Metadata

Learn how to read and extract EXIF and IPTC metadata from images.

What is Metadata?

Image metadata is embedded information about the image and how it was created:

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format):

Camera settings (ISO, aperture, shutter speed)
Date/time photo was taken
GPS coordinates
Camera make and model
Image dimensions and orientation

IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council):

Copyright information
Creator/photographer name
Keywords and categories
Caption/description
Headline and title

Reading EXIF Metadata

Get All EXIF Data

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");
exifData = img.getExifMetaData();

// Returns struct with all EXIF tags
writeDump(exifData);

BIF Syntax:

img = ImageRead("photo.jpg");
exifData = ImageGetExifMetaData(img);

Get Specific EXIF Tag

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");

// Get camera make
make = img.getExifTag("Make");

// Get date taken
dateTaken = img.getExifTag("DateTime");

// Get ISO speed
iso = img.getExifTag("ISO Speed Ratings");

BIF Syntax:

make = ImageGetExifTag(img, "Make");

Check for EXIF Data

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");
exifData = img.getExifMetaData();

if (structCount(exifData) > 0) {
    // Image has EXIF data
    writeln("Photo taken with: " & exifData["Make"]);
} else {
    // No EXIF data
    writeln("No camera information available");
}

Reading IPTC Metadata

Get All IPTC Data

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");
iptcData = img.getIPTCMetaData();

// Returns struct with all IPTC tags
writeDump(iptcData);

BIF Syntax:

img = ImageRead("photo.jpg");
iptcData = ImageGetIPTCMetadata(img);

Get Specific IPTC Tag

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");

// Get copyright
copyright = img.getIPTCTag("Copyright Notice");

// Get keywords
keywords = img.getIPTCTag("Keywords");

// Get caption
caption = img.getIPTCTag("Caption/Abstract");

BIF Syntax:

copyright = ImageGetIPTCTag(img, "Copyright Notice");

Common EXIF Tags

Camera Information

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");

// Camera details
make = img.getExifTag("Make");              // "Canon"
model = img.getExifTag("Model");            // "EOS 5D Mark IV"
software = img.getExifTag("Software");      // "Adobe Photoshop"

Camera Settings

// Exposure settings
iso = img.getExifTag("ISO Speed Ratings");       // 400
aperture = img.getExifTag("F-Number");           // 2.8
shutterSpeed = img.getExifTag("Exposure Time");  // "1/500"
exposureProgram = img.getExifTag("Exposure Program"); // "Manual"

// Lens information
focalLength = img.getExifTag("Focal Length");    // "50mm"
lens = img.getExifTag("Lens Model");             // "EF50mm f/1.8 STM"

Date and Time

// When photo was taken
dateTime = img.getExifTag("DateTime");                   // "2025:01:15 14:30:22"
dateTimeOriginal = img.getExifTag("Date/Time Original"); // Original capture time
dateTimeDigitized = img.getExifTag("Date/Time Digitized"); // When digitized

GPS Information

// Location data
latitude = img.getExifTag("GPS Latitude");       // [40, 44, 54.36]
longitude = img.getExifTag("GPS Longitude");     // [-73, 59, 10.56]
altitude = img.getExifTag("GPS Altitude");       // "10.5m"

Image Information

// Image properties
width = img.getExifTag("Image Width");           // 6000
height = img.getExifTag("Image Height");         // 4000
orientation = img.getExifTag("Orientation");     // "Rotate 90 CW"
resolution = img.getExifTag("Resolution Unit");  // "Inches"
xResolution = img.getExifTag("X Resolution");    // 300
yResolution = img.getExifTag("Y Resolution");    // 300

Common EXIF Tag Reference

Tag Name

Description

Example Value

Make

Camera manufacturer

"Canon", "Nikon"

Model

Camera model

"EOS 5D Mark IV"

DateTime

Last modification time

"2025:01:15 14:30:22"

Date/Time Original

Original capture time

"2025:01:15 14:30:22"

ISO Speed Ratings

ISO sensitivity

400, 800, 1600

F-Number

Aperture value

2.8, 5.6, 16

Exposure Time

Shutter speed

"1/500", "1/60"

Focal Length

Lens focal length

"50mm", "24mm"

Flash

Flash status

"Flash fired", "No flash"

GPS Latitude

GPS latitude

[40, 44, 54.36]

GPS Longitude

GPS longitude

[-73, 59, 10.56]

Orientation

Image orientation

"Normal", "Rotate 90 CW"

Common IPTC Tags

Copyright Information

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");

copyright = img.getIPTCTag("Copyright Notice");
creator = img.getIPTCTag("By-line");  // Photographer name
credit = img.getIPTCTag("Credit");
source = img.getIPTCTag("Source");

Descriptive Information

// Content description
headline = img.getIPTCTag("Headline");
caption = img.getIPTCTag("Caption/Abstract");
keywords = img.getIPTCTag("Keywords");
category = img.getIPTCTag("Category");

Editorial Information

// Publication details
city = img.getIPTCTag("City");
state = img.getIPTCTag("Province/State");
country = img.getIPTCTag("Country/Primary Location Name");
instructions = img.getIPTCTag("Special Instructions");

Common IPTC Tag Reference

Tag Name

Description

Example Value

Copyright Notice

By-line

Creator/photographer

"John Doe"

Headline

Image headline

"Sunset Over Mountains"

Caption/Abstract

Image description

"Beautiful sunset..."

Keywords

Search keywords

["landscape", "sunset"]

Category

Image category

"Nature"

Credit

Credit line

"Photo by John Doe"

Source

Image source

"Photography Studio"

City

City of origin

"New York"

Country/Primary Location Name

Country

"United States"

Practical Examples

Display Photo Information

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");
exif = img.getExifMetaData();

if (structCount(exif) > 0) {
    writeOutput("
        <h3>Photo Information</h3>
        <p><strong>Camera:</strong> #exif['Make']# #exif['Model']#</p>
        <p><strong>Date:</strong> #exif['Date/Time Original']#</p>
        <p><strong>Settings:</strong> ISO #exif['ISO Speed Ratings']#,
           f/#exif['F-Number']#, #exif['Exposure Time']#s</p>
        <p><strong>Lens:</strong> #exif['Focal Length']#</p>
    ");
}

Check Image Copyright

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");
iptc = img.getIPTCMetaData();

if (structKeyExists(iptc, "Copyright Notice")) {
    copyright = iptc["Copyright Notice"];
    writeln("Copyright: " & copyright);
} else {
    writeln("No copyright information found");
}

Extract GPS Coordinates

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");
exif = img.getExifMetaData();

if (structKeyExists(exif, "GPS Latitude") && structKeyExists(exif, "GPS Longitude")) {
    lat = exif["GPS Latitude"];
    lon = exif["GPS Longitude"];

    // Convert to decimal degrees
    latDecimal = convertGPSToDecimal(lat);
    lonDecimal = convertGPSToDecimal(lon);

    writeln("Location: #latDecimal#, #lonDecimal#");
    writeln("View on map: https://maps.google.com?q=#latDecimal#,#lonDecimal#");
} else {
    writeln("No GPS data available");
}

Generate Image Report

img = ImageNew("photo.jpg");
info = img.info();
exif = img.getExifMetaData();
iptc = img.getIPTCMetaData();

report = {
    filename: "photo.jpg",
    dimensions: "#info.width# x #info.height#",
    fileSize: info.source.size,
    camera: structKeyExists(exif, "Make") ? "#exif.Make# #exif.Model#" : "Unknown",
    dateTaken: structKeyExists(exif, "Date/Time Original") ? exif["Date/Time Original"] : "Unknown",
    copyright: structKeyExists(iptc, "Copyright Notice") ? iptc["Copyright Notice"] : "None",
    keywords: structKeyExists(iptc, "Keywords") ? iptc.Keywords : []
};

writeDump(report);

Filter Images by Camera

// Find all images taken with specific camera
files = directoryList("photos", false, "path", "*.jpg");
canonPhotos = [];

for (file in files) {
    img = ImageNew(file);
    exif = img.getExifMetaData();

    if (structKeyExists(exif, "Make") && exif.Make == "Canon") {
        arrayAppend(canonPhotos, file);
    }
}

writeln("Found #arrayLen(canonPhotos)# Canon photos");

Sort Images by Date

// Sort images by capture date
files = directoryList("photos", false, "path", "*.jpg");
photosByDate = [];

for (file in files) {
    img = ImageNew(file);
    exif = img.getExifMetaData();

    if (structKeyExists(exif, "Date/Time Original")) {
        arrayAppend(photosByDate, {
            file: file,
            date: exif["Date/Time Original"]
        });
    }
}

// Sort by date
arraySort(photosByDate, function(a, b) {
    return compare(a.date, b.date);
});

Add Metadata to Thumbnails

// Create thumbnails with metadata overlays
files = directoryList("photos", false, "path", "*.jpg");

for (file in files) {
    original = ImageNew(file);
    exif = original.getExifMetaData();

    // Create thumbnail
    thumb = original.copy()
        .scaleToFit(400, 300);

    // Add metadata text
    if (structKeyExists(exif, "Date/Time Original")) {
        thumb.setDrawingColor("white")
            .setDrawingTransparency(80)
            .drawText(exif["Date/Time Original"], 10, 290, {
                font: "Arial",
                size: 12
            });
    }

    filename = getFileFromPath(file);
    thumb.write("thumbnails/#filename#");
}

Important Notes

Not all images have metadata - Check for existence before accessing
EXIF data can be removed - Privacy tools often strip EXIF
Format support - EXIF typically in JPEG/TIFF, not PNG/GIF
GPS privacy - Consider removing GPS data before publishing
Tag names vary - Different cameras may use different tag names

Next Steps

Utilities - Image properties and format support
Advanced Examples - Metadata-driven workflows
Getting Started - Basic image operations

PreviousFilters & Effects NextUtilities

Last updated 6 days ago

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Table of Contents

What is Metadata?

Reading EXIF Metadata

Get All EXIF Data

Get Specific EXIF Tag

Check for EXIF Data

Reading IPTC Metadata

Get All IPTC Data

Get Specific IPTC Tag

Common EXIF Tags

Camera Information

Camera Settings

Date and Time

GPS Information

Image Information

Common EXIF Tag Reference

Common IPTC Tags

Copyright Information

Descriptive Information

Editorial Information

Common IPTC Tag Reference

Practical Examples

Display Photo Information

Check Image Copyright

Extract GPS Coordinates

Generate Image Report

Filter Images by Camera

Sort Images by Date

Add Metadata to Thumbnails

Important Notes

Next Steps