Exif Metadata Tutorial

[Burt]

Problem:

I want to be able to upload pictures here or anywhere else online, with the basic amount of metadata as it seems of every other picture uploaded here... I don't want everything displayed... I would like to remove, Serial Numbers, Shutter Count, Location, and any other non-relevant information..

So far I have tried GIMP, Exiftool, ExiftoolGUI, ExifCleaner, Window OEM Properties removal... Nothing seems to work the way it is required... There are no manuals, instructions, or pictorial that can help a person that it is NEW to the agenda, to achieve the goal of editing the Metadata...

Gimp saved the picture in Jpg but removed virtually everything in the Metadata.

Exiftool only show the metadata (and quite well) but you need to know what you are doing in command prompt to change anything...

ExiftoolGUI does improve things a lot, but again upon exiting the program, most of the Metadata is gone...

ExifCleaner (for Window) did a great job.. It went from 260+ listing to 167. But there were still a lot of personal information in the metadata and no setting whatsoever to change the end result in the software...

Window 11 Properties removal only allows about 6 changes and not the required ones...

I'm sure the problem here is possibly 99% operator fault, but I'm out of steam and time now...

I'm happy to purchase a software for dummies that allows me to pick and save what I want to share in the metadata if required...

Can anyone in this community, advise or even better provide a step by step solution to this problem... There are hundreds of pages on Internet with people asking the same questions over and over... It seems that the main problems are the lack of manual and the presumption that everybody already know what does what...

If somebody is willing to help, I would like to then add the solution below and possibly make this post as sticky for other poor souls like myself...
I will keep adding solutions as they become available...

PS. I'm also happy for links to other threads possibly covering already this topic, if any...

Thank you

Possible Solutions:

1)
I was able to change the metadata by using the old version of ExifCleaner Window version 1.8, but it has 30 days limitation and no longer supported. So, not a permanent solution..

2)
For Window users, Microsoft Store does offer a program called EXIF Metadata Editor Pro-Photo GPS Viewer that does allow a simple and easy solution to manipulate Exif metadata. It doesn't require any manual as it has a very good self explanatory GUI...

3)
We have Affinity Photo Editing Software (Thanks @nikonbill) that does allow the complete removal of the Metadata or the choice of editing if required.. More pictures of Affinity Metadata Tag..

4)

 

[tonye]

Hi, for the purpose of posting pictures on the forum i would strip the lot to something basic and add what you require later in the post, i do this with any pictures i post as I'm not always sure the data that is required is there in the first place. Not exactly what you want but it works for me.

 

[Burt]

Hi, for the purpose of posting pictures on the forum i would strip the lot to something basic and add what you require later in the post, i do this with any pictures i post as I'm not always sure the data that is required is there in the first place. Not exactly what you want but it works for me.

That actually does make perfect sense, and it is probably even quicker, but I would really like to learn how to manipulate the metadata and have good knowledge of the software... I'm also trying to learn GIMP as I always used Paint.net, but now I want to learn to use RAW files as well and Paint.net doesn't work with them. So now, it is GIMP plus RawTherapee... I got Photoshop somewhere in one of my HD, but I haven't used it in years...

 

[nikonbill]

It's permissable for the challenges to manually (type in) the required info above or below the submitted photo. Camera and Date, settings used suggested (this helps others learn what works)

This way attached metadata "could" be removed.

Personally I like my copy right to be attached to the image, it's up to you. The size requirements help the site load better and makes it harder for others to "use" your image without your consent.

 

[Burt]

It's permissable for the challenges to manually (type in) the required info above or below the submitted photo. Camera and Date, settings used suggested (this helps others learn what works)

This way attached metadata "could" be removed.

Personally I like my copy right to be attached to the image, it's up to you. The size requirements help the site load better and makes it harder for others to "use" your image without your consent.

Thank you, William.. But my interest is more related to learn the software to manipulate the metadata, not what the challenges rules allows... I have edit the OP to better explain the scope of this thread...

 

[nikonbill]

I have edit the OP to better explain the scope of this thread...

Sorry for misunderstanding your needs

I use Affinity V3 when exporting a photo turning this off (see screen shot below) everything is gone.

In Gimp there are more options you may have to select to get what you want

BTW Affinity V3 by Canva is a free program and is an Australian company

 

[nikonbill]

You can try this one, note the .com needs added below I did not want to post a link to this site as I cannot attest its credentials

metadata-editor

 

[Burt]

Sorry for misunderstanding your needs

I use Affinity V3 when exporting a photo turning this off (see screen shot below) everything is gone.

View attachment 427919

In Gimp there are more options you may have to select to get what you want
View attachment 427921

BTW Affinity V3 by Canva is a free program and is an Australian company

Now we are getting somewhere...

Question? I can see that Affinity allows to add or remove completely the Metadata, but does Affinity allows you to actually edit the metadata?

I can see any info on their site... Can you confirm this, please?

Edit: I was able to find a PDF explaining the editing in Affinity... I have added the link in the first post...

GIMP currently, doesn't allow the editing of the Exif Metadata: https://docs.gimp.org/3.0/en/plug-in-metadata-editor.html

Thank you for helping...

 

[Burt]

You can try this one, note the .com needs added below I did not want to post a link to this site as I cannot attest its credentials

metadata-editor

There are several online Metadata editors, but if you have to upload the picture that contains all the metadata first to then edit the metadata, it does defeat the original purpose of not releasing your personal data online in the first place... If it makes sense...

 

[nikonbill]

I really do understand if your desire is to limit your personal info, this is something many photo posters do. In most cases all the data is striped, I understand this is not what you want. However what you want is making this very difficult.

Well here are some screen shots of Affinity of what I can see you "can" change to see if it meets what you want. It looks as though one could add info to the white boxes even if the data had been previously striped. I will snip the different screens of a stripped photo for you.

In the examples above all white boxes can be typed in and saved. In the Detail screen nothing can be changed on that screen. The only screen I did not show is "raw data" it contains computer code pointers, I am not a coder so I cannot say how these could be interpreted by others. In my limited knowledge they are just pointers, but I cannot say for sure.

I hope this helps you

 

[Burt]

I really do understand if your desire is to limit your personal info, this is something many photo posters do. In most cases all the data is striped, I understand this is not what you want. However what you want is making this very difficult.

Well here are some screen shots of Affinity of what I can see you "can" change to see if it meets what you want. It looks as though one could add info to the white boxes even if the data had been previously striped. I will snip the different screens of a stripped photo for you.
View attachment 427923 View attachment 427925View attachment 427924

View attachment 427926View attachment 427927View attachment 427928

In the examples above all white boxes can be typed in and saved. In the Detail screen nothing can be changed on that screen. The only screen I did not show is "raw data" it contains computer code pointers, I am not a coder so I cannot say how these could be interpreted by others. In my limited knowledge they are just pointers, but I cannot say for sure.

I hope this helps you

Thanks again for adding the picture that show what it can be done with Affinity. I also added another link from another user of Affinity in the first post.. I'll add yours as well...

So far option n2 in my list makes the job of editing very simple and easy as you chose what to remove and save it. It can be applied to a single photo or a batch of photos...

 

[tonye]

There are several online Metadata editors, but if you have to upload the picture that contains all the metadata first to then edit the metadata, it does defeat the original purpose of not releasing your personal data online in the first place... If it makes sense...

It sort of makes sense but even using editing programs you have downloaded will be sending data to developers if your computer is connected to the Web. I don't really see the problem as photo data doesn't hold much personal data its your computer that's telling the world about you.

 

[Burt]

It sort of makes sense but even using editing programs you have downloaded will be sending data to developers if your computer is connected to the Web. I don't really see the problem as photo data doesn't hold much personal data its your computer that's telling the world about you.

That's not correct. Both option n1 and n2 are standalone piece of software that do not require or communicate to Internet... Beside the fact that you have the choice of what does and what does not go through your firewall... For the important stuff I don't use window but a separate laptop with Linux... Like in Europe, we take privacy very seriously here... I don't use any of the major company like google... Perhaps it is because contrary to you, I can really see the problem... Better be safe than sorry... The best part about it, is that we still have choices...

 

[tonye]

Both option n1 and n2 are standalone piece of software that do not require or communicate to Internet..

Until you turn the net on and then who knows what info is transferred in the background. Fire walls are great until someone cracks it. I don't use any such thing as I'm not that bothered about my picture data. What info are you trying to hide that is so important in your pictures.

 

[Burt]

Until you turn the net on and then who knows what info is transferred in the background. Fire walls are great until someone cracks it. I don't use any such thing as I'm not that bothered about my picture data. What info are you trying to hide that is so important in your pictures.

I'm not really interested in having this conversation with you...