[NR] Rotation problem with CR2

[Mees Dekker]

Since a couple of days I'm experiencing a "rotation problem" with CR2 files on my desktop (W11). Portrait files are displayed as landscape. I first noticed this after installing W11 version 2022H2 and it is only occurring with files ingested after that date.
 
However: when I port the database to my travelling laptop (W10)  through P&G, this problem is somewhat gone. Somewhat means: in the File Window the thumbnails are landscape (incorrect), but when I view them in de Viewer, they are presented in the correct way, but in the film strip the thumbnail is still landscape. A forced rescan of these files corrects the problem. Also: when I ingest files directly into the database on my laptop everything is OK.
 
However: when I port the database back to my desktop, the problem is back, even with the files that were directly ingested on my laptop. But now: in the viewer the thumbnail in the filmstrip is portrait(correct) but the full file is once again shown in landscape.
 
When files are opened in PS (ACR) all works fine. After processing by ACR and PS and saving as jpg: these are displayed in the correct way, the original CR2 files still are displayed incorrectly.
 
WIC diagnosis is attached and suggests all is well (which is clearly not the case). Does anybody have this problem too and if so; is there a solution?

[Mario]

Sounds like Microsoft has messed up something in the CR2 WIC codec in that update?
You did not install a new IMatch version, it works on the other PC etc. Nothing I can do, this is Microsoft's responsibility.

That the incorrectly rotated previews (thumbnails) not correct themselves when you move the database to the other PC is normal. You have to do a forced rescan to re-create them with the WIC codec on that system.

Do you also experience this problem when you switch IMatch to use LibRaw (Edit > Preferences > Application > prefer photools.com RAW processing)?  Check that the "Rotate embedded preview" is set to "No".

You need to force-rescan a file to see the effect of that change.

I've made a few checks here on the latest Windows 11 22H2 with CR2/CR3/CRW files from different Canon models, but I don't see this problem. Maybe send me one of the files causing the issue on your PC for checking?

[Mees Dekker]

Thanks for the swift reply, as always very helpful.

Changing to LibRaw did the trick. I'll send (WeTransfer) a couple of pictures that had orientation problems. Hope you can find something conclusive.

[Mario]

Even if I see the problem here with your files using the official Windows WIC codec, there is nothing I can do.
I don't know which support channel Microsoft has for such a problem. We can only hope that they fix this in a future Windows version.

Since Canon does not longer provide their own WIC codec to their paying customers, owners of Canon cameras have to rely on Microsoft, 3rd party software or volunteer projects like LibRaw in order to view their files.

WIC is supposed to deal with all this, but if camera vendors don't offer a WIC codec, things cannot work.

[Mario]

Hi, Mees

thanks for sending the two images.

Both files show with the correct orientation on my system. The tree is straight up.
Thumbnail, Quick View Panel, Viewer all show the image correctly oriented.

The files report EXIF orientation as "Rotate 270 CW" and WIC returns that orientation to IMatch, which then rotates the image before producing the thumbnail / cache image.

The embedded preview is full-size so it is used by IMatch.
I forced IMatch to use the full RAW instead of the preview, for testing
This produces a slightly different look (as expected) but the orientation is also correct.

I see no problem with these files.
Maybe make sure all Windows updates are installed, reboot once and then force an update of the files showing the wrong orientation?

[Mees Dekker]

Something must be wrong on my side, apparently. I made sure that all the latest updates are installed, rebooted but nevertheless: nothing changed.

So I will keep using LibRaw.

Thanks for the effort you put into this.

[Menace]

BTW: Same problem here. I use IMatch: Rotation -> Bildausrichtung (exif) -> Normal

After this, the thumbnails are shown in the right way again. 

[Mees Dekker]

I've been there. 

When I try to do that, I get a warning this action only works on jpg files. 

[JohnZeman]

Mees I have never understood that warning but sometimes I get it too with older CR2s and CR3 files.

However you can still rotate those raw files, just enter the orientation text in the orientation tags (Horizontal (normal), Rotate 90, Rotate 180, or Rotate 270).

When I do that my raw processor (PhotoLab) detects the change and rotates the images accordingly.

[Mario]

Mees I have never understood that warning but sometimes I get it too with older CR2s and CR3 files.

I have disabled this a year or so ago (?) because some users reported damaged/unreadable files after this tag was written by ExifTool for CR2 files... 

Better safe than sorry and all that.
Wrong orientation is usually not a problem these days anymore. It was, 5 or 10 years ago.
Camera vendors have got their stuff together I think. And orientation sensors in cameras are more reliable these days.
In the rare case of problems, virtually rotating the image or manually changing the XMP orientation tag and writing back should solve this.

But I did not see any problems at all with these files on two PC's and a tablet, all running W11 2022H2 (most recent version).