Photo Widescreen And Exif Series Imager
Photo Series Copying to Widescreen Aspect Ratio with Exif Entries

Latest Version   1.0.0

Description

The app is an ideal tool for creating high-quality image collections for the Internet and other presentations.

Attractive copy series in Widescreen format can be created even from photo series in classic photo formats. In this case, a cutout is freely defined for each image individually. A special feature is the option to include two description texts directly in each copy file.

In line with the objective, the four established landscape formats Fullscreen (4:3), Photography (3:2), Widescreen (16:9) and Ultrawide (21:9) are supported for photos and copies. Files of photos with other aspect ratios are not opened, and copies with other aspect ratios are not created.

Depending on the image rectangle of the photos, preset measurements are applied on the copies for up to four aspect ratios in two sizes.

In order to create copies in Widescreen format in good quality, the width of the photos must have at least 1920 (Standard) or 1152 (Reduced) pixels.

The description texts for the Exif entries are saved with additional details in a text file. So it is possible to edit the contents as often as required. And editing can also be done externally using a plain text editor.

Copies can be created directly, too, but then only with the same aspect ratio as the original and without Exif entries.

The photo files must be of file type JPG, JPEG or PNG. The copies are saved as JPG files.

The hardware minimum requirements for the app are mouse, keyboard and a display resolution of 1920x1080. The app cannot be started from an external medium. The resolution of the copies is suitable for printing only to a limited extent.

Notes for Getting Started

Only photo landscape formats named in the description will be opened: Fullscreen (4:3), Photography (3:2), Widescreen (16:9), Ultrawide (21:9).

Minimum window dimensions are specified for image display. When an actual dimension is smaller, a hint is displayed under the window bar.

If the landscape format is to be changed and/or Exif entries are to be added, the aspect ratio of all photos must be selected in the settings first for creating a details file.

Copies are saved in the folder "Series Imager" in the Pictures folder.

The app can be operated intuitively. However the full potential is best utilized with the following information.

Aspect Ratios of Photos and Copies

The four most well-known image aspect ratios of photos define four characteristic rectangles:

Fullscreen (4:3)
Photography (3:2)
Widescreen (16:9)
Ultrawide (21:9)

These aspect ratio formats are supported for processing by the app for originals and copies.

As the app is designed for the target format Widescreen, the relative width of the original is primarily used for every target format in the copy processing. Therefore the relative height of the original is reduced for cutouts, if the copies are not to be congruent with the originals.

This means e.g. that cutouts from Fullscreen photos can be created in Photography, Widescreen and Ultrawide format, but not vice versa. Or cutouts from Widescreen photos can only be created in the Ultrawide format, but not vice versa.

For creating a details file, the aspect ratio of all photos must be selected in the settings first. An applicable copy ratio can then be set.

The aspect ratio value of an image can be calculated by simply dividing its width by its height. As a reference, the value i.e. for the Widescreen format can be calculated before: 16 divided by 9 with 1.77778 as the result. The value of photos can be calculated accordingly (image width divided by image height) and assigned to a format with the same value.

All originals in a series must have the same ratio, and all copies of a series are created with the same ratio. For a series of cutouts, the position of the cutout rectangle can be defined individually for each copy before series processing.

Fixed Standard Measurements for the Copies

The copies are created with predefined measurements according to the set aspect ratio. In addition to standard measurements, it is also possible to choose a setting for reduced measurements.

The definition of the standard dimensions is based on the widespread screen setting of 1920x1080 pixels.

Information about Exif Tags

A little-known feature of JPEG files is the capability of including texts. So-called tags are used for identification. Some tags are not processed in the same way by every software. Users should therefore check on combined software use whether the Exif implementations are compatible.

With the app, useful Exif entries can optionally be written easily via text boxes or automatized. All tags are used in accordance with the established standard. Some content is also written with alternative tags.

Exif Entries with Image Descriptions

With the app, two description texts with a maximum of 500 characters each can be written in a copy. Only ASCII characters are accepted for one text, i.e. umlauts and special characters can only be used in the second text.

If the descriptions are to be bilingual, the ASCII text area can be used e.g. for the English version.

Additional Exif Entries

From the photo file, the shooting date and the file name are optionally adopted. The current date of the copy creation is also optionally included.

The names of the photographer and the image creator are written together in a tag in accordance with the Exif standard.

A further text can be entered for the copyright tag, which is then written at two positions in the image file.

The text entries mentioned in this paragraph can each contain a maximum of 100 ASCII characters.

Details File for Copying a Series

To copy a series with Exif entries and/or a new aspect ratio, the necessary processing details must be available at the start of the series processing.

They are provided by a text file (SERIMDF) whose content is collected in advance and can be edited as often as required.

The text of the file contains for each copy two description texts, the date the photo was taken, a value for the cutout adjustment and the file path of the photo file.

An details file is processed line by line. Seven lines build a segment with the mentioned information for a copy, a sequence number and a separator. All segments are therefore written completely regardless of the line content.

The text files contain a note text with information and rules for manual editing.

Settings for the Aspect Ratios

Before creating the details file, the aspect ratio of the copies must be selected in the settings after the aspect ratio of the photos has been set. As described before, the applicability of a target ratio depends on the original ratio.

The input page for adding a cutout position value is set up by using these two details.

Input Page for the Details of a Copy

For each copy, the details for the description texts and the cutout position can be entered individually. For this purpose, a sequence of individual input pages is provided until the series input is finished after the last input page.

The series input can also be finished by closing any input page. Instead of providing subsequent input pages the remaining data segments are then collected without entered data. The omitted details can be entered later by editing the file.

Cancellation of the series input without saving the text file is also possible.

Minimum Window Dimensions

In order to define a cut-out position, the photo is displayed in the copy format. Minimum window dimensions are specified to ensure this is possible without problems. When an actual dimension is smaller, a hint is displayed under the window bar.

Creating the Details File for a Series

The series input for creating the details file is started with the multi-selection of images and the subsequent provision of the first input page.

After finishing the series input, a dialog for saving the text file is displayed.

Editing a Details File Using the App

After opening a details file, the first input page is provided featuring the stored details. The editing is then continued the same way as for creating a new file.

After the series input has been finished, the original file is overwritten.

If an error occurs on reading the file, the causing text segment is not used. After the series input has been finished, a dialog for saving a new text file is then displayed for the reduced series.

If an error occurs in the line structure, processing is terminated with an error message immediately after the start.

Editing a Details File Using a Text Editor

The text file can also be edited externally with a plain text editor that has no processing functions.

Important: A word processor must not be used in any case, as it changes the file content in a way that it can no longer be used by the app.

To ensure that the contents can be processed by the app without errors, the rules stated in the note text of the file must be followed.

If a file can no longer be used without errors, it is recommended to create a second file with the same photo selection without any input for then adjust structure and contents of both files for editing an error-free version.

Input and Options of Additional Exif Tags

In addition to the description texts, further Exif contents can be written. For managing the additional Exif tags, an options page is available.

As a rule for all texts, writing the tags is only performed if the corresponding text boxes are not empty. The contents are continuously stored in the storage of the app, even if writing is deactivated. They are deleted directly by emptying the corresponding text box or completely with an explicit deletion process.

The other Exif contents are created and written according to the position of switches.

The writing of all additional Exif entries can be controlled together via a switch.

If writing of the additional Exif tags is activated, an app version notice is written by default.

Copy Size Setting

The copy size type must be set before series processing for copying is started.

Copying of Smaller Photos

The copy of a smaller photo has lower quality because the source is virtually stretched. To avoid this, the copying of the series is to be terminated.

For copying despite the quality loss, the termination can be blocked via a setting.

Copying with Details

Series processing is started when a details file is opened.

If a line is erroneous, the text segment responsible cannot be used to create a copy. The start of processing the therefore reduced series must then be confirmed in a dialog.

If there is an error in the line structure of the file, processing is terminated with an error message after starting.

Copying without Details

If the aspect ratio is not to be changed and no Exif entries are to be written, the copying process for a series of selected photo files is started directly after a multi-file selection. As the image rectangles are congruent, both ratios are set automatically.

Storage Location of the Created Copies

For storing the folder "Series Imager" is created in the Pictures folder on the first store processing. Each file series of created copies is automatically saved there in a newly created subfolder named by a combination of a timestamp and the name of the applied size type.

Error Management of the App

The app is equipped with a comprehensive error management that reliably messages processing errors related to the image material, the file system and the details file with meaningful notices.

Support for the App

Please contact me for support if errors occur that you cannot comprehend and therefore not resolve.

Security of Your Photo Files

The app has merely read-only access on your image files. Processing only takes place on your device.

Security of Your Data

By selecting the storage location, you control access to the content of the details file. The app uses the file contents exclusively for the specified processing purposes.

The entries stored in a local cache of the app are used exclusively for the described processing purposes and can be deleted at any time, e.g. after each use of the app. Removing the local cache is part of uninstalling the app.

Be aware when using the copies on the Internet that the Exif entries are not “hidden” content, but that search engines can be utilized specifically for scanning them.

File managers can also be used to search for the content of Exif tags.

Elevated Access

Even administrators cannot access all files with the access permissions of their login. Access can be elevated e.g. by launching apps in the Start menu via “Run as administrator”.

Elevated access cannot be applied by the app and is not permitted at startup. Start the app therefore always directly by clicking on an icon.