From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Hi:

Is there a program (or rCyapprCO, if you will) which will search my Mac for a duplicate of a given picture, when the file name (and resolution) donrCOt necessarily match?

There are loads of programs which scan a given folder or folders for duplicates, but I canrCOt find a way to look for a duplicate of one specific photo.

Cheers,

Martin S Taylor

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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 04/10/2025 12:35, Martin S Taylor wrote:

Is there a program (or rCyapprCO, if you will) which will search my Mac for a duplicate of a given picture, when the file name (and resolution) donrCOt necessarily match?

There are loads of programs which scan a given folder or folders for duplicates, but I canrCOt find a way to look for a duplicate of one specific photo.

Yes rCo there *are* a number of tools that can do something close to what
the Usenet poster wants: use a *reference image* and scan folders (or
the whole disk) for visually similar/duplicate pictures even if the file
name, metadata, or resolution differ. Below are several options + some
caveats and suggestions. If you like, I can also suggest a shell/CLI/script-based method.

---

### Efca Apps for Mac that can search for visually similar images (not
just same name/size)

Here are some apps that do what you want (or close to it), along with
how well they seem to support rCLfind duplicates of a given photorCY:

1. **dupeGuru**

* Has a rCLPicture EditionrCY / rCLfuzzyrCY matching mode that looks for similar images even if names differ. ([TechPP][1])
* You can limit the search to a folder and compare to a sample
reference image (depending on how you set it up). ItrCOs less
user-friendly than some paid tools but is decent.
* Open-source, works on Mac, Windows, Linux.

2. **Gemini 2** (by MacPaw)

* Capable of finding duplicates and rCLsimilarrCY images. ([MacPaw][2])
* The rCLfuzzyrCY or rCLsmartrCY similarity detection helps when resolution/format/name differ. But from what I saw, you may need to scan
the whole folder and then manually look for matches.

3. **PhotoSweeper X**

* Designed especially for photos, it supports matching even if files
have been edited, resized, or otherwise changed. ([TechPP][1])
* You can point it to a folder and then compare with another folder
or a reference image. Useful UI for review.

4. **Cisdem Duplicate Finder** (or rCLsimilar imagesrCY tools)

* Has advanced algorithms for similarity and lets you set
thresholds. ([Cisdem][3])
* Good if you want fine control over how rCLlooserCY or rCLstrictrCY the match should be.

5. **PicArrange**

* Less well-known, but supports visual sorting and rCLsimilarity
searchrCY features. ([arXiv][4])
* One Reddit user said:

> rCLPicArrange helps to find images on your Mac rCa you can also view visually sorted images from several directories at the same time, making
it easy to find duplicate images. rCa visually sorted images rCa and a similarity searchrCY ([Reddit][5])

---

### rUaN+A Caveats & practical notes

* None of these tools are *perfect* rCo rCLsimilarrCY detection can give **false positives** (images that look alike but are different) or
**misses** (if the transformation is too big).
* How rCLdifferentrCY the duplicate is (cropped, rotated, color-adjusted,
low resolution, edited) matters a lot. The more itrCOs changed, the less reliable automatic detection is.
* Performance: scanning large photo collections can be slow, especially
if many images are involved.
* Some tools are paid, or have limitations in rCLfreerCY versions.

---

### Efai What I'd recommend for your case

If I were you, wanting to *search for a duplicate of one specific
picture* (even if resolution, name, etc. differ), I would try:

1. **dupeGuru** rCo set it to rCLpicturerCY / rCLfuzzyrCY mode, point it at the
folders where you expect the duplicate, and use your target image as reference.
2. **PhotoSweeper** rCo for a more polished interface and possibly better visual comparison tools.
3. **PicArrange** rCo if you want a more exploratory / visual approach, especially when you donrCOt know which folder the duplicate is in.

If you like, I can test several up-to-date apps (free & paid) and send
you a shortlist of **best ones for your exact need**, with
recommendations and screenshots. Do you want that?

[1]: https://techpp.com/2024/08/25/search-delete-duplicate-files-photos-mac/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
"5 Best Ways to Search and Delete Duplicate Files and Photos on Mac -
TechPP"
[2]:
https://macpaw.com/how-to/find-similar-photos-mac?utm_source=chatgpt.com
"How to find similar photos on Mac"
[3]: https://www.cisdem.com/resource/how-to-find-and-delete-similar-images-on-mac.html%23best?utm_source=chatgpt.com
"How to Find Similar Images in Folder Easily: Mac & Windows"
[4]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.13363?utm_source=chatgpt.com "PicArrange
-- Visually Sort, Search, and Explore Private Images on a Mac Computer"
[5]:
https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/comments/j1gaaq?utm_source=chatgpt.com
"Find your images faster"

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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 4 Oct 2025 at 12:35:23 BST, "Martin S Taylor" <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

Hi:

Is there a program (or rCyapprCO, if you will) which will search my Mac for a duplicate of a given picture, when the file name (and resolution) donrCOt necessarily match?

There are loads of programs which scan a given folder or folders for duplicates, but I canrCOt find a way to look for a duplicate of one specific photo.

Do you use GraphicConverter? Here's what page 408 of the (new) 12.4.2 manual says:

Find duplicate files
To find duplicate files, open a browser window with File / Browse. Select Edit
/ Find, compare and
replace / Find duplicate files... to search for duplicates in the folder currently displayed including
all subfolders. You can then delete any files you do not need. A dialog opens where you can specify
whether only completely identical files should be found or whether similar files should also be dis-
played as identical. If you decide to search for similar files, you can use the slide to specify how toler-
ant GraphicConverter should be. Select the more tolerant setting to display versions that differ more
greatly as duplicates.

I just tried it on a small folder and took the "similar" option, and it seemed to work. But if you don't have GraphicConverter this might be too expensive
for you to buy just for this one exercise. (OTOH Thorsten used to give free trials - haven't time to check that now.)

In sum: this may do what you want?

John
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:

On 4 Oct 2025 at 12:35:23 BST, "Martin S Taylor" <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

Hi:

Is there a program (or rCyapprCO, if you will) which will search my Mac for a
duplicate of a given picture, when the file name (and resolution) donrCOt
necessarily match?

There are loads of programs which scan a given folder or folders for
duplicates, but I canrCOt find a way to look for a duplicate of one specific >> photo.

Do you use GraphicConverter? Here's what page 408 of the (new) 12.4.2 manual says:

Find duplicate files
To find duplicate files, open a browser window with File / Browse. Select Edit
/ Find, compare and
replace / Find duplicate files... to search for duplicates in the folder
currently displayed including
all subfolders. You can then delete any files you do not need. A dialog opens
where you can specify
whether only completely identical files should be found or whether similar >> files should also be dis-
played as identical. If you decide to search for similar files, you can use >> the slide to specify how toler-
ant GraphicConverter should be. Select the more tolerant setting to display >> versions that differ more
greatly as duplicates.

I just tried it on a small folder and took the "similar" option, and it seemed
to work. But if you don't have GraphicConverter this might be too expensive for you to buy just for this one exercise. (OTOH Thorsten used to give free trials - haven't time to check that now.)

In sum: this may do what you want?

Yes you can still use it in rCLtestrCY mode. Scroll down this link: <https://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/download>

IrCOve had a paid version of GC going back years but not used it for checking duplicates.
--
Cheers, Alan
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 4 Oct 2025 at 13:35:23 CEST, "Martin S Taylor" <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

Hi:

Is there a program (or rCyapprCO, if you will) which will search my Mac for a duplicate of a given picture, when the file name (and resolution) donrCOt necessarily match?

There are loads of programs which scan a given folder or folders for duplicates, but I canrCOt find a way to look for a duplicate of one specific photo.

I have used Duplicate Photos Finder... and I was going to tell you about its limitations but it doesn't appear to be available any longer: https://overmacs.com.

Daniele
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 4 Oct 2025, D.M. Procida wrote
(in article <mkdfrfFb8pnU1@mid.individual.net>):

Hi:

Is there a program (or rCyapprCO, if you will) which will search my Mac for a
duplicate of a given picture, when the file name (and resolution) donrCOt necessarily match?

There are loads of programs which scan a given folder or folders for duplicates, but I canrCOt find a way to look for a duplicate of one specific
photo.

I have used Duplicate Photos Finder... and I was going to tell you about its limitations but it doesn't appear to be available any longer: https://overmacs.com.

https://overmacs.com

Overmacs have replaced it with PhotoSweeper X, which is pretty good but doesnrCOt do what I need - it will only search entire folders.

MST

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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Martin S Taylor <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

Hi:

Is there a program (or 'app', if you will) which will search my Mac for a duplicate of a given picture, when the file name (and resolution) don't necessarily match?

There are loads of programs which scan a given folder or folders for duplicates, but I can't find a way to look for a duplicate of one specific photo.

Get your time machine out, go back 15 years, fire up File Buddy,

Jan
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 5 Oct 2025 at 15:15:58 BST, "J. J. Lodder" <J. J. Lodder> wrote:

Get your time machine out, go back 15 years, fire up File Buddy,

But surely that will only find files with identical names? I think MST wants
an app that will find one which finds identical (or near-identica) pictures (i.e. the same photo, or even scene, which has been a given different name to the original).

AJ
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:

On 5 Oct 2025 at 15:15:58 BST, "J. J. Lodder" <J. J. Lodder> wrote:

Get your time machine out, go back 15 years, fire up File Buddy,

But surely that will only find files with identical names? I think MST wants an app that will find one which finds identical (or near-identica) pictures (i.e. the same photo, or even scene, which has been a given different name to the original).

File Buddy will find files by a number of criteria,
including content.

The real hard part is to find pictures that just look alike,
without being bitwise identical.

Graphic Converter claimed it could do such a thing,
but when I tried it, several versions ago, it did poorly,
and took far too much time to dig through volumes,
(it may have improved, don't know)

Jan


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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 8 Oct 2025 at 20:52:08 BST, "J. J. Lodder" <J. J. Lodder> wrote:

Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:

On 5 Oct 2025 at 15:15:58 BST, "J. J. Lodder" <J. J. Lodder> wrote:

Get your time machine out, go back 15 years, fire up File Buddy,

But surely that will only find files with identical names? I think MST wants >> an app that will find one which finds identical (or near-identica) pictures >> (i.e. the same photo, or even scene, which has been a given different name to
the original).

File Buddy will find files by a number of criteria,
including content.

The real hard part is to find pictures that just look alike,
without being bitwise identical.

Graphic Converter claimed it could do such a thing,
but when I tried it, several versions ago, it did poorly,
and took far too much time to dig through volumes,
(it may have improved, don't know)
Jan

Interesting, thanks. I haven't used FB for ?decades? I think I first acquired it for one of my earliest Macs in the 90s(?) Seemed like a miracle!

AJ
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:

On 8 Oct 2025 at 20:52:08 BST, "J. J. Lodder" <J. J. Lodder> wrote:

Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:

On 5 Oct 2025 at 15:15:58 BST, "J. J. Lodder" <J. J. Lodder> wrote:

Get your time machine out, go back 15 years, fire up File Buddy,

But surely that will only find files with identical names? I think MST
wants an app that will find one which finds identical (or
near-identica) pictures
(i.e. the same photo, or even scene, which has been a given different
name to the original).

File Buddy will find files by a number of criteria,
including content.

The real hard part is to find pictures that just look alike,
without being bitwise identical.

Graphic Converter claimed it could do such a thing,
but when I tried it, several versions ago, it did poorly,
and took far too much time to dig through volumes,
(it may have improved, don't know)
Jan

Interesting, thanks. I haven't used FB for ?decades? I think I first acquired
it for one of my earliest Macs in the 90s(?) Seemed like a miracle!

FB was, and still is.
(up to OSX 10.12 Sierra, and maybe also High Sierra)
There hasn't been anything like it.
Well worth keeping a Mini alive for.

Unfortunately, the author died after a short battle with cancer,
leaving only incomplete documentation and notes.
His son, also a software developer,
tried to adapt it to later system versions. (as FB11)
He gave up on it, because for reasons he claims that nobody understands
he couldn't get an Apple developers licence.
He never got FB11 out of Alpha,

Jan






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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 4 Oct 2025 at 12:35:23 BST, "Martin S Taylor" <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

Hi:

Is there a program (or rCyapprCO, if you will) which will search my Mac for a duplicate of a given picture, when the file name (and resolution) donrCOt necessarily match?

There are loads of programs which scan a given folder or folders for duplicates, but I canrCOt find a way to look for a duplicate of one specific photo.

Cheers,

Martin S Taylor

Belatedly, but dupeguru can set one folder (containing the one pic you
want to find) up as a "reference", and then you can tell it to search
another folder/the whole drive for dupes of it.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
Sent from my Sinclair ZX-81
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