EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a metadata standard for adding information such as descriptions, copyright information and camera settings to images. The format achieved its status as a universal standard with the widespread use of digital cameras. The data recorded in EXIF format may be used directly by the user or communicated to a device (to a printer, for example). EXIF is a flexible format that makes it possible to add information to an image that is specific to a particular camera and can only be interpreted by software from the camera’s manufacturer. JPEG and TIFF are the most popular file formats that support EXIF.
EXIF
Field | Type | Default Setting | Possible Settings | Description |
| Orientation | INT | Top Left | Top Left/Top Right/Bottom Right/Bottom Left/Left Top/Right Top/Right Bottom/Left Bottom | Image orientation |
| DateTime | DATE&TIME | Current date and time | Date and Time | Date and Time |
| DateTime Original | DATE&TIME | Current date and time | Date and Time | Date and Time |
| DateTime Digitized | DATE&TIME | Current date and time | Date and Time | Date and Time |
| Horizontal Res | INT | 72 | Whole number | Horizontal resolution |
| Vertical Res | INT | 72 | Whole number | Vertical resolution |
| Resolution Unit | INT | NONE | NONE/Inches/Cm | Unit of measure for resolution |
| ImageDescription | STRING | Description sample text | Text | Image description |
| Make | STRING | Make txt | Text | Information field |
| Model | STRING | Model name | Text | Information field |
| Software | STRING | ImageConverter Plus | Text | Source program |
| Copyright | STRING | (C) Copyright … | Text | Copyright |
Unlike EXIF, which is intended for recording technical information for digital images, IPTC is a metadata format that can record such information as country, city, author and title.
JPEG and TIFF are the most popular image formats that support IPTC.
IPTC
Field | Type | Default Setting | Possible Settings | Description |
| Record Version | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Image Name | STRING | Image Name txt | Text | Information field |
| Edit Status | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Priority | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Category | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Supplemental Category | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Fixture Identifier | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Keyword | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Release Date | DATE | Current date | Date value | Release date |
| Release Time | TIME | Current time | Time value | Release time |
| Special Instructions | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Reference Service | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Reference Date | DATE | Current date | Date value | Date |
| Reference Number | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Created Date | DATE | Current date | Date value | Date image created |
| Created Time | TIME | Current time | Time value | Time image created |
| Originating Program | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Program Version | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Object Cycle | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Byline | STRING | Byline txt | Text | Information field |
| Byline Title | STRING | Byline Title txt | Text | Information field |
| City | STRING | City txt | Text | Information field |
| Province | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Country Code | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Country | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Original Transmission Reference | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Headline | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Credit | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Source | STRING | Caption txt | Text | Information field |
| Copyright | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Caption | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Local Caption | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |
| Caption Writer | STRING | n/a | Text | Information field |