.alphaChannels = false;
    tifSaveOptions.annotations = true;
    tifSaveOptions.imageCompression = TIFFEncoding.TIFFZIP;
    tifSaveOptions.layerCompression = LayerCompression.ZIP;
    tifSaveOptions.layers = true;
    
    // Save the file
    activeDocument.saveAs( saveFile,tifSaveOptions, true,Extension.LOWERCASE );
     
    // Close open document without saving
    activeDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES)
    
    // Open the newly created file
    app.open(saveFile);    
}

*OP now Goggling "how to copy metadata to a new file in Photoshop"

Cheers, Alex

[Stephen Marsh]

---

@alex.furer wrote:

Thanks @Stephen Marsh ! 

I have to admit, this is (one) my Billy Madison moment(s). Because I create a new file in my script, it has no idea about the metadata.

For completion 

*OP now Goggling "how to copy metadata to a new file in Photoshop"

Cheers, Alex

---

You will find it much easier to duplicate the original file (retaining metadata) then modify it as needed to make it conform to a new document, without it actually being a new blank document (changing name, removing layers, changing canvas size etc).

[alex.furer]

Thanks again! Indeed I could reduce the resolution and keep the file. But since this script is part of an action, creating a new document ensures that the size and dpi are correct for postcard printing. And pasting also gives me t he ability to invoke the move tool and place it interactively during the action.

I can sync the metadata in Lightroom easily. Copy pasting it is not doable by action and by scripting I got some hints. But Lighroom is here and done.

[Stephen Marsh]

---

@alex.furer wrote:

Thanks again! Indeed I could reduce the resolution and keep the file. But since this script is part of an action, creating a new document ensures that the size and dpi are correct for postcard printing.

---

Duplicating the source doc, resizing, removing layers etc. also ensures that the size is correct, while maintaining metadata – without introducing any extra steps or dependencies into the workflow.

But Lighroom is here and done.

It is obviously more long-winded and manual, but as long as you get the result that you are looking for I guess.