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EXIF Information

Modern digital cameras have the ability to store their settings in the image, if the image is stored in JPEG format. This is known as EXIF information.
Knowing the camera settings can teach you a great deal about how well the camera performs under different light conditions. For example, many cameras tend to underexpose shots where there is backlighting. Knowing what the camera settings were can help you to improve future shots, by dialling in exposure compensation.

Additionally, if you submit your pictures for publication, create Internet based photo galleries or just like to keep good records, it's informative to supply the camera settings.

With traditional photography, unless you keep detailed notes, you have to resort to (educated) guesswork. But digicams with their EXIF settings make this simple.

EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format. It was developed by the Japanese Electronics Industry Development Association (JEIDA) in an effort to simplify and standardise the exchange of data between imaging devices and software. Exif is a variation of JPEG, used by almost all digital cameras to record extra interchange information to image files as they are taken. The type of information stored in a file varies by camera model, but it can include such things as date and time a photo was taken, resolution, camera settings used for the shot, amount of compression applied, colour information, whether or not the flash was fired, shutter speed, name of the camera owner, and so on.

Most photo manipulation software released after 2001 supports the reading of Exif information, however, if you want to ensure that the information is retained within your picture files, you must use software that supports Exif. The Exif information is lost if you save a picture in a program that doesn't support it. There is also specialized software specifically for extracting and editing Exif data.

EXIF.org is a site dedicated to EXIF and related resource, Offers a discussion forum, sample images and a list of programs that use the EXIF standard, specifications, and proposals. For the technically minded, there is a PDF document all about the specifications of EXIF information but be warned, it is VERY heavy reading. This can be viewed HERE.

So what of the programs to view EXIF data? It may surprise you to know that you may already have some means of viewing your EXIF data on your own PC already. For example, Photoshop CS has this built in. Press Alt+Ctrl+I. PSP too. Press Shift+I and click the EXIF tab. If you are running Windows XP, right click the photo file (.jpg) and select properties. Click the Summary tab and click the Advanced button. This provides some limited information.

There is a very simple .DLL file which you can download HERE, which enables you to view more information. Install the ExifView.dll file into Windows\system for Win95/98 or Winnt\system32 for WinNT/2000/XP. Then, go to Start, Run and type in regsvr32.exe ExifView.Dll and click ok. Now, when you right click on any picture file (.jpg) and select properties, you'll have a new tab called EXIF Tags. Click on this and you'll see all the information you ever wanted to know about your picture.

There are many programs that will also enable you to view the EXIF information of your pictures. Once such program is EXIFRead which can be downloaded by clicking HERE. This program needs no installation, you simply double click on the EXIFRead.exe to start the program, navigate to the folder where your photo's are stored and click on the photo you wish to view the EXIF info. You are also able to copy this info into a wordprocessor.

A rather more complex program is called Exifer and can be downloaded HERE. This program will install to your PC and can be available from your Start menu. This is better, in that it will show your thumbnails of the pictures you wish to locate the EXIF info of, but the program is not for beginners!

By the way, did you know that you can view the EXIF info of any photo on the web, which includes photos on this site with a simple right click? (Providing the EXIF info is still intact!)

The free program is called Opanda Iexif

There is a host of other information out there on EXIF, but I hope this has given you an insight. For more information, just go to www.google.co.uk and type in EXIF information. There are also many, many programs available that enable you to view and/or manipulate EXIF information, some freeware, some shareware, some trialware and some you have to pay for.


Happy Snapping!

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