How to get EXIF data

[rick55]

It would be nice to collect information in once place about EXIF data: how to access it, including tools, and what's available. Dave has promised to add to "useful and informative threads," so we can keep this for everyone to reference.

I've put a simple intro here, and listed the tools I'm familiar with. Please add any more information you have about EXIF data, especially useful tools.

EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format (Wikipedia article), and describes how metadata is added to image files. As most people reading this probably know, a digital camera normally stores information about things like exposure and white balance, but also various housekeeping information, like (sometimes) shutter activations. As an image is processed, editing software will often add to the information.

It's very convenient when the EXIF data is attached to an image, especially here. When we're thinking of commenting on an image, if we wonder if the shutter speed was a little slow, presto! the EXIF tells us what it was. If the EXIF is available.

If you don't see EXIF data attached to an image at CiC, it's because it got deleted as part of the processing. There was a discussion about that in this thread.

There are various ways to see the EXIF data, useful in different contexts, for your own images and images seen elsewhere.

ExifTool

I use ExifTool. This is a tool for looking at the data in an image file on local disk. David went out and found it himself (which prompted me to think we should have a thread like this), and he also found a nice GUI that sits in front of it, ExifToolGUI. One of the cool things he discovered is that the EXIF includes the camera temperature, which doesn't even appear anywhere I can find in the "File Info" in Adobe. David's description is here.

Another nice thing about ExifTool that I hadn't discovered is that it will scan all the images in a directory and sub-directories: Tim wrote that up here.

FxIF

FxIF is a Firefox add-on for viewing EXIF data of an image from Firefox. Once it's installed, just right-click on the image, and you see the EXIF data if it's available. It only does jpg images, and allows only minimal configuration. There are similar add-ons for IE and Chrome, but I don't use them, so I won't comment.

Windows

In Windows 7, that I know of, and I believe XP and Vista, will display some EXIF data. Simply right-click on the image, and choose "Properties." In the dialog that comes up, choose the "Details" tab to see EXIF data. One warning: I've read that although the dialog offers editing, editing and saving can corrupt the data.

Photoshop

Under the "File" menu, choose "File Info..." It has tabs for various presentations of information. At least in the more recent releases (PSE8, CS4, CS5), there's a useful navigation tip: on the far right at the top beside the tabs, there's a down-pointing arrowhead or triangle. Click this to get a picklist of the tabs, so you don't have to scroll left and right.

Cheers,
Rick

[Steaphany]

PhotoMe

PhotoMe website

Is a freeware tool to examine and edit EXIF data fields. I do not use it myself very often since my Sigma SD14's X3F raw format is not yet supported.

[Dave Humphries]

My contribution is to provide a link to a website:
Jeffrey's EXIF Viewer (http://regex.info/exif.cgi)
If the data is there, and it understands many maker's information too, this will display it.

You can paste any internet hosted image url into the top text box, or browse to an image on your HDD in the second box. That's it, just a website, nothing to install ... unless you want to ...

There's a draggable plug-in browser button available too.

It's free too.

[David]

Hi All - I support Rick's comments here, having failed to pick up that ExifTool was already known in CiC. Thanks, Rick, for the link to my recent post. Future comments re EXIF data shall be directed to this or other appropriate threads. I'm going to check out Steaphany's PhotoMe link when time permits.

As with so many things in photography (and life), I'm a newbie to the concepts of EXIF, IPTC and XMP data handling. I understand the importance of having such data, and it being stored along with images, but what I do not follow is why the data is so difficult to edit. Why should, say, Canon's DPP software not allow me to add my own comments? Why do we have to rely on third party software to do this editing, and then only partially? Who decided these matters? Why is some data hidden and other data displayed? I expect it's the Government and it's all for our own good.

Anyway, an ongoing EXIF data thread such as this is a GOOD IDEA.

Cheers

David

[boardhead]

My contribution is to provide a link to a website:
Jeffrey's EXIF Viewer (http://regex.info/exif.cgi)
If the data is there, and it understands many maker's information too, this will display it.

In fact, I think you will find this utility displays EXACTLY the same information as ExifTool. And for good reason.

[Dave Humphries]

In fact, I think you will find this utility displays EXACTLY the same information as ExifTool. And for good reason.

I'm sure you're right - and welcome to the CiC forums by the way.

I like the Jeffrey's website version because I can use it from work, where installing things often isn't possible/allowed.

[Jim B.]

I use this.http://www.filecluster.com/Photo-Gra...if-Viewer.html
It's just a reader not an editor.

[rick55]

Thanks to Steaphany, Dave, David, and Jim!

Boardhead, welcome to CiC! And thanks! Is there a first name we can use? And reading between the lines, I infer that you're suggesting that "Jeffrey's EXIF Viewer" uses ExifTool behind the scenes, yes?

Cheers,
Rick

[PopsPhotos]

I have been using KUSO, a free download. I find it shows all I want and more than I need. After installing it, right click the image and what exif info there is comes up. There is a click at the top right which will show even more.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multime...f-Viewer.shtml

I first used it on XP Pro and now have it on Win 7.

Pops

[David]

Hi All - I've had a chance to look at PhotoMe and to compare it with Exiftool (the GUI version). It seems to me that, currently, these are the two front runners for retrieval and editing of EXIF information. PhotoMe is very easy to use with an excellent GUI. Simply open the image file and the metadata is presented in a scroll down display or via tabs at the top of the menu. Entries in blue can be (partially) editted or present further data. Many of the fields have mouseover help to say what they are. I'm not sure whether batch processing is currently available, but this is a 0.8 beta version, so batch work may come in the future. I exported all the data to a text file (another easy to use menu) to find some 300 lines of information (funnily enough no camera temperature for my Canon 40D). Many of the lines are data from unknown parameters.

ExiftoolGUI is less easy to pick up, but I think I've got the hang of it now. Perhaps a better Help facility is needed. Batch processing is allowed and seems to me to be very powerful. I edited in my name to the "artist" and "copyright" fields and added a short generic description, having highlighted 485 files. My computer and this software took about 7 minutes to complete the task. Editing of selected fields is easy once you know how. I looked at the command line version and the description, as per Tim's post, and this does allow more search and selection criteria. I exported the same data file as I had used in PhotoMe. Again, this was straightforward and resulted in about 245 lines of data, but with no unlabelled parameters. Unfortunately, PhotoMe and Exiftool organise the data in different ways. Thus it is difficult to do a full comparison of content.

IMHO, if you want to get into finding all EXIF data and editting what you are allowed to edit, then both these software tools are desirable. Both are free. At the moment for serious work I think Exiftool has the edge because of its batch processing capabilities and selection possibilites via the command line version.

Cheers

David

[rick55]

Thanks, Pops, for the pointer to KUSO. And many thanks to David for the write-up on PhotoMe and ExifTool: very helpful!

Cheers,
Rick

[PopsPhotos]

Just for grins, here is the KUSO information from a picture posted down in the tips 'n' such forum.

Standard Information
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS 50D
Software: Digital Photo Professional
ImageSize: 1599x1066
ComponentsConfiguration: Y, Cb, Cr, -
CreateDate: 2010:06:22 12:22:46
ModifyDate: 2010:06:22 12:22:46
DateTimeOriginal: 2010:06:22 12:22:46
ExposureTime: 1/640"
Aperture: F4.0
CircleOfConfusion: 0.019 mm
HyperfocalDistance: 10.29 m
ExposureBiasValue: 0
Flash: Off, Did not fire
ISO: 100
WhiteBalance: Manual
FocalLength: 28.0 mm
FocalLength35efl: 28.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 44.2 mm)
ColorSpace: Uncalibrated

GPS Information

Other Information
ApertureValue: 4.0
BitsPerSample: 8
BlueMatrixColumn: 0.14919 0.06322 0.74457
CMMFlags: Not Embedded, Independent
CanonModelID: EOS 50D
ColorComponents: 3
ColorSpaceData: RGB
ConnectionSpaceIlluminant: 0.9642 1 0.82491
CustomRendered: Normal
DeviceAttributes: Reflective, Glossy, Positive, Color
DeviceManufacturer: none
DeviceModel
Directory: C:\Users\Pops Photos\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5\3AVPPXUJ
EncodingProcess: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
ExifByteOrder: Little-endian (Intel, II)
ExifImageHeight: 4770
ExifImageWidth: 3177
ExifVersion: 0221
ExposureMode: Manual
FNumber: 4.0
FOV: 44.3 deg
FileModifyDate: 2010:06:25 19:48:28-07:00
FileName: 14311mr[1].jpg
FileNumber: 0
FileSize: 349 kB
FileType: JPEG
FlashpixVersion: 0100
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit: inches
FocalPlaneXResolution: 5315.436035
FocalPlaneYResolution: 5306.532715
Gamma: 2.2
GreenMatrixColumn: 0.20528 0.62567 0.06087
ImageHeight: 1066
ImageWidth: 1599
InteropIndex: R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
InteropVersion: 0100
JFIFVersion: 1.01
LightValue: 13.3
MediaBlackPoint: 0 0 0
MediaWhitePoint: 0.95045 1 1.08905
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
PrimaryChromaticities: 0.64 0.33 0.21 0.71 0.15 0.06
PrimaryPlatform: Apple Computer Inc.
ProfileCMMType: ADBE
ProfileClass: Display Device Profile
ProfileConnectionSpace: XYZ
ProfileCopyright: Copyright 2000 Adobe Systems Incorporated
ProfileCreator: ADBE
ProfileDateTime: 2000:08:11 19:51:59
ProfileDescription: Adobe RGB (1998)
ProfileFileSignature: acsp
ProfileID: 0
ProfileVersion: 2.1.0
RedMatrixColumn: 0.60974 0.31111 0.01947
RenderingIntent: Perceptual
ResolutionUnit: inches
ScaleFactor35efl: 1.6
SceneCaptureType: Standard
SerialNumber: 2230707855
SerialNumberFormat: Format 2
ShutterSpeed: 1/640
ShutterSpeedValue: 1/664
UserComment
WhitePoint: 0.313 0.329
XResolution: 0.0001668930054
YCbCrSubSampling: YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2)
YResolution: 0.0001668930054

[Klickit]

OK Pops - enlighten me. I downloaded KUSO in Win XP's Programs Folder, ran it and re-started Firefox.
Nix, nothing, nada. So, what should I have done?

[atlantean]

I'm using Opanda iEXIF and it's quite useful imo. You guys may want to give it a shot.
http://www.opanda.com/en/iexif/download.htm

[PopsPhotos]

OK Pops - enlighten me. I downloaded KUSO in Win XP's Programs Folder, ran it and re-started Firefox.
Nix, nothing, nada. So, what should I have done?

I'm not sure. I have had no problem with it on XP Pro nor on Win 7. I just downloaded it by clicking the "run" button.

To tell the truth, I've not tried it in FF, but they claim it works there.

Looking about the 'net, it appears you are not alone with that problem.

Looking back through this thread, I notice that there is much interest in editing the exif data, which KUSO does not offer. As I seldom have a disire to do that, I haven't investigated other programs much. The few times I have wanted to add a comment to the exif data, I have used EXIFER or PhotoShop.

Sorry 'bout that.

Pops

[Dave Humphries]

I thought this thread could do with an example image that definately has EXIF data.



This is provided in order to test EXIF viewer installations on (well it removes the chance of testing on one or more images that may not have EXIF data. Sadly, only about 50% seem to these days

The image is from a bridge/compact in case anyone wonders about the focal length

[Klickit]

Yep, can get Opanda exif and Jeffery's exif with that, thanks Dave.
The reason I was wanting KUSO is that it gives interesting stuff like hyperfocal distance.

Thanks Pop. I'll have a look arond the interwebs to see if it can be sorted.

[Dave Humphries]

The reason I was wanting KUSO is that it gives interesting stuff like hyperfocal distance.

Hi Kit,

I think Jeffrey's does that, somewhere down the bottom (along with Circle of confusion), but I gather it is only calculating these from the other EXIF data and file dimensions*.

* I seem to recall reading something that said if the image has been cropped, it makes these calculations increasingly inaccurate for larger crops.

I suspect KUSO does it that way too, as I doubt that is actually in the EXIF data generated by the camera.

Cheers,

[Klickit]

The KUSO problem, so called, is that it doesn't show on web pix, only on local ones. Right click anything on the hard-drive and there she is.

[PopsPhotos]

Running IE8 on Win7 or IE7 on XP pro SP3, my KUSO shows up on web pictures. I right-click and one of the options is "open with KUSO" Note that the post I made above was the information taken with KUSO from a picture in this forum. Below is the data KUSO gives me on the picture posted above.

Standard Information
Make: FUJIFILM
Model: FinePix S6500fd
Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 Windows
ImageSize: 680x518
CreateDate: 2009:02:27 14:38:23
ModifyDate: 2009:02:28 15:37:45
DateTimeOriginal: 2009:02:27 14:38:23
ExposureTime: 1/500"
Aperture: F8.0
MaxAperture: F2.8
CircleOfConfusion: 0.003 mm
HyperfocalDistance: 8.58 m
ExposureProgram: Aperture-priority AE
ExposureBiasValue: 0
MeteringMode: Spot
Flash: Off, Did not fire
ISO: 200
WhiteBalance: As Shot
FocalLength: 14.0 mm
FocalLength35efl: 14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 147.4 mm)
SensingMethod: One-chip color area
SceneType: Directly photographed
ColorSpace: sRGB
Contrast: +25
Saturation: 0
Sharpness: 100

GPS Information

Other Information
APP14Flags0: [14]
APP14Flags1: (none)
AlreadyApplied: True
ApertureValue: 8.0
ApplicationRecordVersion: 11628
BitsPerSample: 8
BlueHue: 0
BlueMatrixColumn: 0.14307 0.06061 0.7141
BlueSaturation: 0
Brightness: +50
BrightnessValue: 9.07
CMMFlags: Not Embedded, Independent
CameraProfile: ACR 3.6
CameraProfileDigest: 848909A77C48E13D5F2CA5592319C69B
ChromaticAberrationB: 0
ChromaticAberrationR: 0
Clarity: 20
ColorComponents: 3
ColorMode: 3
ColorNoiseReduction: 100
ColorSpaceData: RGB
ColorTransform: YCbCr
Compression: JPEG (old-style)
ConnectionSpaceIlluminant: 0.9642 1 0.82491
ConvertToGrayscale: False
CopyrightFlag: False
CreatorTool: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 Windows
CurrentIPTCDigest: 4f2fc11e298083bece4055417fd51e5f
CustomRendered: Custom
DCTEncodeVersion: 100
DateTimeDigitized: 2009:02:27 14:38:23Z
Defringe: 0
DerivedFromDocumentID: uuid:50734F48A605DE11BA7CA8C8B25CBD3A
DerivedFromInstanceID: uuid:50734F48A605DE11BA7CA8C8B25CBD3A
DeviceAttributes: Reflective, Glossy, Positive, Color
DeviceManufacturer: IEC
DeviceMfgDesc: IEC http://www.iec.ch
DeviceModel: sRGB
DeviceModelDesc: IEC 61966-2.1 Default RGB colour space - sRGB
Directory: C:\Users\Pops Photos\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5\OIJN98D9
DisplayedUnitsX: inches
DisplayedUnitsY: inches
DocumentID: uuid:17929CE2A805DE11BA7CA8C8B25CBD3A
EncodingProcess: Progressive DCT, Huffman coding
ExifByteOrder: Little-endian (Intel, II)
ExifImageHeight: 518
ExifImageWidth: 680
ExifVersion: 0220
Exposure: +0.20
ExposureMode: Auto
FNumber: 8.0
FOV: 13.9 deg
FileModifyDate: 2010:06:29 20:48:14-07:00
FileName: original[1].jpg
FileSize: 243 kB
FileSource: Digital Camera
FileType: JPEG
FillLight: 0
FlashFired: False
FlashFunction: False
FlashMode: Off
FlashRedEyeMode: False
FlashReturn: No return detection
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit: cm
FocalPlaneXResolution: 2080
FocalPlaneYResolution: 2080
Format: image/jpeg
GlobalAltitude: 30
GlobalAngle: 30
GreenHue: 0
GreenMatrixColumn: 0.38515 0.71687 0.09708
GreenSaturation: 0
HasCrop: False
HasSettings: True
HighlightRecovery: 30
History
HueAdjustmentAqua: 0
HueAdjustmentBlue: 0
HueAdjustmentGreen: 0
HueAdjustmentMagenta: 0
HueAdjustmentOrange: 0
HueAdjustmentPurple: 0
HueAdjustmentRed: 0
HueAdjustmentYellow: 0
ICCProfileName: sRGB IEC61966-2.1
IPTCDigest: 4f2fc11e298083bece4055417fd51e5f
ImageHeight: 518
ImageWidth: 680
InstanceID: uuid:18929CE2A805DE11BA7CA8C8B25CBD3A
JFIFVersion: 1.02
LightSource: Unknown
LightValue: 14.0
Luminance: 76.03647 80 87.12462
LuminanceAdjustmentAqua: 0
LuminanceAdjustmentBlue: 0
LuminanceAdjustmentGreen: 0
LuminanceAdjustmentMagenta: 0
LuminanceAdjustmentOrange: 0
LuminanceAdjustmentPurple: 0
LuminanceAdjustmentRed: 0
LuminanceAdjustmentYellow: 0
LuminanceSmoothing: 100
MaxApertureValue: 2.8
MeasurementBacking: 0 0 0
MeasurementFlare: 0.999%
MeasurementGeometry: Unknown (0)
MeasurementIlluminant: D65
MeasurementObserver: CIE 1931
MediaBlackPoint: 0 0 0
MediaWhitePoint: 0.95045 1 1.08905
MetadataDate: 2009:02:28 15:37:45Z
NativeDigest: 256,257,258,259,262,274,277,284,530,531,282,283,29 6,301,318,319,529,532,306,270,271,272,305,315,3343 2;04879560795E33D8D96DC356CDDAEDF4
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
ParametricDarks: 0
ParametricHighlightSplit: 75
ParametricHighlights: 0
ParametricLights: 0
ParametricMidtoneSplit: 50
ParametricShadowSplit: 25
ParametricShadows: 0
PhotoshopFormat: Progressive
PhotoshopQuality: 10
PrimaryPlatform: Microsoft Corporation
ProfileCMMType: Lino
ProfileClass: Display Device Profile
ProfileConnectionSpace: XYZ
ProfileCopyright: Copyright (c) 1998 Hewlett-Packard Company
ProfileCreator: HP
ProfileDateTime: 1998:02:09 06:49:00
ProfileDescription: sRGB IEC61966-2.1
ProfileFileSignature: acsp
ProfileID: 0
ProfileVersion: 2.1.0
ProgressiveScans: 3 Scans
Rating: 0
RawFileName: DSCF7380.RAF
RedHue: 0
RedMatrixColumn: 0.43607 0.22249 0.01392
RedSaturation: 0
RenderingIntent: Perceptual
ResolutionUnit: inches
SaturationAdjustmentAqua: 0
SaturationAdjustmentBlue: 0
SaturationAdjustmentGreen: 0
SaturationAdjustmentMagenta: 0
SaturationAdjustmentOrange: 0
SaturationAdjustmentPurple: 0
SaturationAdjustmentRed: 0
SaturationAdjustmentYellow: 0
ScaleFactor35efl: 10.5
SceneCaptureType: Standard
ShadowTint: 0
Shadows: 2
SharpenDetail: 65
SharpenEdgeMasking: 0
SharpenRadius: +0.5
ShutterSpeed: 1/500
ShutterSpeedValue: 1/500
SplitToningBalance: 0
SplitToningHighlightHue: 0
SplitToningHighlightSaturation: 0
SplitToningShadowHue: 0
SplitToningShadowSaturation: 0
SubjectDistanceRange: Unknown
Technology: Cathode Ray Tube Display
Temperature: 4700
ThumbnailLength: 11103
ThumbnailOffset: 844
Tint: -10
ToneCurve: 0, 0, 32, 22, 64, 56, 128, 128, 192, 196, 255, 255
ToneCurveName: Medium Contrast
Version: 4.3.1
Vibrance: +40
ViewingCondDesc: Reference Viewing Condition in IEC61966-2.1
ViewingCondIlluminant: 19.6445 20.3718 16.8089
ViewingCondIlluminantType: D50
ViewingCondSurround: 3.92889 4.07439 3.36179
VignetteAmount: 0
XMPToolkit: Adobe XMP Core 4.1.3-c001 49.282696, Mon Apr 02 2007 21:16:10
XResolution: 240
YCbCrSubSampling: YCbCr4:4:4 (1 1)
YResolution: 240

Pops