Try reading the IPTC / EXIF data once the file is first opened, then
append your data to that original data... then when it's time to save
the file out, set the IPTC / EXIF data (original data with your new
data appended) into the picture, then save it.

Remember that if you try to save an image that is currently not a color
depth that is supported, it is automatically converted, and you lose
your metadata in the conversion process. A perfect example of this is
opening an image, applying an effect to it (which automatically
converts the image to 32-bit), then applying your metadata data to it,
then trying to save out the 32-bit image as a JPEG. 32-bit JPEG is
invalid, so it's automatically converted to 24-bit and you lose your
metadata. The workaround here is simple... convert the image to 24-
bit, then apply your metadata to the image, then save the image as a
JPEG.

Let me know if this does not work and i'll ask you for more
information, and dig deeper into this issue.

- Kevin




--- In AIL_Development@yahoogroups.com, "coreyinbend" <cbock@...> wrote:
>
> I use AIL to write IPTC metadata to photos. If a photo already has
> IPTC metadata instead of overwriting the metadata it is wiping out
> both the IPTC and EXIF data. Are there steps I should be following
> to successfully write IPTC metadata to a photo that already has
> metadata?
>