How Best to copy Metadata and Category assignments to scanned Images

[kiwilink]

I scanned a few hundred pictures and slides with an older scanner years ago.  I am now using a newer scanner to rescan those images.  Years ago I used IMATCH to create the approximate date of the when those pictues were taken.  I also used IMATCH to add Categories, keywords, and detect faces.

Now, I am rescanning some of them with a new scanner.  I want to copy the  {File.MD.Exif::Main\36868\CreateDate\0}, the assigned categories, keywords, etc. from the old scanned image to the new ones so I don't have to manually recreate all the data. 

So, here is my question.  Do I go to the Metadata panel 1st and copy all the metadata (holding down the ALT key, choosing check all) and then pasting to the new scanned Image?  I then need to go to Edit and then  (Paste Attributes and Data) so I get my categories and collections.

or..

Do I just skip the copy and paste step in the Metadata panel?

I want to use the best workflow but I'm not sure what steps I should do and in what order.  I'm also assuming I will have to rescan the faces.

Appreciate any help on this workflow process.  Thank you!

Kiwilink 

[Mario]

The Metadata Panel cannot copy categories (unless you mean @Keywords).

Have you considered making the old files masters and the new files versions?
Then you can just propagate the metadata and categories you need from the masters to the versions once, and then maybe delete the old versions.

Copying metadata and categories manually file-by-file for a few hundred files is a lot of work. Using a simple version setup can do that automatically for you.

Note: Before you copy "native" tags like "Exif::Main\36868\CreateDate", have a lot at "Create Date" and "Date Subject Created" for the old files. If they contain the correct timestamps, propagate them. Because propagating the "official" time stamps also propagates other tags which are implicitly linked to these tags, in EXIF and legacy IPTC.

[kiwilink]

Mario:

Thank you!  I will try the "Versions" and see if that is easier.  I haven't used them but will read up on the process.  Thanks!

[Mario]

The easiest setup would probably be

Old folder with the old images  <= contains the masters
 |- New folder with the new images <= contains the versions

Setup a rule that 
- finds all images in the "Old" folder
- looks for versions one folder level below the master folder
- propagates categories and whatever metadata you need (XMP only preferred!)

The trick is to use file names which makes it easy to find the versions for a given master.

There are many examples in the help.

[PandDLong]

I will soon have a similar situation whereby I had scanned many prints, but have now found the negatives and they make a much better image with better colours and sharpness.

I had thought I would need to do the copy/paste in a metadata panel but the idea of using versions and propagation is excellent.   It makes me dread less the upcoming task!

Thanks for the tip.

Michael

[Mario]

I had thought I would need to do the copy/paste in a metadata panel but the idea of using versions and propagation is excellent.  It makes me dread less the upcoming task!

Don't waste your time doing something your computer and IMatch can do for you.