Unable to retrieve modified images from Apple Photos

[Steve108]

Since upgrading to Catalina I have not been able to export modified images from Apple Photos. When an image is exported it reverts to the unedited version even though the edit is still seen on the image in Apple Photos. 

I am unable to retrieve any of the edits that I have stored in Apple Photos.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[Gabe]

Hi @Steve108,

So that we are able to investigate bugs thoroughly could you please follow this link and update this post with the followings: https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/forum/71-bug-reporting/

[Steve108]

Hi Gabe,

Thank you for the reply.

Release versions:  Affinity Photo 1.7.3.   macOS Catalina 10.15.1

The fault is reproducible

I am unable to save any new documents due to a well documented fault

The images below show a screen shot of the view in Apple Photos, this represents a tightly cropped view of the image shown on the right which was edited in Affinity Photo and then saved back to Apple Photos before the latest software updates. The view on the right is the original image. 

I would expect the view on the left by selecting the Export Photo option.

I would expect the view on the right if I selected "Export unmodified original" but then it would be a Raw file, this is a JPEG.

I have followed this process many times , it always worked before the latest versions of software were installed

 

[Gabe]

I'm sorry Steve but you've still not added the information we need. What are your steps from start to finish? Where is the screen recording of your workflow? We are aware of a similar issue which prevents you from saving back to Photos, but this does not seem to be the case here...

 

 

[Steve108]

Hi Gabe,

Thank you for the message.

This problem refers to images that I have edited in Affinity Photo and then saved back into Apple Photos.

The work flow is as follows:

Open the image in Apple Photos, select edit, then select extensions and from the drop down menu select Edit in Affinity Photo.

The image then opens in Affinity Photo and I edit it.

When I have finished the edit I select Save from the File drop down menu in Affinity Photo. When the save is complete I select Close from the File drop down menu in Affinity Photo.

I then return to the Apple Photos application where the edited image is displayed, I select Save Changes in the top right corner. The modified image is then saved. (Note: This no longer works awaiting fix from Affinity). Then select Done to close the editing session in Apple Photos.

I now have the edited image saved in Apple Photos. If I want to retrieve this I select the File menu in Apple Photos and select Export from the drop down menu. I then select Export Photo and I expect to get a jpeg of the edited image. I now get a jpeg of the original image even though the edited image is shown in Apple Photos.

This work flow has worked reliably until I upgraded to macOS Catalina and Affinity Photo 1.7.3.

Current status I can no longer access the thousands of edits that I have made in Affinity Photo over the last two years.

[Gabe]

Got it. I'm afraid the issue is with Apple Photos and not our extension. Once we save it back to Apple Photos, we have no control over what's going on after that. Exporting from Apple Photos is handled by them, not by us. I suggest you get in touch with Apple and explain what's going on. Sorry we could not help in this situation. 

[Steve108]

Hi Gabe,

Are you absolutely sure about this because it is not what Apple have told me, they clearly said that it is your responsibility to interface with their software and any problem has to be solved by Serif

[Gabe]

Affinity Photo is only an editor app does not store your photos, so we have no control over what 3rd party (Apple Photos) apps you use to organize your photos. It's the same as if you were to use any other catalogue that supports Edit in External apps - Lightroom for example. You can Edit in Affinity, make the edits, save it back to Lightroom, and at the point, it's Lightroom responsibility to deal with the export and file handling. How would you expect Affinity to export a file when that file is not even opened in our app at that point? You can even uninstall Affinity once you pressed "Done" and the change will remain within "Photos". 

If you were to attach a screen recording of your workflow, we could probably see more and advise, but you've ignored this twice now...

[mike.steingaden]

Guys, I can confirm this, git the same issue under Catalina.

[Cecil]

I for one spent considerable time working with Apple support Creative Media.  I gave permission to monitor my activity on iMac.  After the dog and pony show, Apple clearly stated that third party apps must conform to Catalina and that they provided necessary resources to do so.  

[Steve108]

Hi Cecil,

That was exactly my experience, I spent a couple of hours with Apple support, including allowing them to log into my Mac. The result was exactly as you said, it is the third party’s responsibility to conform to Catalina and that is why they provided Beta releases for the third party to ensure that they had compatibility when it was released.