how to batch timestamp change?

[jaxun]

I posted in Downloader Pro earlier and am tinkering with a new trial version of BB Pro in an attempt to change the timestamp of a group of 300+ images. These photos were actually taken on 10-07-06, with the first shot at 16:05 (4:05 pm), but the internal time of the camera where these image originated was incorrectly set to August of 2005. Once the timestamp is changed on all files, I'll import thes images to a folder where 1000+ images reside that were taken at the same event, but with different cameras that had correct time and dates. I can correct the time & date info on one individual file but am trying to find a batch tool that will change all 300+ files from beginning to end while reflecting each files' hour and minute as to correctly represent the chronological order so they'll integrate perfectly with images from other cameras shooting the same event. A big thank you to whoever can lend a hand.

Michael

[DavidB]

... an attempt to change the timestamp of a group of 300+ images. These photos were actually taken on 10-07-06, with the first shot at 16:05 (4:05 pm), but the internal time of the camera where these image originated was incorrectly set to August of 2005 ... I ... am trying to find a batch tool that will change all 300+ files from beginning to end while reflecting each files' hour and minute as to correctly represent the chronological order so they'll integrate perfectly with images from other cameras shooting the same event.

Hi, it's me again ...

What you want to do is very easy in BB Pro, if (as I believe is the case) you want to change the timestamps on all the images by the same increment, and they're all in the same folder.

I'll repeat my earlier advice to work on copies until you are comfortable with the procedure.


Start by selecting all your files (Ctrl+A).
Then use the menu command Tools|Adjust image date/time. This shows only the timestamp of the image you last selected, but don't worry.
Then change the date field to the correct date for the image, and also change the time field if you need to.
You will see that the dialogue box shows the adjustment (or increment) that BB Pro will apply to all the selected images - so they will all have the 'right' timestamps.
Before you do this, check the box that makes the file timestamp match the EXIF timestamp (clearly a good idea in your case).
Then press Update Selected (not Update which applies the change only to the image that has focus).


Job done.

And you use the same basic procedure to synchronise the times on the images from the different cameras as well. In that case, the trick is to start with a 'master' set, and then synchronise each of the other sets to the master in turn.

Find images in each set that were taken simultaneously or nearly so, to work out the time difference between the two camera clocks (right click on an image in thumbnail view and select Image Properties to see its EXIF timestamp), and apply that difference to the images from the 'slave' camera. To make selection easier, you may want to keep each set in a separate folder, or, if this is not possible, temporarily rename all the files using the tokens %T_%o, so that the images are sorted by camera name.

Once you have all your images with the correct dates and times, you can then rename them again in BB Pro with whatever scheme you like.

Hope this helps.