ExifViewer.Pro

Discovering Hidden Data: A Guide to EXIF Metadata in Your Photos

In the digital age, every photo you capture holds more than just a visual representation of a moment. Embedded within each photo is a wealth of hidden data known as EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) metadata. This data can provide valuable insights into the technical and contextual details of your images, making it a powerful tool for photographers, researchers, and anyone interested in the finer aspects of digital photography. In this guide, we will delve into what EXIF metadata is brief and also what all datapoints are stored in EXIF information of photos.

Introduction to EXIF Metadata

EXIF metadata is a standard that specifies the formats for images, sound, and ancillary tags used by digital cameras, including smartphones. When you take a photo, your device automatically records various pieces of information and embeds them within the image file. This metadata serves multiple purposes, from helping photographers understand their settings to aiding in the organization and retrieval of photos.

For a deeper understanding of EXIF data, how it’s used, and its importance, feel free to check out our guides titled: What is EXIF Data and How to Remove it, How to Find Out Where a Photo Was Taken and How to Remove Metadata from Photos.

Types of Information Found in EXIF Metadata

Using tools like ExifViewer.Pro metadata of your photos can be viewed. EXIF metadata encompasses a broad range of details, each providing specific insights into the conditions and settings under which a photo was taken. With ExifViewer.Pro, the following categories of information can be usually viewed:

1. Image Attributes

• Bits Per Sample: The number of bits used to represent each color component in the image, typically 8 bits per sample.
• Image Height: The vertical dimension of the image in pixels.
• Image Width: The horizontal dimension of the image in pixels.
• Color Components: The number of color channels in the image, usually 3 for RGB.
• Subsampling: Describes the ratio of chrominance to luminance samples, often used in video compression.
• Thumbnail: Indicates if a thumbnail image is available.

2. Camera Information

• Make: The manufacturer of the camera (e.g., Canon or Apple).
• Model: The specific model of the camera (e.g., Canon EOS 700D or iPhone 13 mini).
• Orientation: The orientation of the camera relative to the scene, indicating how the image should be displayed.
• XResolution and YResolution: The resolution of the image in pixels per unit (usually inches).
• ResolutionUnit: The unit of measurement for XResolution and YResolution (e.g., inches).
• HostComputer: The name of the host computer where the image was generated.
• YCbCrPositioning: The position of chrominance components relative to the luminance grid.

3. Software and Author Information

• Software: The name and version of the software used to process the image (e.g., Snapseed 2.0 or 17.5.1).
• DateTime: The date and time when the image was last modified.
• Artist: The name of the photographer or creator.
• Copyright: Information about the copyright holder.
• OffsetTime: The time zone offset of the DateTime.
• OffsetTimeOriginal: The time zone offset of the DateTimeOriginal.
• OffsetTimeDigitized: The time zone offset of the DateTimeDigitized.

4. Exposure Details

• ExposureTime: The duration of the exposure in seconds (e.g., 1/400 or 1/50).
• FNumber: The aperture value of the lens when the image was taken (e.g., f/11 or f/1.6).
• ExposureProgram: The exposure program used by the camera (e.g., Manual or Normal program).
• ISOSpeedRatings: The ISO sensitivity of the camera sensor.
• SensitivityType and RecommendedExposureIndex: Details about the sensitivity settings.
• BrightnessValue: The brightness of the image, typically in EV (Exposure Value).

5. Date and Time

• DateTimeOriginal: The date and time when the photo was originally taken.
• DateTimeDigitized: The date and time when the image data was digitized.
• SubSecTimeOriginal and SubSecTimeDigitized: The fractions of a second for the original and digitized times.

6. Image Attributes (continued)

• ShutterSpeedValue: The shutter speed used to take the photo.
• ApertureValue: The aperture size in APEX units.
• ExposureBiasValue: The exposure bias or compensation.
• MaxApertureValue: The maximum aperture value of the lens.
• MeteringMode: The metering mode used to measure the light (e.g., Pattern).
• Flash: Indicates whether the flash fired.
• FocalLength: The focal length of the lens in millimeters (e.g., 24 mm or 5.1 mm).
• SubjectArea: Indicates the area of the image that is in focus, usually represented by coordinates and dimensions.
• MakerNote: Manufacturer-specific information.

7. Color and Pixel Information

• ColorSpace: The color space of the image (e.g., sRGB or Uncalibrated).
• PixelXDimension and PixelYDimension: The width and height of the image in pixels.
• FocalPlaneXResolution and FocalPlaneYResolution: The focal plane resolution in pixels per unit.
• FocalPlaneResolutionUnit: The unit of measurement for the focal plane resolution (e.g., inches).
• SensingMethod: The method used to capture the image (e.g., One-chip color area sensor).
• SceneType: Indicates whether the image was captured directly.

8. Image Processing Information

• CustomRendered: Indicates whether the image has been customized (e.g., Normal process).
• ExposureMode: The exposure mode used (e.g., Manual exposure or Auto exposure).
• WhiteBalance: The white balance setting (e.g., As Shot or Auto white balance).
• SceneCaptureType: The type of scene captured (e.g., Standard).
• CompositeImage: Indicates if the image is a composite.

9. Lens Information

• LensSpecification: The specifications of the lens used (e.g., 24-24 mm f/? or 1.5399999618512084-5.1 mm f/2.4).
• LensModel: The model of the lens (e.g., EF-S24mm f/2.8 STM or iPhone 13 mini back dual wide camera 5.1mm f/1.6).
• LensSerialNumber: The serial number of the lens.
• LensMake: The manufacturer of the lens (e.g., Apple).
• FocalLengthIn35mmFilm: The equivalent focal length in 35mm film.

10. Creator Information

• Coded Character Set: The character set used for encoding (e.g., UTF-8).
• Record Version: The version of the record.
• Date Created and Time Created: The date and time the image was created.
• Digital Creation Date and Digital Creation Time: The date and time the digital image was created.
• By-line: The name of the person who created the image.
• Copyright Notice: The copyright information for the image.

11. Software Processing Information

• ModifyDate: The date and time the image was last modified.
• CreateDate: The date and time the image was created.
• CreatorTool: The tool used to create the image (e.g., Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 8.2).
• MetadataDate: The date and time the metadata was last modified.

12. Profile and Processing Information

• SerialNumber: The serial number of the camera.
• LensInfo: Detailed lens information.
• LensID: The ID of the lens.
• ImageNumber: The number of the image.
• ApproximateFocusDistance: The approximate distance to the focus point.
• FlashCompensation: The flash compensation value.
• Firmware: The firmware version of the camera.
• DistortionCorrectionAlreadyApplied: Indicates if distortion correction was applied.
• VignetteCorrectionAlreadyApplied: Indicates if vignette correction was applied.

13. Creation and Document Information

• DateCreated: The date and time the image was created.
• DocumentID: The ID of the document.
• OriginalDocumentID: The original document ID.
• InstanceID: The instance ID of the document.
• RawFileName: The raw file name.
• Version: The version of the image.
• ProcessVersion: The process version of the image.

14. Editing Information

• Temperature: The color temperature setting.
• Tint: The tint setting.
• Sharpness: The sharpness setting.
• LuminanceSmoothing: The luminance smoothing setting.
• ColorNoiseReduction: The color noise reduction setting.
• VignetteAmount: The amount of vignette correction.
• ShadowTint: The shadow tint setting.
• RedHue, RedSaturation, GreenHue, GreenSaturation, BlueHue, BlueSaturation: The hue and saturation settings for different colors.
• GrayMixerRed, GrayMixerOrange, GrayMixerYellow, GrayMixerGreen, GrayMixerAqua, GrayMixerBlue, GrayMixerPurple, GrayMixerMagenta: The gray mixer settings for different colors.

15. Additional Settings

• SplitToningShadowHue, SplitToningShadowSaturation, SplitToningHighlightHue, SplitToningHighlightSaturation, SplitToningBalance: The split toning settings.
• ParametricShadows, ParametricDarks, ParametricLights, ParametricHighlights, ParametricShadowSplit, ParametricMidtoneSplit, ParametricHighlightSplit: The parametric settings.
• SharpenRadius, SharpenDetail, SharpenEdgeMasking: The sharpening settings.
• PostCropVignetteAmount, PostCropVignetteMidpoint, PostCropVignetteFeather, PostCropVignetteRoundness, PostCropVignetteStyle, PostCropVignetteHighlightContrast: The post-crop vignette settings.
• GrainAmount: The amount of grain added.
• ColorNoiseReductionDetail, ColorNoiseReductionSmoothness: The color noise reduction details.
• LensProfileEnable, LensManualDistortionAmount: The lens profile settings.
• PerspectiveVertical, PerspectiveHorizontal, PerspectiveRotate, PerspectiveScale, PerspectiveAspect, PerspectiveUpright, PerspectiveX, PerspectiveY: The perspective correction settings.
• AutoLateralCA: The auto lateral chromatic aberration correction setting.
• Exposure2012, Contrast2012, Highlights2012, Shadows2012, Whites2012, Blacks2012, Clarity2012, Dehaze: The 2012 process version settings.
• ToneMapStrength: The tone map strength setting.
• ConvertToGrayscale: Indicates if the image was converted to grayscale.
• OverrideLookVignette: Indicates if the look vignette was overridden.
• ToneCurveName, ToneCurveName2012: The tone curve names.
• CameraProfile: The camera profile used.
• CameraProfileDigest: The camera profile digest.
• LensProfileSetup, LensProfileName, LensProfileFilename, LensProfileDigest, LensProfileDistortionScale, LensProfileChromaticAberrationScale, LensProfileVignettingScale: The lens profile settings.
• UprightVersion, UprightCenterMode, UprightCenterNormX, UprightCenterNormY, UprightFocalMode, UprightFocalLength35mm, UprightPreview, UprightTransformCount, UprightFourSegmentsCount: The upright correction settings.
• HasSettings, HasCrop, AlreadyApplied: Indicates if settings or crops were applied.

16. Color Profile Information

• Preferred CMM type, Profile Version, Profile/Device class, Color Space, Connection Space, ICC Profile Date, ICC Signature, Primary Platform, Device Manufacturer, Device Model Number, Rendering Intent, Profile Creator, ICC Copyright, ICC Description, ICC Device Manufacturer for Display, ICC Device Model Description, ICC Viewing Conditions Description, Technology: Detailed color profile information.

17. GPS Information

• GPS Info IFD Pointer: The pointer to the GPS information.
• GPSLatitudeRef: Indicates the latitude reference (e.g., North latitude).
• GPSLatitude: The latitude of the image location.
• GPSLongitudeRef: Indicates the longitude reference (e.g., East longitude).
• GPSLongitude: The longitude of the image location.
• GPSAltitudeRef: Indicates the altitude reference (e.g., Sea level).
• GPSAltitude: The altitude of the image location in meters.
• GPSTimeStamp: The time stamp of the GPS data.
• GPSSpeedRef: Indicates the speed reference (e.g., Kilometers per hour).
• GPSSpeed: The speed at which the device was moving.
• GPSImgDirectionRef: Indicates the direction reference (e.g., True direction).
• GPSImgDirection: The direction in which the device was facing when the image was taken.
• GPSDestBearingRef: Indicates the bearing reference (e.g., True direction).
• GPSDestBearing: The bearing to the destination.
• GPSDateStamp: The date stamp of the GPS data.
• GPSHPositioningError: The horizontal positioning error.

While this is not the only information that can be viewed and it can vary from different sources, this represents a common format of information usually found in photos.

Conclusion

EXIF metadata serves as a comprehensive digital fingerprint for your photos, providing detailed information about the circumstances and settings under which each image was captured. By understanding and utilizing this data, you can gain valuable insights into your photography techniques, improve your workflow, and ensure better organization and retrieval of your images. Additionally, being aware of the privacy implications of EXIF metadata allows you to make informed decisions about what information to share and what to keep private.

For more information on how to manage and remove EXIF data, check out our other blog posts on EXIF Data and How to Remove it and How to Remove Metadata from Photos.

By exploring the hidden data in your photos, you can unlock a deeper understanding of your digital images and take full control of your photographic journey.