Removing EXIF information ?

[tubs]

I've noticed that most images posted to the web (especially by pros) have the EXIF metadata stripped out, ie. if (in Windows) you go to the Summary tab (Advanced) under Properties, you just see six rows; width, height, horiz res, vert res, bit depth & frame count, and nothing else.

I want to do this when I email proofs. By default, my images contain all those lines of information about the camera, lens, date, shooting parameters etc. I don't want anyone using this information to assist a claim that my shot is actually theirs.

I use PS CS and consider myself an advanced user, but somehow haven't figured out how to strip the metadata. Can anybody help ?

[kawter2]

File > save for web

[Conk]

There are a few programs out there that will remove the data. Most people don't like this but just rotate an image in windows image viewing software and it will magically disappear.

[tubs]

Thanks guys.

[tonychien]

I don't think that saved as web is a smart idea because it will decrease the image quality.

You can use the function "Remove Exif" of Opanda PowerExif Editor to do the job you want. The pro version supports batch remove exif data.

http://www.opanda.com/en/pe/

[RichardtheSane]

I don't think that saved as web is a smart idea because it will decrease the image quality.


Usually when emailing proofs you want the image quality to be decreased...

[smoothOperator]

I use this online tool http://exifremover.com/

works good for me

[Shutterbug Doug]

I batch resize with Picture Resize Genius 2 and it strips the Exif data with no option to save it and it will watermark for you too.
There's also a check off box in Irfanview, which I use when resizing individual shots, that you can click on and strip the Exif data there too.

[qtch]

Hi,
Usually, I'm using online exif remover. It works fine for me. Here it is: http://www.exifremover.com (http://www.exifremover.com/)

good luck

[number six]

Paint Shop Pro gives the option of including EXIF or not when saving a jpeg. Doesn't Photoshop do this?

-js

[tim]

Paint Shop Pro gives the option of including EXIF or not when saving a jpeg. Doesn't Photoshop do this?

Not in the standard save dialog, as far as I know. If you "save as" exif is kept, if you "save for web" it's discarded.

I use EXIFer (free) to remove exif.

[aram535]

Phothoshop has a checkbox on the save, "minimize information". This removes all exif information --- INCLUDING your copyright tag. Make sure you watermark your images before that.

[Photo.Bud]

kawter2, aram535,
As far as I know Photoshop leaves some metadata in a result file, even if you use the Save for Web feature. And I personally exploit Exifcleaner (http://www.superutils.com/products/exifcleaner/) for the purpose of deleting EXIF, XMP and other extra information - it is highly configurable and works in a batch mode.

[tim]

kawter2, aram535,
As far as I know Photoshop leaves some metadata in a result file, even if you use the Save for Web feature. And I personally exploit Exifcleaner (http://www.superutils.com/products/exifcleaner/) for the purpose of deleting EXIF, XMP and other extra information - it is highly configurable and works in a batch mode.

That program is free for personal use, but costs for business. Advertising is prohibited on this forum.

Save for web removes all exif data. EXIFer that I linked to above does it too.

This is a 2005 thread, revived in 2008 and 2010.

[Photo.Bud]

tim, if you are interested in free alternatives, there are a few. For instance, the well-known ExifTool by Phil Harvey is very powerful, but is operated using the command line interface. You can try it to look inside a file on what is left after 'Save for Web' ;-)

UPD: I looked into Exifer just for now, and think it's a little bit outdated and defunct (the latest update was on 09/18/2002)

[tim]

I know about ExifTool, and there's a gui for it. Though EXIFer is old and isn't being maintained it still works absolutely perfectly. You don't need to update something that works well and does what it's meant to :)

[scaning]

Her is Phil Harveys excellent Exiftool and 2 visual basic scripts for Windows.

The latest Exiftool.exe can be downloaded at Phil Harveys site.
http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/

"exifAll_txtFile.vbs" Write a text file with all tags Exiftool can find and open the file in Notepad. Writes the text file in the same folder as the image file with an ".exif" extension.

"exifClean all exept ICC.vbs" Remove all tags; Exif, Xmp, Iptc etc but keeps icc_profile. Can be used on groups of files and folders.

Warning !!! there is no barrier on camera raw files, be aware if cleaned they will became useless. There should have been a barrier, but there isn't.

Exiftool.exe shall be placed in the Windows folder.

then one can drop files on the .vbs script files, or place them in the Windows "send to" folder for easy right click access. In Lightroom export one can choose to process the export with the script file.
[Edit: not placed in the “send to” folder, a shortcut will do fine.]

I use a script file that clean everything but camera, lens and camera settings. I want to show the world how clever I am on DSLR settings. ;-)

On google docs:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BxHWPs33zTxEYjI1M2FmMDYtZTNiNy00NDM1LThhZDI tNzgzN2JkOGNlMGFh&hl=en_US

the same but on another place:
http://bokeh.freei.me/ExifTool.zip
freei.me is unreliable, works sometimes but not always, maybe some barrier against zip files.

of course I take no responsibility if files get destroyed or the world implodes due to use of these scripts. :cool: