exiftags

      
Description
      
The exiftags utility parses a specified JPEG file or, by default, its standard input, looking for a JPEG APP1 section containing Exif (Exchangeable Image File) image metadata. The properties contained in these data are then printed to the standard output. Digital cameras typically add Exif data to the image files they produce, containing information about the camera and digitized image.

The program supports a variety of cameras, and includes additional support for a portion of the maker notes for Asahi (Pentax), Canon, Casio, Fuji, Leica, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, and Sanyo cameras. Currently this program runs under Windows and Unix-like operating systems.

Two included companion utilities, exifcom and exiftime, perform functions on specific tags. exifcom displays and writes the UserComment Exif tag that some cameras include in the image metadata they create. This program is useful for recording caption or location information in the image file itself.

exiftime displays and adjusts the image's Exif date and time tags. Additionally, the utility can list each file in ascending order by date and time, suitable for use in further image processing (e.g., production of a Web catalog) when filename ordering is not useful.

I originally wrote this package to support the photoweb script, available from my software page.


Distribution
The current version of exiftags is 1.01. It carries a BSD license. The following distributions are available: If you've got a package you'd like me to reference here, just let me know.

Documentation
Most of what you need to know is detailed in the man pages included with the distribution: exiftags, exifcom, and exiftime. You may also find the README or CHANGES documents useful.

Support
E-mail questions, comments, patches, etc. to Eric Johnston. This software comes with no warranty or guaranteed support.

Other Software
Following are software packages of which I am aware that use exiftags. If you'd like something added to this list, just let me know.
  • AutoScrapbook, a script for generating and maintaining an online photo gallery.
  • Epsilon, a small, display independent, and quick thumbnailing library.
  • EXIF Viewer, a small Mac OS X application to display EXIF information.
  • FFView, a fast OpenGL-powered picture viewer a la ACDsee.
  • Fotana, a photo editor featuring simple drag n' drop for creating arbitrary layouts (scrapbooks/collages).
  • Galadmin, a Gallery Administrator.
  • Image-EXIF, a Perl pacakge.
  • ImageBrowser, a Cocoa program that allows the user to browse the images contained in a directory.
  • Xee, a lightweight, fast and convenient image viewer and browser for Mac OS X.

Sample Output
Following is a sample of the output from exiftags using the default options:

Camera-Specific Properties:

Equipment Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon PowerShot S200
Maximum Lens Aperture: f/2.8
Sensing Method: One-Chip Color Area
Lens Size: 5.41 - 10.81 mm
Firmware Version: Firmware Version 1.00

Image-Specific Properties:

Image Orientation: Top, Left-Hand
Horizontal Resolution: 180 dpi
Vertical Resolution: 180 dpi
Image Created: 2002:08:26 12:53:39
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec
F-Number: f/2.8
Lens Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash, Auto
Focal Length: 5.41 mm
Color Space Information: sRGB
Image Width: 1600
Image Height: 1200
Rendering: Normal
Exposure Mode: Auto
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Exposure Mode: Easy Shooting
Focus Type: Auto
Metering Mode: Evaluative
Sharpness: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Contrast: Normal
Shooting Mode: Manual
Image Size: Large
Focus Mode: Single
Drive Mode: Single
Flash Mode: Auto
Compression Setting: Superfine
Macro Mode: Normal
Sequence Number: 1
White Balance: Auto
Image Number: 100-0032
Following is a sample of the output from exifcom using the verbose (-v) option:

Supported Length: 256
Type: ASCII
Length: 34
Comment: Trip to Hong Kong, September 2002.
Following is a sample of the output from exiftime using default options:

Image Created: 2004:04:12 17:22:06
Image Generated: 2004:04:12 17:22:06
Image Digitized: 2004:04:12 17:22:06

Page last modified Sat Dec 15 23:07:24 PST 2007