Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

I've been sharpening a number of photos using QU123 and then QU124.  I'm getting the following message:  "Tag may contain only ASCII string data".  The program quits processing the images and I have to cancel the process.

An interesting quirk happened a couple of days ago when I updated to QU124.  On that day all the images were processed.  However, since then the program gets hung up on the first image.

I uninstalled the program, rebooted the computer, and reloaded QU.  The problem continues. 

First, I don't understand the message.
Second, I don't know what to do.
Third, I have a few hundred more photographs to sharpen.
Please provide guidance.  Thanks

Can you tell us where the JPGs were created?
Also would be very helpful if you could email one to me.
wathree.ssz@verizon.net

Fred

Fred,

These files are TIF files because I make pp adjustments.  The originals were jpgs or RAW processed by QU.
They were made in PS Elements 9.

An image is on the way.

Thanks,

Vlady

Nothing here yet.
The email address is tricky... wathree.ssz@verizon.net.
Max size is about 24 megs.
If you exceed that, we will need YOUSENDIT

By the way, I have included an attachment which shows the correct settings to make/save a TIF
If yours were set differently, try a re save.
Fred

Fred,

Saving may be one of the problems.  Many of the photos were taken in raw, when processed they were saved as   JPGs.  When pp'd in PSE9 they were saved in TIF format and I noticed that some were being saved inwith LZW compression.  At first I changed some to None, but stopped doing so.

Thanks

Vlady

Still no email with a photo from you.
What happens if you convert one back to a JPG?

Fred

Unless you aren't quoting the error message properly, that message did not come from Qimage Ultimate: it has no such error message.  In fact, the text "contain only" does not exist anywhere in Qimage Ultimate.  Maybe you are getting that message from some other utility you've installed?

Mike

Mike,

I was finally able to duplicate the error.  I was using the batch option to sharpen 52 images.  The first one went through and then it stopped on the second image.  Here is a screen shot:

Can't do anything without the image that is causing this.  Please post or email me the image that causes the error.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

One of the errant photo files has been sent.
Also, sent a copy to Fred, since he provided me with some ideas.

I tried to convert the TIF to JPG using QU, but had the same error.
I the used FastStone to create JPGs.  No problem.
Went back to QU to sharpen the JPGs.  Again no problem.

vs

Vlady,
Thanks for sharing that file.
Of course, we have to wait for Mike to dissect the header and give the definitive report, but I AM GUESSING:
I tried the image in Irfanview and Faststone. Both strip the embedded Adobe profile in the course of either creating a TIF or a JPG.
QU will make the JPG with no error message if you select JP2, that obsolete (lossless) format. I am guessing the problem is in the header.

Faststone doesn't strip the EXIF but it does change the ADOBE colorspace to sRGB. That TIF will work.
Logic says, the problem is in the ADOBE RGB that the original program that created the TIF used.

The other programs are using workaround logic, and dumps the bad profile to avoid the problem, and Qimage tries to maintain the integrity of the Header information and carry it forward.
I'll bet the header is corrupt.

Ok enuff of my guessing!
Wait for Mike. I hope he finds some time between his hunting for, and finding Easter eggs.

Happy Holiday to all.
Fred

PS I just tried one more test. I took your TIF, and Created a COPY TIF in CS5, and unchecked the box that retained the Adobe Profile.
Got a NEW CS5 TIF with No problem creating a jpg in Qimage.
There's a crapped up embedded profile saved by an Adobe program which only Adobe can handle and keep *that* Adobe colorspace.
I just converted it back to Adobe colorspace using a clean one, and all is well again.
Fred

Thanks for the image file.  With that and the (corrected) error message text, I was able to find the problem.  You have corrupted EXIF data which basically amounts to one of your EXIF string fields containing non-text (binary) data.  So some software you are using is creating corrupted EXIF data.  Anyway, shouldn't matter any more as I've simply removed the error message so that garbage in = garbage out.  In other words, whatever gibberish exists in the EXIF fields, it'll just copy it to the converted image without caring.  Probably what it should have done to begin with but it's in a code library where this problem has never arisen before.

Hoppy Easter,
Mike

Mike and Fred,

Many thanks for your quick work and solving the problem.  I now have v2011.126 and everything works well.

However, I should add that this morning I took some flower photos with the D40 in RAW.  I downloaded and developed them using QU v2011.124.  I then did some pp using PSE9. When I tried to use QU batch sharpening, the same thing happened as earlier.  Only this time there was no cropping, etc.   So, I downloaded the latest version and did it go smoothly.

This did not happened to me using earlier versions.  So, I'm going to recheck my PSE9 settings and re-read about colorspace. 

Again,  thanks.  And yes, the Hoppy Easter Bunny did deliver some hardboiled eggs this morning and even had the audacity to photograph the flowers.

Vlady