Free Exif removers for Windows

[zooxat]

As you probably know, Exif data is automatically added by virtually all digital cameras. This data includes details such as the date and time the photo was taken, the camera manufacturer, model, and serial number, the camera settings, and, if GPS-enabled camera was used, the location. As this info may compromise one's privacy (for instance if the photo was taken in one's home with a GPS-enabled camera), it is vital to remove the Exif before publishing photos online. This can be done with free Exif removers such as BatchPurifier LITE (http://www.digitalconfidence.com/downloads.html), JPEG & PNG Stripper (http://www.steelbytes.com/?mid=30), and jStrip (http://davidcrowell.com/jstrip/).

[KopiOkaya]

If I don't use a GPS receiver/tracker, why would I want to remove my EXIF data? This vital information serves as a guide and reference for many photographers, especially those shooting professionally.

Personally, I use it very often to keep track of the settings and equipment I have used, as well as the date and time of capture, etc.

If you have ever entered any photo competition, you will know that some organizers require your EXIF data to be intact and unedited.

[selim]

If I don't use a GPS receiver/tracker, why would I want to remove my EXIF data? This vital information serves as a guide and reference for many photographers, especially those shooting professionally.



Some photography posted the photo and remove the Exif data intentionally.

Lately, I create another flikr account and posted but do not know why the Exif data is missing

[KopiOkaya]

Some photography posted the photo and remove the Exif data intentionally.

That is probably due to personal preference. Like TheChef for example. I notice he removes EXIF data intentionally on most of his pictures.

I prefer to leave mine intact so that I can "refer" to them when needed. I don't have to search through my hard disks to locate that specific RAW file.

Other than those pictures taken with my F31fd, F200EXR and Ricoh GRD, I don't keep the JPEGs.

[zooxat]

If I don't use a GPS receiver/tracker, why would I want to remove my EXIF data? This vital information serves as a guide and reference for many photographers, especially those shooting professionally.


There are circumstances in which you may prefer not to disclose the fact that you where at a particular location (that may be deduced from the photo itself) at a particular time (which is saved in the Exif). Another notorious problem is that a thumbnail of the photo is saved in the Exif, and some photo editors don't update it when the photo is altered. So, things that you remove from the photo may still be visible in the thumbnail, as happened to Cat Schwartz (http://graphicssoft.about.com/b/2003/07/26/techtvs-cat-schwartz-exposed-is-photoshop-to-blame.htm).
The serial number (although not all cameras save this in the Exif) is another privacy risk, as it can tell that two photos were shot by the same person. You may want to publish one photo with your true identity and a second photo anonymously. By matching the serial numbers, one can tell that the second photo was also taken by you.

Some photography posted the photo and remove the Exif data intentionally.

Lately, I create another flikr account and posted but do not know why the Exif data is missing

Flickr removes metadata only from the smaller versions of the photo.

[KopiOkaya]

Another notorious problem is that a thumbnail of the photo is saved in the Exif, and some photo editors don't update it when the photo is altered. So, things that you remove from the photo may still be visible in the thumbnail...

This depends on how you save and name your image files in the software.

Like I said, this is personal preference. If photography is just a hobby, I don't see any reason why anyone should be paranoid. In Miss Schwartz's case, I feel that she asked for it.

I prefer to leave mine alone for future references. Many tan chiak photographers I used to work with keep theirs as well, both for reference and for clients' requirement.

[bluffname]

True that privacy may be compromised, but Exif information IS sometimes useful. I don't think there will be many situations where it matters to me whether people know what camera and settings I use, whether my flash fired, where the photo was taken... or what is the serial number of my photo. :eek:

At least I not super kiasu enough to be able to think of such situations. OK lah, if married men take photo with girlfriend / prostitute inside Hotel 81, then die liao! That is about the only situation I can think of :happy1:

[TheChef]

That is probably due to personal preference. Like TheChef for example. I notice he removes EXIF data intentionally on most of his pictures.

I don't want people to see my shutter count mah. :rofl:

[bluffname]

I don't want people to see my shutter count mah. :rofl:

But max number is 9999 mah, the number in front not shown and will not reveal the age of your camera :happy1:

Hey you not fair leh, look at other people's Exif but never show yours!

[TheChef]

My Made in China software is not limited to 9999. :grin:

[KopiOkaya]

9999. :grin:

In Cantonese... sei tiu gaow (四条九). HUAT AH!!!

[TheChef]

But max number is 9999 mah, the number in front not shown and will not reveal the age of your camera :happy1:

Hey you not fair leh, look at other people's Exif but never show yours!

Hehe GGM, my software can display shutter count, not DCSF number.

[KopiOkaya]

Hehe GGM, my software can display shutter count, not DCSF number.

Some cameras won't show shutter count.

[Photo.Pal]

Kopi,

I always remove EXIF before publishing photos. I do that to keep my privacy on the Web, to not expose GPS coordinates, data&time, equipment and so on.

By the way, I use this batch EXIF remover (http://www.superutils.com/products/exifcleaner/). The good that it works very fast, and enables previewing of data before actual deletion. The bad, that it is free for 30 days only.