Imported photos automatically have 2 star rating - how to change?

DT4.2 on Windows

My collections have photos from mixed sources. On import, the photos from my camera have no rating. The photos from my phone (Google Pixel 5) always (?) have a 2 star rating.

Where is the 2-star rating happening and how could I change it on import? Nothing jumps out at me in the global preferences. AFAIK, my DT install is using the defaults.

Here is a sample photo from my phone. Verified that copy & import applies the 2 star rating.

In lighttable view:

Top left, the import module, open the parameters section.

Change this one: initial rating

Also see here:

https://darktable-org.github.io/dtdocs/en/module-reference/utility-modules/lighttable/import/

1 Like

Yes, Initial rating is set to 2.

What would be unique about images from my Sony camera that imported images are un-rated and not following this initial rating setting? Doesn’t matter JPG only or JPG+ARW. Bug? Override somewhere else?

You need to check the metadata of the google pixel file. Does it have a rating? How are you getting the images from the phone to the PC? Exiftool would be my choice to check.

There seems to be an open issue with the rating system with setting an initial rating:

I just checked and setting an initial rating is ignored on my Z6ii.

As a side note: You should be able to override what the camera might set as a rating using the ignore EXIF rating setting and thus apply what is set byt the initial rating.


EDIT: This is true for both stable 4.2.0 and the latest development (4.3.0+275~g2d51f435b)

Using Windows Explorer, copy from the device to the target “final” folder. Re-import to sync new images in the folder to the DT collection.

Phone original sample is above. Camera original sample is in play raw

I dont agree that we should ignore the xmp.rating. I understand the exif.rating, but users with dng files will get in trouble if they forget about ignoring the xmp, mainly because dng contain the sidecar within the file.

It is an option you, the user, can set, or not. Nothing is forced atm.

The jpeg file you posted was modified by RawTherapee. Do you have sidecars with this file in your folder?

No.
For giggles, I copied the Pixel original and a Sony pair original to a new folder. Add to Library on the new folder (i.e. create a new film roll). The Pixel gets 2 stars, both the Sony ARW and JPG are un-rated.

No. The phone sample was straight from the phone.

I have a version of exiftool, this is what I get from the phone (2 stars on import). I don’t see anything about RT.

ExifTool Version Number         : 12.39
File Name                       : PXL_20230121_153302548.jpg
Directory                       : C:/Users/User/Desktop
File Size                       : 2.9 MiB
Zone Identifier                 : Exists
File Modification Date/Time     : 2023:01:21 13:28:46-05:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2023:01:21 13:37:58-05:00
File Creation Date/Time         : 2023:01:21 13:28:40-05:00
File Permissions                : -rw-rw-rw-
File Type                       : JPEG
File Type Extension             : jpg
MIME Type                       : image/jpeg
JFIF Version                    : 1.02
Exif Byte Order                 : Little-endian (Intel, II)
Make                            : Google
Camera Model Name               : Pixel 5
Orientation                     : Horizontal (normal)
X Resolution                    : 72
Y Resolution                    : 72
Resolution Unit                 : inches
Software                        : HDR+ 1.0.494820669zd
Modify Date                     : 2023:01:21 10:33:02
Y Cb Cr Positioning             : Centered
Exposure Time                   : 1/55
F Number                        : 1.7
Exposure Program                : Program AE
ISO                             : 60
Exif Version                    : 0232
Date/Time Original              : 2023:01:21 10:33:02
Create Date                     : 2023:01:21 10:33:02
Offset Time                     : -05:00
Offset Time Original            : -05:00
Offset Time Digitized           : -05:00
Components Configuration        : Y, Cb, Cr, -
Shutter Speed Value             : 1/55
Aperture Value                  : 1.7
Brightness Value                : 3.1
Exposure Compensation           : 0
Max Aperture Value              : 1.7
Subject Distance                : 4294967295 m
Metering Mode                   : Center-weighted average
Flash                           : Off, Did not fire
Focal Length                    : 4.4 mm
Sub Sec Time                    : 548
Sub Sec Time Original           : 548
Sub Sec Time Digitized          : 548
Flashpix Version                : 0100
Color Space                     : sRGB
Exif Image Width                : 4032
Exif Image Height               : 3024
Interoperability Index          : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version        : 0100
Sensing Method                  : One-chip color area
Scene Type                      : Directly photographed
Custom Rendered                 : Custom
Exposure Mode                   : Auto
White Balance                   : Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio              : 2
Focal Length In 35mm Format     : 27 mm
Scene Capture Type              : Standard
Contrast                        : Normal
Saturation                      : Normal
Sharpness                       : Normal
Subject Distance Range          : Distant
Lens Make                       : Google
Lens Model                      : Pixel 5 back camera 4.38mm f/1.73
Composite Image                 : Composite Image Captured While Shooting
GPS Img Direction Ref           : Magnetic North
GPS Img Direction               : 101
Compression                     : JPEG (old-style)
Thumbnail Offset                : 1174
Thumbnail Length                : 37522
XMP Toolkit                     : Adobe XMP Core 5.1.0-jc003
Has Extended XMP                : 40E8E283B234558C890F1CF9D97B48DB
Profile CMM Type                : 
Profile Version                 : 4.0.0
Profile Class                   : Display Device Profile
Color Space Data                : RGB
Profile Connection Space        : XYZ
Profile Date Time               : 2016:12:08 09:38:28
Profile File Signature          : acsp
Primary Platform                : Unknown ()
CMM Flags                       : Not Embedded, Independent
Device Manufacturer             : Google
Device Model                    : 
Device Attributes               : Reflective, Glossy, Positive, Color
Rendering Intent                : Perceptual
Connection Space Illuminant     : 0.9642 1 0.82491
Profile Creator                 : Google
Profile ID                      : 75e1a6b13c34376310c8ab660632a28a
Profile Description             : sRGB IEC61966-2.1
Profile Copyright               : Copyright (c) 2016 Google Inc.
Media White Point               : 0.95045 1 1.08905
Media Black Point               : 0 0 0
Red Matrix Column               : 0.43604 0.22249 0.01392
Green Matrix Column             : 0.38512 0.7169 0.09706
Blue Matrix Column              : 0.14305 0.06061 0.71391
Red Tone Reproduction Curve     : (Binary data 32 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Chromatic Adaptation            : 1.04788 0.02292 -0.05019 0.02959 0.99048 -0.01704 -0.00922 0.01508 0.75168
Blue Tone Reproduction Curve    : (Binary data 32 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Green Tone Reproduction Curve   : (Binary data 32 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Image Width                     : 4032
Image Height                    : 3024
Encoding Process                : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample                 : 8
Color Components                : 3
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling            : YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2)
HDRP Maker Note                 : (Binary data 48015 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Shot log data                   : 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
Aperture                        : 1.7
Image Size                      : 4032x3024
Megapixels                      : 12.2
Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 6.2
Shutter Speed                   : 1/55
Create Date                     : 2023:01:21 10:33:02.548-05:00
Date/Time Original              : 2023:01:21 10:33:02.548-05:00
Modify Date                     : 2023:01:21 10:33:02.548-05:00
Thumbnail Image                 : (Binary data 37522 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Circle Of Confusion             : 0.005 mm
Depth Of Field                  : inf (2.28 m - inf)
Field Of View                   : 67.4 deg
Focal Length                    : 4.4 mm (35 mm equivalent: 27.0 mm)
Hyperfocal Distance             : 2.28 m
Light Value                     : 8.1
Lens ID                         : Pixel 5 back camera 4.38mm f/1.73

Here’s what I get from my camera (un-rated):

ExifTool Version Number         : 12.39
File Name                       : DSC08862.JPG
Directory                       : C:/Users/User/Desktop/dummy
File Size                       : 6.9 MiB
File Modification Date/Time     : 2022:11:27 12:44:24-05:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2023:01:21 14:10:51-05:00
File Creation Date/Time         : 2023:01:21 13:40:36-05:00
File Permissions                : -rw-rw-rw-
File Type                       : JPEG
File Type Extension             : jpg
MIME Type                       : image/jpeg
Exif Byte Order                 : Little-endian (Intel, II)
Image Description               : 
Make                            : SONY
Camera Model Name               : ILCE-6400
Orientation                     : Horizontal (normal)
X Resolution                    : 350
Y Resolution                    : 350
Resolution Unit                 : inches
Software                        : ILCE-6400 v2.00
Modify Date                     : 2022:10:09 10:09:36
Y Cb Cr Positioning             : Co-sited
Exposure Time                   : 1/320
F Number                        : 8.0
ISO                             : 100
Sensitivity Type                : Recommended Exposure Index
Recommended Exposure Index      : 100
Exif Version                    : 0231
Date/Time Original              : 2022:10:09 10:09:36
Create Date                     : 2022:10:09 10:09:36
Offset Time                     : -04:00
Offset Time Original            : -04:00
Offset Time Digitized           : -04:00
Components Configuration        : Y, Cb, Cr, -
Compressed Bits Per Pixel       : 2
Brightness Value                : 8.3921875
Exposure Compensation           : -2
Max Aperture Value              : 5.6
Metering Mode                   : Multi-segment
Light Source                    : Unknown
Flash                           : Off, Did not fire
Focal Length                    : 98.0 mm
Brightness                      : 0
Long Exposure Noise Reduction   : Off
High ISO Noise Reduction        : Normal
HDR                             : Off; Uncorrected image
WB Shift AB GM                  : 0 0
WB Shift AB GM Precise          : 0.50 0.00
Face Info Offset                : 94
Sony Date Time                  : 2022:10:09 10:09:36
Sony Image Width                : 6000
Faces Detected                  : 0
Face Info Length                : 37
Meta Version                    : DC7303320222000
Creative Style                  : Standard
Color Temperature               : Auto
Color Compensation Filter       : 0
Scene Mode                      : Standard
Zone Matching                   : ISO Setting Used
Dynamic Range Optimizer         : Auto
Image Stabilization             : On
Color Mode                      : Standard
Full Image Size                 : 6000x4000
Preview Image Size              : 1616x1080
File Format                     : ARW 2.3.5
Flash Exposure Compensation     : 0
White Balance Fine Tune         : 0
White Balance                   : Auto
Sony Model ID                   : ILCE-6400
Multi Frame Noise Reduction     : Off
Picture Effect                  : Off
Soft Skin Effect                : Off
Vignetting Correction           : Auto
Lateral Chromatic Aberration    : Auto
Distortion Correction Setting   : Auto
Lens Type                       : E-Mount, T-Mount, Other Lens or no lens
Lens Spec                       : E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
Auto Portrait Framed            : No
Flash Action                    : Did not fire
Electronic Front Curtain Shutter: On
Focus Mode                      : AF-C
AF Area Mode Setting            : Wide
Flexible Spot Position          : 0 0
AF Point Selected               : n/a
AF Points Used                  : (none)
AF Tracking                     : Lock On AF
Focal Plane AF Points Used      : 0
Multi Frame NR Effect           : Normal
Focus Location                  : 6000 4000 2662 2400
Variable Low Pass Filter        : n/a
Priority Set In AWB             : Standard
Metering Mode 2                 : Multi-segment
Exposure Standard Adjustment    : 0
RAW File Type                   : Compressed RAW
Quality                         : RAW + Fine
Pixel Shift Info                : n/a
Flash Level                     : Normal
Release Mode                    : Normal
Sequence Number                 : Single
Anti-Blur                       : On (Shooting)
Sequence Image Number           : 1
Sequence File Number            : 1
Sequence Length                 : 1 file
Camera Orientation              : Horizontal (normal)
Quality 2                       : RAW + JPEG
Sony Image Height               : 4000
Model Release Year              : 2018
ISO Setting                     : Auto
ISO Auto Min                    : 100
ISO Auto Max                    : 12800
Ambient Temperature             : 21 C
AF Area Mode                    : Tracking
Focus Position 2                : 143
Exposure Program                : Aperture-priority AE
Intelligent Auto                : Off
Sony ISO                        : 100
Base ISO                        : 100
Stops Above Base ISO            : 0
Sony Exposure Time 2            : 1/330
Sony Max Aperture Value         : 5.4
Sony Image Width Max            : 6024
Sony Image Height Max           : 4024
Picture Effect 2                : Off
Distortion Correction           : Applied
Distortion Corr Params          : 0 2 14 34 62 98 144 196 258 328 408 0 0 0 0 0
Lens Zoom Position              : 33%
Vignetting Corr Params          : 0 0 32 128 256 416 576 672 1024 1888 3520 0 0 0 0 0
Chromatic Aberration Corr Params: -246 -328 -390 -426 -444 -436 -408 -342 -260 -166 -78 0 0 0 0 0 696 884 1016 1088 1100 1052 948 760 556 372 256 0 0 0 0 0
Battery Temperature             : 31.7 C
Battery Level                   : 82%
Lens Mount 2                    : E-mount
Lens Type 3                     : Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
Camera E-mount Version          : 1.80
Lens E-mount Version            : 1.35
Lens Firmware Version           : Ver.02.006
Release Mode 3                  : Normal
Self Timer                      : Off
Flash Mode                      : Flash Off
HDR Setting                     : Off
Picture Profile                 : Gamma Still - Standard/Neutral (PP2)
WB RGB Levels                   : 638 256 469
Min Focal Length                : 55.0 mm
Max Focal Length                : 210.0 mm
Distortion Corr Params Number   : 11 (APS-C)
Shutter                         : Silent / Electronic (0 0 0)
Flash Status                    : Built-in Flash present
Shutter Count                   : 6431
Sony Exposure Time              : 1/330
Sony F Number                   : 8.0
Shutter Count 2                 : 6431
Release Mode 2                  : Normal
Internal Serial Number          : 07000000810c
Lens Mount                      : E-mount
Lens Format                     : APS-C
Lens Type 2                     : Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
Distortion Corr Params Present  : Yes
Lens Spec Features              : E OSS
Shutter Count 3                 : 6431
User Comment                    : 
Flashpix Version                : 0100
Color Space                     : sRGB
Exif Image Width                : 6000
Exif Image Height               : 4000
Interoperability Index          : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version        : 0100
File Source                     : Digital Camera
Scene Type                      : Directly photographed
Custom Rendered                 : Normal
Exposure Mode                   : Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio              : 1
Focal Length In 35mm Format     : 147 mm
Scene Capture Type              : Standard
Contrast                        : Normal
Saturation                      : Normal
Sharpness                       : Normal
Lens Info                       : 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3
Lens Model                      : E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
GPS Version ID                  : 2.3.0.0
GPS Status                      : Measurement Void
GPS Map Datum                   : WGS-84
GPS Differential                : No Correction
PrintIM Version                 : 0300
Compression                     : JPEG (old-style)
Thumbnail Offset                : 39160
Thumbnail Length                : 8082
Rating                          : 0
MPF Version                     : 0100
Number Of Images                : 2
MP Image Flags                  : Dependent child image
MP Image Format                 : JPEG
MP Image Type                   : Large Thumbnail (full HD equivalent)
MP Image Length                 : 465523
MP Image Start                  : 6752768
Dependent Image 1 Entry Number  : 0
Dependent Image 2 Entry Number  : 0
Image Width                     : 6000
Image Height                    : 4000
Encoding Process                : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample                 : 8
Color Components                : 3
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling            : YCbCr4:2:2 (2 1)
Aperture                        : 8.0
Blue Balance                    : 1.832031
Image Size                      : 6000x4000
Lens ID                         : Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
Megapixels                      : 24.0
Red Balance                     : 2.492188
Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 1.5
Shutter Speed                   : 1/320
Create Date                     : 2022:10:09 10:09:36-04:00
Date/Time Original              : 2022:10:09 10:09:36-04:00
Modify Date                     : 2022:10:09 10:09:36-04:00
Thumbnail Image                 : (Binary data 8082 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Preview Image                   : (Binary data 465523 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Focus Distance 2                : 2.40 m
Circle Of Confusion             : 0.020 mm
Field Of View                   : 14.0 deg
Focal Length                    : 98.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 147.0 mm)
Hyperfocal Distance             : 59.93 m
Light Value                     : 14.3

Does that apply to my case? Unless I’m missing something, I don’t see ratings in either exif output from above.

I downloaded the image again. I think the first download must be the Pixls.us compressed version and not the original. Some of the info is different, but not all.

Odd.

Not sure if it does.

I did put it out there because you mentioned that the initial ratings don’t show in certain cases, so it might be related. Something to keep in mind if you can’t get things to work as they are described in the dt docs.

I added your image to dt. I loaded to 1, per the initial settings. 4.3.0~git267.90247b8f

So we’ve narrowed it down that, based on my import settings, my pixel photos are rating “correctly”, but my sony photos are rating “wrong”. So, what’s happening?

This might be a bug.

I did and repeated a test with a small random selection of 23 RAWs from different camera brands and types and some get the rating I have set and some don’t:

After cleaning the db and xmps before importing I loaded the above all at once and also in smaller batches. I did these tests on darktable versions: 4.2.0, 4.0.1 and 4.3.0+275~g2d51f435b. Results are faulty and exactly the same for all three versions.

Interesting: Look at the first 2 images. Both Canon EOS 1200d. The CR2 is ignored the DNG is rated.

The brand and type of the camera can be seen in the thumbnails in the screenshot above (it includes your Sony ILCE-6400. I don’t have Pixel RAWs that I could include in this little test).

I think you should file a bug report (darktable issues).

I just did a quick test with my Nikon Z9. I took 6 near-identical photos. The first I keft unrated. The remaining ones I rated them in camera with 1 to 5 stars respectively.

When I imported them into darktable (I have the default set to unstarred), they came in with 0 to 5 stars respectively. So this camera at least behaves properly. (darktable 4.2)

This is not about ratings set in camera and being picked up by darktable, but ratings set by darktable that are not set when importing.

Just tested (dt 4.2 and 4.3) and the Nikon Z9 is also ignored when doing the auto rating via darktable…

So, keep setting the rating in camera for the moment, that seems to work :grin:

Do you have any terminal info during the import?

Yes, I run my darktable instances from a terminal when testing and I do not see any information that points to something being wrong when importing. And that’s for all three the versions I tested with.

Can you confirm my findings, be it with different camera brands/types?

I just downloaded a random set of raws from playraw. I used an initial star rating of 3 and only the first image was set 3. The others were not. I think this is a bug.

I was using -d all to capture any relevant information, but I dont see any warnings.