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Same image, different metadata ... hundreds of times over

CarMof
  • Edited

How can the same image have different metadata?

I'm a novice user. My images live on a HD, not in C1 and I've moved images around on the HD many times, then re-located and synched them in C1 without any problems.

This time I consolidated a series of monthly files on the HD into one file: Loon Chick > June, Loon Chick >July ... into one file called Loon Chick 2020. This was for an easier review/edit process for a specific project (choose my top 25 out of 11,000...).

I located, synchronized, etc. and for one file C1 said those files already existed and did I want to rename them. I said yes and ended up with hundreds of duplicates. Partway through deleting duplicates I noticed some looked different. On checking the metadata I was horrified to see totally different metadata between hundreds of pairs of images. 

I also notice that the photos were visually out of order (an older chick mixed in with a fluff ball); and upon further review, noted that an entire month seemed to be missing. 

I've reversed the 3,000 deleted photos back into the catalogue just to be on the safe side, and they all seem to be there on the HD but some are in the wrong order. Worse, in looking at the database on the HD, there's no longer a thumbnail to actually SEE the image.

As an example, 4642.ARW and 4642a.ARW same image with different metadata - one compressed, one uncompressed and if I Load Metadata they are both uncompressed but one has the hamburger indicating it's been edited.

Is it possible to have 'located' the wrong images? Is the catalogue corrupted and just not "seeing" the images correctly? If I load one of the pre-consolidation catalogue back-ups will I have to Locate the images all over again?

I have no idea what to do now and am nervous that more moving of images on the HD will make it worse.I'm trying not to panic. 

Re-reading this post, it sounds like nonsense so I hope it makes sense. Thank you for any assistance/direction on this. 

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Comments

3 comments

Date Votes
  • OddS.

    > Carol Moffatt: This was for an easier review/edit process for a specific project

    How would that be easier than to use one of the image organizing tools (an album for example)  in Capture One? No need to move or copy image files on disk. Spend some time on a few of the many tutorials available.

    > Carol Moffatt: How can the same image have different metadata?

    It is absolutely possible to end up with a mess, especially if files are moved/renamed behind Capture One's back, using some rename/move tool other than C1 itself.

    Move image files back to their locations before you embarked on the "smart" move. Install image files from backup if required.  Restore your catalog from backup. Create a new album and register the relevant images in it. Do not move image files on disk,work with the relevant images via that album.

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  • Permanently deleted user

    As an example, 4642.ARW and 4642a.ARW same image with different metadata ...

    My guess is that you didn't move images, you copied them.  It looks like you have two copies of an image.  Each copy can have different metadata.

    I don't know what to tell you in regards to fixing up the situation you are in.  I will reiterate OddS comment about using albums, though.  Create an album and add the images you want grouped to the album.  They don't move on disk but you can treat them as if they were all in the same folder.  Or was there some reason outside of Capture One that caused a need to physically move the images? If so move the images within capture one.   I've yet to have issues doing that (although I rarely move images).

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  • Permanently deleted user

    First, CarMof, it would make more sense to spent some time with tutorials like that one: https://youtu.be/SRh-1tUnDA4  instead of creating redundant duplicates (that's how your description appears to me). Or moving your files in finder and later try to sync them in C1 - you can move them better within C1. In theory at least. But if C1 crashes during the process of file moving, the cleaning up can cost some nerves.

    You can always try to locate images which you suspect to be doubled. Like Marco, I also thought of copies. But usually copying a file within it's folder will add the word "copy" to the filename. Another idea is, you have two cards in your Sony and set one of them to "backup", but I'm not familiar with Sony's naming conventions. So, take this only as a guess, not as a valid information.

    But reading parts of your description again I doubt that we forum users with no insight into the situation on your hard drive/s can come up with more than guesswork what might have happen. 

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