S330 (Date Stamp on Picture?)

[Kazaem]

I am considering buying this camera, but one of my main criteria is if a date stamp can be applied to the picture? Previously, I owned Sony Cybershots and this was an option that I found came in quite handy.

Please let me know if the Elph S330 has this capability. Thanks in advance.

 

[johare]

The camera can't do this directly, however you can find software which will do it for you. Take a look at either PhotoBrush or DCE at http://www.mediachance.com

I am considering buying this camera, but one of my main criteria is
if a date stamp can be applied to the picture? Previously, I owned
Sony Cybershots and this was an option that I found came in quite
handy.

Please let me know if the Elph S330 has this capability. Thanks in
advance.

 

[w3]

The camera can't do this directly, however you can find software
which will do it for you. Take a look at either PhotoBrush or DCE
at http://www.mediachance.com

Can anyone of these program do it by batch? Can you tell the program to go through every jpeg picture file in the folder or directory, find out from each EXIF file the particular DATE and TIME (variable - every pictue can have a different Date/Time) for that corresponding jpeg photo, and Date Stamp each at a user-determined location (could be the same on each photo for that whole batch) on the pictures automatically? Is that how they work?

Thanks for answers in advance.

 

[rpant]

Not many digicams do date stamping. When I was updating my Kodak DC290 (which has datestamp), this was one of my criteria. Unfortunately I soon found out that only Kodak, Sony and Casio (from memory) have this feature. So since getting my new cameras I'm now in the habit of incorporating the date into the filename. I rename most of my pics anyway so adding the date is not too much of a problem. I also think the pictures without a date stamp look more professional (for want of a better word).

Rob

 

[johare]

Why would anyone want to date stamp their originals when that information is stored in the exif information?!? I believe DCE Auto Enhance can add a date/time stamp to photos in batch mode.

Not many digicams do date stamping. When I was updating my Kodak
DC290 (which has datestamp), this was one of my criteria.
Unfortunately I soon found out that only Kodak, Sony and Casio
(from memory) have this feature. So since getting my new cameras
I'm now in the habit of incorporating the date into the filename. I
rename most of my pics anyway so adding the date is not too much of
a problem. I also think the pictures without a date stamp look more
professional (for want of a better word).

Rob

 

[Gus Stangeland]

I had been using a Kodak DC 260 for 4 years and got very fond of the ability it has of imprinting the date right on the image. So when I was looking for a new digital camera I was rather disappointed to find out that, for the most part, this feature is not available. Now that I have my G2 and read comments by people, I can kind of see where having a date stamp on your beautiful photos can be sort of "tacky".

However, I order prints and put them in photo albums (for my own enjoyment, and future generations) and I really like to have the date stamp on these prints. When you are looking at hundreds of photos, it's nice to know when they were taken. Sure, one could try to locate the CD containing the original, pop it in a computer and try to find that particular picture, but with nothing to go by, that might be pretty difficult. I seriously doubt that my kids or grandkids would ever go to that trouble, so prints without dates will lose their date identity forever.

But, thanks to the poster who recommended DCE AutoEnhance. It will add the date, taken from the EXIF data to the prints in batch mode. So I think that will do just fine for me. I will still ALWAYS save the original, so if I want prints without dates, they will be there. Thanks for helping me on this - I am finally at complete peace about this issue! This forum is a fantastic library of information!

I am considering buying this camera, but one of my main criteria is
if a date stamp can be applied to the picture? Previously, I owned
Sony Cybershots and this was an option that I found came in quite
handy.

Please let me know if the Elph S330 has this capability. Thanks in
advance.

 

[w3]

Not many digicams do date stamping. When I was updating my Kodak
DC290 (which has datestamp), this was one of my criteria.
Unfortunately I soon found out that only Kodak, Sony and Casio
(from memory) have this feature.

I think you missed Minolta - at least some Minolta digicams that I know of have this feature.

So since getting my new cameras
I'm now in the habit of incorporating the date into the filename. I
rename most of my pics anyway so adding the date is not too much of
a problem. I also think the pictures without a date stamp look more
professional (for want of a better word).

If I have the option, I wouldn't add date stamp imprints onto my originals. I would duplicate certain photo files first. Then I would do the batch imprint to the copies only in a folder or directory.

Rob

 

[w3]

Why would anyone want to date stamp their originals when that
information is stored in the exif information?!?

No, if I have the option, I wouldn't date stamp the originals. I would duplicate certain jpeg files first into a separate folder or directory. Then I would like to have the program to help take certain information (mostly date and time) stored in the EXIF tag and imprint them onto the COPIES in a batch mode.

Don't we all keep more than one set of our jpeg files (for backup if nothing else) ?

I believe DCE
Auto Enhance can add a date/time stamp to photos in batch mode.

Not many digicams do date stamping. When I was updating my Kodak
DC290 (which has datestamp), this was one of my criteria.
Unfortunately I soon found out that only Kodak, Sony and Casio
(from memory) have this feature. So since getting my new cameras
I'm now in the habit of incorporating the date into the filename. I
rename most of my pics anyway so adding the date is not too much of
a problem. I also think the pictures without a date stamp look more
professional (for want of a better word).

Rob

 

[w3]

I had been using a Kodak DC 260 for 4 years and got very fond of
the ability it has of imprinting the date right on the image. So
when I was looking for a new digital camera I was rather
disappointed to find out that, for the most part, this feature is
not available.

I think at least some if not most Sony and Minolta can do that too. Someone else mentioned Casio.

Now that I have my G2 and read comments by people, I
can kind of see where having a date stamp on your beautiful photos
can be sort of "tacky".

Most people make backups and therefore have two sets. When you have the option, you don't have to Imprint Date Stamp on the ORIGINALS, particularly when the originals are artistic photos. Do them in a batch mode on COPIES only. That would solve the "problem" and have the best of both worlds.

However, I order prints and put them in photo albums (for my own
enjoyment, and future generations) and I really like to have the
date stamp on these prints.

Agree, particularly on some snap shots, family photos, reunion photos, event photos, .... etc. It will be very nice to have Date/Time stamps on at least some them.

When you are looking at hundreds of
photos, it's nice to know when they were taken. Sure, one could try
to locate the CD containing the original, pop it in a computer and
try to find that particular picture, but with nothing to go by,
that might be pretty difficult. I seriously doubt that my kids or
grandkids would ever go to that trouble, so prints without dates
will lose their date identity forever.

Agree. Some jpeg files might get modified and lost the EXIF tag info too.

But, thanks to the poster who recommended DCE AutoEnhance. It will
add the date, taken from the EXIF data to the prints in batch mode.

Have you checked and verified that? Have you tried it yet?

Thank you very much for the info. And thanks to johar too.

So I think that will do just fine for me. I will still ALWAYS save
the original, so if I want prints without dates, they will be
there. Thanks for helping me on this - I am finally at complete
peace about this issue! This forum is a fantastic library of
information!

Agree. Please let us know if you have actually done the batch imprint (of variable dates and times) on COPIES and very briefly describe the process (easy? not too many steps?) if you can. Many thanks.

I am considering buying this camera, but one of my main criteria is
if a date stamp can be applied to the picture? Previously, I owned
Sony Cybershots and this was an option that I found came in quite
handy.

Please let me know if the Elph S330 has this capability. Thanks in
advance.

 

[Gus Stangeland]

Agree. Please let us know if you have actually done the batch
imprint (of variable dates and times) on COPIES and very briefly
describe the process (easy? not too many steps?) if you can. Many
thanks.

Yes, I will go through the process and let you know how it worked and describe the steps. I am planning on printing several hundred of the over 2,000 photos I took at the parks in UT & AZ and it takes a LOT of time just to look at all the photos and select the ones I want to print. That's my punishment for taking so many. ha!

 

[w3]

Agree. Please let us know if you have actually done the batch
imprint (of variable dates and times) on COPIES and very briefly
describe the process (easy? not too many steps?) if you can. Many
thanks.

Yes, I will go through the process and let you know how it worked
and describe the steps.

Many thanks in advance.

I am planning on printing several hundred
of the over 2,000 photos I took at the parks in UT & AZ and it
takes a LOT of time just to look at all the photos and select the
ones I want to print. That's my punishment for taking so many. ha!

Are you actually going to physically PRINT some of those photos with "imprinted" Date and Time Stamps?

By "Imprint", I only meant to have the Date and Time stamp show up at a corner of the picture face (instead of hidden somewhere on the EXIF tag). I may still only burn these EVENT photos with "Imprinted" Date and Time stamps on CDs, view them on computer screens or thru certain DVD players on TV screens. I want to able to see the Date Stamps. I may not print them at all.

 

[Gus Stangeland]

Are you actually going to physically PRINT some of those photos
with "imprinted" Date and Time Stamps?

Yes, keep in mind I NEVER edit the originals. But I am going to select a set of photos out of all I took and COPY them to another folder. Then I plan to use DCE AutoEnhance to add the date to the lower right corner of the image. I will also look into using the other features of this program, gamma, contrast, sharpness, etc. to hopefully make a good printable image. I will use this program in BATCH mode, processing several hundred photos at once. This is why I am interested in this program. There is NO WAY I have the time to individually post-process each photo. I know a lot of people use Photoshop and do exactly that. I would do that too for some 8 by 10s or poster size or just some really special prints. But for about 200 standard 4 by 6 prints (from an on-line print facility) I just don't have the time. As I explained earlier, I want the photos that I put into an album to have the date stamp. (By the way, I do NOT rename any of my photos because I want to directly be able to find the original image plus I use an on-line service that prints the file number on the back of the prints.)

But, again, keep in mind, I still have the originals and for auto-play CDs or Video CDs, slide shows, whatever, I don't need to use the ones with the date stamp. To me, this is the best of all worlds. But, this is just my personal preference.

 

[w3]

Are you actually going to physically PRINT some of those photos
with "imprinted" Date and Time Stamps?

Yes, keep in mind I NEVER edit the originals. But I am going to
select a set of photos out of all I took and COPY them to another
folder. Then I plan to use DCE AutoEnhance to add the date to the
lower right corner of the image. I will also look into using the
other features of this program, gamma, contrast, sharpness, etc. to
hopefully make a good printable image. I will use this program in
BATCH mode, processing several hundred photos at once. This is why
I am interested in this program. There is NO WAY I have the time to
individually post-process each photo. I know a lot of people use
Photoshop and do exactly that. I would do that too for some 8 by
10s or poster size or just some really special prints. But for
about 200 standard 4 by 6 prints (from an on-line print facility) I
just don't have the time. As I explained earlier, I want the photos
that I put into an album to have the date stamp. (By the way, I do
NOT rename any of my photos because I want to directly be able to
find the original image plus I use an on-line service that prints
the file number on the back of the prints.)
But, again, keep in mind, I still have the originals and for
auto-play CDs or Video CDs, slide shows, whatever, I don't need to
use the ones with the date stamp. To me, this is the best of all
worlds. But, this is just my personal preference.

Whatever suits you best. I think it is fine.

But for my own interest, I just want to make sure the Date Stamp "imprints" will not just work on actual hard copy printouts, but will also work on image copies themselve that may not get printed. I want to be able to see those images with the stamps at the corner of the face of the picture, while just viewing them electronically (on computer screen, ... etc.) Thanks again.

 

[Gus Stangeland]

But for my own interest, I just want to make sure the Date Stamp
"imprints" will not just work on actual hard copy printouts, but
will also work on image copies themselve that may not get printed.
I want to be able to see those images with the stamps at the corner
of the face of the picture, while just viewing them electronically
(on computer screen, ... etc.) Thanks again.

Yes, this is exactly what I expect this program will do. Like I said, I am making copies of the photos I want "imprinted" with the date stamp, and I will batch process these photos. When the batch process is complete I will have a folder of images with date stamp imprinted. Then I can print, view on my computer screen, show in a slide show or whatever, and the date will show up on the location selected. If this program does NOT do this, this I have been thoroughly misled.

As compared to Qimage, for example, you can (with some difficulty) tell it to print the date on the photo when you print on your own printer. It does NOT modify your image, just applies the date as you print. I think it may also allow you to save the image as a new file, with the date on it. But, I think this is only one image at a time, not batch processing. Plus the steps required to add the date are rather complex AND if you take a G2 photo at 1.333 to 1 and print an 8 x 10 print (1.25 to 1), it actually CHOPS OFF part of the date that you worked so hard to put on the print. Plus there are no options for transparent background, distance from edge, etc. So I have BIG hopes for AutoEnhance - I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[w3]

But for my own interest, I just want to make sure the Date Stamp
"imprints" will not just work on actual hard copy printouts, but
will also work on image copies themselve that may not get printed.
I want to be able to see those images with the stamps at the corner
of the face of the picture, while just viewing them electronically
(on computer screen, ... etc.) Thanks again.

Yes, this is exactly what I expect this program will do. Like I
said, I am making copies of the photos I want "imprinted" with the
date stamp, and I will batch process these photos. When the batch
process is complete I will have a folder of images with date stamp
imprinted. Then I can print, view on my computer screen, show in a
slide show or whatever, and the date will show up on the location
selected. If this program does NOT do this, this I have been
thoroughly misled.

So, does the program do just that? How do you like the program?

Please inform, as I and some others will very much appreciate the information.

As compared to Qimage, for example, you can (with some difficulty)
tell it to print the date on the photo when you print on your own
printer. It does NOT modify your image, just applies the date as
you print. I think it may also allow you to save the image as a new
file, with the date on it. But, I think this is only one image at a
time, not batch processing. Plus the steps required to add the date
are rather complex AND if you take a G2 photo at 1.333 to 1 and
print an 8 x 10 print (1.25 to 1), it actually CHOPS OFF part of
the date that you worked so hard to put on the print. Plus there
are no options for transparent background, distance from edge, etc.
So I have BIG hopes for AutoEnhance - I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Gus Stangeland]

So, does the program do just that? How do you like the program?

Please inform, as I and some others will very much appreciate the
information.

Yes, DCE AutoEnchance works just like I wanted it to. It grabs the date from the EXIF data and places it on the photo in the lower right corner. You can specify the font face, size, color, degree of transparency, distance from bottom and distance from right side. You have to keep in mind that if you leave the photos as 1.0 to 1.333 aspect ratio (G2) and order 4x6 prints (1.0 to 1.5 aspect ratio), that 1/2" is going to be cut off from the top and bottom. So you have to make sure that you place the date high enough away from the bottom so it does not get chopped off. But if you crop your photos first, then you would not have this problem.

I posted a report on another thread where I displayed a copy of one of the prints. Let me see if I can find it, ok, here it is. You may have to scroll down and to the right to see the date. This is what I sent to the on-line print service so you can see the date is high enough from the bottom so it will still be there after the crop.



Bottom line, DCE AutoEnchance works great!

But wait, there's more! If you want to print your own photos on your own printer, then the new, free, Canon program, Easy PhotoPrint works great for adding the date on your print. It is extremely easy, just hit the "Date" button and it will add the date on the print. I really like this program for printing Canon G2 photos on a Canon S9000 printer using Canon ink and Canon PPP paper. The results are fabulous!

 

[w3]

So, does the program do just that? How do you like the program?

Please inform, as I and some others will very much appreciate the
information.

Yes, DCE AutoEnchance works just like I wanted it to. It grabs the
date from the EXIF data and places it on the photo in the lower
right corner.

I suppose if you want to grab the Tiime too in addition to just the Date, you can do that as well.

Or, if you want to do some test shots, you can imprint other EXIF data fields (shutter, aperture, focal length, .... etc) for easy comparison of various photos taken under different settings.

You can specify the font face, size, color, degree of
transparency, distance from bottom and distance from right side.
You have to keep in mind that if you leave the photos as 1.0 to
1.333 aspect ratio (G2) and order 4x6 prints (1.0 to 1.5 aspect
ratio), that 1/2" is going to be cut off from the top and bottom.
So you have to make sure that you place the date high enough away
from the bottom so it does not get chopped off. But if you crop
your photos first, then you would not have this problem.

Bottom line, DCE AutoEnchance works great!

AND BEST OF ALL, YOU CAN DO IT IN BATCH MODE QUICKLY FOR ALL PHOTOS IN A DIRECTORY (FOLDER), RIGHT?

For certain photos which I like to have date and time (or other EXIF data field values) imprinted, I would put those in a directory (folder) and duplicate it first. I will then do the batch imprint on only one directory. That way, I always have the original photos wtihout any imprints.

Thank you very much for the valuable information. I certainly appreciate that and I think many others do too.