Optio M20 problems

Hi folks. I've just bought an Optio M20 and I'm having a problem with the time/date stamp. The mode is set so that it shows up when I review the pictures, but it just doesn't print the stamp on the pics when they are printed???
Am I doing something really stupid? I really need the time/date stamp to appear on the printed pics, so help would be really appreciated.
Many thanks in advance.
Adrian

Are you sure it is meant to do this? All digital cameras capture the date and time the image was recorded, but they don't print this information by default.

Perhaps you can find some software that will do this for you.

G

I thought all digi cameras did this if they had a time/date function - otherwise whats the point of having it? ( I have a feeling I'm being dumb again

Any ideas what and where?

Thanks again.
Adrian (complete newbie)

Adrian,
Actually all digicams have date and time. The date, time, exposure information and other such info is all recorded in a special place in the JPG file called the "EXIF" data.

There's some PC software available that will automatically provide the superimposed date/time on the image. It's definitely better that way, because it's a complete pain to try and remove the numbers if they're etched in the image.

This came up in a thread several months ago, and I found some neat free software to do it for you... I'll just have to go look for it!! While I look, check out Irfanview - it's free and I think the batch mode can do superimposition of EXIF date and time.

Matt

OK - I downloaded Irfanview and the plugins but I can't seem to find anyway to impose the time/date stamp on the picture? I can find the info - just cant do the rest??

PLEASE help

I'll see if I can find the other software...

EDIT: The threads I mentioned are here:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2451&highlight=exif+date
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2192&highlight=exif+date

And here's one that I found by Googling:
http://www.faststone.org/FSResizerDetail.htm
and this:
http://www.friedemann-schmidt.com/software/exifer/

I don't use these myself - just try them out and read the manual

Hope that helps!
Matt

Thanks for the help but none of these programs seem to work as far as printing the time/date stamp without having to manually type it on the actual pic. This kind of defeats the whole object
Again, am I doing something REALLY stupid because it wouldn't be the 1st time

Thanks again.
Adrian

In IrFanview, go to Batch Conversion >Set Advanced Options > Overlay Text > settings > and enter $E36867 This is the Date & Time of the original. For more settings check out the help file. Good Luck.

With FastStone you have a couple of options:

1. To print a contact sheet that includes the date and time:
* Menu: Tools / Contact Sheet Builder
* Click on the "Caption" tab on the top right
* Press the elipsis (...) button and select "EXIF Date Time / Date Time" - it will insert the text "($H1)"
* Now, the image's date and time will appear as part of the caption.

2. Batch convert a set of images to include image date and time (or other text)
* Menu: Tools / Batch Convert, Rename
* Check "Use advanced options (i.e. Resize ...)"
* Click on the "Advanced Options" button
* Go to the "Text" tab
* Click on "Insert a Variable" and select "EXIF Date Time / Date Time" - again, the text will appear "($H1)"
* Process your originals to then include the overlayed text.

You can use option 2 to also add copyright and other watermark image with a signature, copyright info or whatever.

It's all in the help files, but that should get you started

Matt