SUMMARY Face Tags are not unique, since only the display name is stored and not the (nested) tag-name. - In image metadata (XMP/MWG regions), face regions only store a display string, typically: - RegionPersonDisplayName = "Anna" - The full hierarchical tag path is not stored (e.g. Family_A/Anna vs Family_B/Anna) - When multiple tags share the same leaf name (Anna), the metadata becomes ambiguous - When DigiKam reads the file back, it: - Sees only "Anna" - Resolves it to the most recently used or last-created tag - Result: both faces get assigned to Family_B/Anna - it would be create, that the display name is replaced by the tag name or the tag name is stored additionally for each face box STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. create two image tags Family_A/Anna and Family_B/Anna 2. add one face tag Family_A/Anna in image and a second face tag Family_B/Anna OBSERVED RESULT both face tags are assigned to Family_B/Anna - face_tag1: Family_B/Anna - face_tag2: Family_B/Anna EXPECTED RESULT - face_tag1: Family_A/Anna - face_tag2: Family_B/Anna SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Linux/Ubuntu 24.04 Digikam 8.7.0
In digiKam-9.0.0, we added the feature that assigns a face name to the tag path in the image. If the name appears twice with two different tag paths, it's impossible to reconstruct which face name belongs to which tag path. Face names are stored in the metadata without a hierarchy. Maik
Thank you for your information. FYI: Why are face tags stored without a hierachy in the metadata? This should solve this issue quickly! Best regardsAndreas*Gesendet: *Sonntag, 4. Januar 2026 um 19:43*Von: *"Maik Qualmann" <bugzilla_noreply@kde.org>*An: *Pandy_90@gmx.net*Betreff: *[digikam] [Bug 514156] Face Tags are not unique (Problem with unique assignment to image tags)https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=514156 Maik Qualmann <metzpinguin@gmail.com> changed: What |Removed |Added ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CC| |metzpinguin@gmail.com --- Comment #1 from Maik Qualmann <metzpinguin@gmail.com> --- In digiKam-9.0.0, we added the feature that assigns a face name to the tag path in the image. If the name appears twice with two different tag paths, it's impossible to reconstruct which face name belongs to which tag path. Face names are stored in the metadata without a hierarchy. Maik -- You are receiving this mail because: You reported the bug. You are on the CC list for the bug.
Neither XMP/MWG nor WLPG (Microsoft) store a tag path. The metadata standard only specifies a name, not a path. Well, some people didn't think that through. We can't change it; it would be incompatible with all other programs. Your only option is to either add Anna's last name or something similar. Maik