Other Facetag Methods
This paper outlines 3 additional Methods to read the existing Nametags and move them into the XMP Metadata in the photos.
These Methods have possible problems or limitations as outlined in the notes under each method.
All these methods assume the Store Name Tags in Photo option is enabled.
To enable the option, go to top menu Tools -> Options -> Name Tags -> Store Name Tags in Photo.
1 - Update Name Tags on All or Selected Photos in a Single Folder at a Time
Method is appropriate when only a few Folders are involved.
Warning: Any pre-existing edits you have (whether it be applied edits or saved edits) will be lost and images that are processed using this method will return to their unedited original version. If you don't want to lose your edits then use another method.
On top menu click "Tools > Options > Name Tags > Store name tags in photo" should be checked
On top menu click "Tools > Options > Name Tags > Enable face detection" should be checked
On top middle of Picasa click the filter "show only photos with faces". It is the small button with a person silhouette on it.
Select the photos you want to embed the face tags into.
- To select all photos in the folder, click on one photo and type CTRL-A (hold Ctrl Key and type A).
- To select some photos, hold ctrl and click each one or draw a box around them.
Right-Click one of the selected photos and click "Revert" then Revert in the confirm dialog box).
(This makes sure there are no existing Saves because saves cause face tags to move on the saved photos.)
Double-Click one of the photos to put it in edit mode.
In edit mode, do an edit you will notice like slide the fill light slider half way up.
Go to the Edit top menu and select "Copy All Edits"
Go Back to the Library, and Reselect the same selected Photos,
Deselect the Photo edited above by Ctrl-Clicking on it.
Go to the Edit top menu and select "Paste All Effects"
Reselect the Photo edited above by Ctrl-Clicking on it again, so all photos are again selected..
Now with all the Photos selected, Right-click on a photo and select "Save".
After the save is done, Right-click on one of the selected photos and click "Revert", then In the revert dialog click Revert.
The Face data should now be embedded in the XMP tags in the Photo MetaData of the selected photos.
Notes:
Warning: Any pre-existing edits you have (whether it be applied edits or saved edits) will be lost and images that are processed using this method will return to their unedited original version. If you don't want to lose your edits then use another method.
This Procedure saves the originals of all selected photos during the procedure, then removes them later so if you do it on a large number of photos it will use twice the disk space the selected photos are using..
2 - Update Name Tags in All Photos in All Folders (Save Edits Method)
This method was developed by Lucian as an enhancement to Method 2.
Warning: Any pre-existing edits you have (whether it be applied edits or saved edits) will be lost and images that are processed using this method will return to their unedited original version. If you don't want to lose your edits then use another method.
On top menu click "Tools > Options > Name Tags > Store name tags in photo" should be checked
On top menu click "Tools > Options > Name Tags > Enable face detection" should be checked
On the top right of Picasa, to the search box type .jp
On top left select the album "search results for .jp"
On top middle of Picasa click the filter "show only photos with faces". It is the small button with a person silhouette on it.
At the bottom of Picasa to the left of the green share button click the blue folder icon > new album > and give it the name "Face tags to embed"
On top middle of Picasa click the green button "Back to view all"
/// repeat from here ///
On top left select the album "Face tags to embed", then select the first thumbnail, then hold down the shift key on your keyboard and keep the right direction key pressed until roughly 200 pictures are selected.
On top menu click "File > Revert > Revert" (Revert button will appear in the popup window)
On top menu click "picture > batch edit > black and white" (don't worry we will undo this shortly)
On top menu click "file > save > save" (second save will appear on the popup window)
On top menu click "File > Revert > Revert" (Revert button will appear in the popup window)
Press the delete key on your keyboard. select "remove images" when the pop up appears. Don't worry this will not delete your photos. All face tags are now embedded for these 200 photos.
/// repeat until here ///
At any time you wish to continue, repeat the marked steps 8 through 14 for another 200 or more photos.
Notes:
1. Warning: Any pre-existing edits you have (whether it be applied edits or saved edits) will be lost and images that are processed using this method will return to their unedited original version. If you don't want to lose your edits then use another method.
2. The original jpeg files are not edited at any time. The black and white effect exists only in Picasa and not on your jpegs before you file>save. After you file>save, the original versions are moved to a hidden folder. Therefore this method can not damage your jpeg files. If you want to watch what is going on in windows then click "start>control panel>folder options>view>show hidden files and folders" and before you select the 200 thumbnails, right click to the first thumbnail and "locate on disk". You will see the hidden folder and unedited originals.
3 - Update All Name Tags a Folder at a Time (Export Method)
This method was developed by Roblin199 with slight modifications.
In Tools/Options/Name Tags, make sure "Store name tags in photo" is checked.
In the left panel select a folder, then type CTRL-A (hold Ctrl Key and type A) to select all the photos in that folder.
From the menu select "File" then "Export Picture to Folder" and export the selected photos to a folder of your choosing; I replicated my existing folder structure just in a different parent folder. In the "Export to Folder" options panel make sure you select "Use original size" and set "Image Quality" to "Automatic". Leave "Add watermark" unchecked.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 on every folder you wish to embed nametags in.
The face rectangle, name and Tag data is embedded into the photos as they are exported.
Once you are (very) confident that everything went okay, you can replace the original photos with the exported photos (see important notes below).
Notes: Two forum members (earlboss and Rinilog) identified a few problems with this method that readers should be aware of. I’ve not tested for these issues as neither of them affects my photo collection:
When photos are exported, all edits to those photos made in Picasa are incorporated. If you have made edits, you should ensure you keep a copy of the original [earlboss].
If the originals were not JPGs (Raw for instance) the exported version will be a JPG. Again, ensure you keep a copy of the original photo before replacing with the exported version [earlboss].
If you use the blue books as a kind of thematic albums over the years, they will loose their content when you replace the "originals", and it is a hell of a job to reconstruct them [Rinilog].