Applescript Find Duplicate Images And Delete Small Images

MIster jashon

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Sep 30, 2024

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How to Find and Delete Duplicate and Small Images with AppleScript

Working with a large photo library can be a challenge, especially when it comes to managing duplicates and low-resolution images. These files take up valuable storage space and can clutter your library. Luckily, AppleScript can help you automate this process, making it easy to find and remove these unwanted images.

Why Should I Remove Duplicate and Small Images?

Duplicate images can arise from various sources:

• Accidental copies: You might have accidentally copied an image multiple times.
• Import errors: Importing images from different sources can lead to duplicates.
• Edits and versions: Saving multiple versions of the same image can also result in duplication.

Small images can be a result of:

• Low-resolution uploads: You may have uploaded low-resolution images from social media or other platforms.
• Resized images: You might have resized images for specific purposes.
• Previews or thumbnails: These are smaller versions of larger images that might be included in your library.

How Does AppleScript Help?

AppleScript is a powerful tool for automating tasks in macOS, including image manipulation. With a few lines of code, you can create scripts that:

• Find and identify duplicates: AppleScript can compare images based on their file size, creation date, and content to detect duplicates.
• Remove duplicate images: You can use AppleScript to delete duplicate images based on your chosen criteria.
• Identify small images: AppleScript can easily filter images based on their file size.
• Delete small images: You can use AppleScript to remove small images from your library.

Creating Your AppleScript

Here is a sample AppleScript that combines the tasks of finding and deleting duplicate and small images:

-- Set the folder containing your images
set targetFolder to "path/to/your/image/folder"

-- Set the minimum size for images (in kilobytes)
set minSize to 100

-- Get all the images in the target folder
tell application "Finder"
  set imageFiles to (every file of folder targetFolder whose kind is "image")
end tell

-- Create a dictionary to store image hashes
set imageHashes to {}

-- Loop through each image file
repeat with thisFile in imageFiles
  -- Get the file's size
  set fileSize to (size of thisFile) / 1024

  -- Check if the image is smaller than the minimum size
  if fileSize < minSize then
    -- Delete the small image
    tell application "Finder" to delete thisFile
  else
    -- Calculate the hash of the image
    set fileHash to (hash of thisFile)

    -- Check if the hash already exists in the dictionary
    if fileHash is in imageHashes then
      -- Delete the duplicate image
      tell application "Finder" to delete thisFile
    else
      -- Add the hash to the dictionary
      set imageHashes to (imageHashes & fileHash)
    end if
  end if
end repeat

Explanation:

1. Set target folder: Replace "path/to/your/image/folder" with the actual path to your image folder.
2. Set minimum size: Adjust the minSize variable to set the minimum size threshold for images.
3. Get image files: The script uses the Finder application to get all the image files in the specified folder.
4. Create image hash dictionary: A dictionary is created to store unique image hashes, allowing the script to identify duplicates.
5. Loop through images: The script iterates through each image file in the folder.
6. Check image size: The script checks if the image is smaller than the specified minimum size. If so, it deletes the image.
7. Calculate image hash: For larger images, the script calculates a hash value representing the image's content.
8. Check for duplicates: If the hash already exists in the dictionary, it indicates a duplicate image, which is then deleted. Otherwise, the hash is added to the dictionary.

Tips for Using AppleScript:

• Back up your data: Always back up your data before running any AppleScript, especially when working with files.
• Test on a sample: Try your script on a small sample of images before running it on your entire library.
• Modify the script: Customize the script to meet your specific needs by adjusting the minimum size, target folder, and other parameters.
• Use an editor: AppleScript Editor provides a user-friendly interface for editing and running AppleScripts.

Conclusion

AppleScript provides a powerful and flexible way to manage your image library by finding and deleting duplicate and small images. By automating this process, you can save storage space and keep your library organized. Remember to back up your data before running any script, test it on a small sample first, and adapt it to your specific requirements.