EXIF Core Fields 24 terms
Fundamental image properties recorded by every digital camera. These fields describe the basic technical characteristics of your photo file—dimensions, format, orientation, and file information.
The number of pixels across your photo horizontally. If your image is 4000 pixels wide, that means there are 4000 tiny dots of color from left to right edge. Combined with height, this tells you the total resolution.
Specifies the horizontal pixel count of the primary image. Stored in the zeroth IFD (Image File Directory) as part of baseline TIFF structure. For JPEG files, this may differ from the actual image dimensions stored in the Start of Frame marker if metadata was modified without re-encoding the pixel data.
- Tag ID
- 0x0100 (256)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3) or LONG (4)
- Count
- 1
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
The number of pixels from top to bottom of your photo. A 3000-pixel height means 3000 rows of colored dots stacked vertically. Together with width, this determines your image's total megapixel count.
Specifies the vertical pixel count of the primary image. Like ImageWidth, stored in IFD0 as baseline TIFF metadata. Multiply by ImageWidth to calculate total pixel count (megapixels when divided by one million).
- Tag ID
- 0x0101 (257)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3) or LONG (4)
- Count
- 1
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
The company that made your camera or phone. Values like "Apple", "Canon", "Sony", or "Samsung" appear here. Every device leaves this brand fingerprint in your photos automatically.
Records the manufacturer of the image capture device as a null-terminated ASCII string. Written by camera firmware at capture time. Format and capitalization vary by manufacturer—Canon uses "Canon", Apple uses "Apple", some use all caps.
- Tag ID
- 0x010F (271)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable (null-terminated)
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
The specific camera or phone model that took the photo. Examples: "iPhone 15 Pro Max", "Canon EOS R5", "NIKON Z8". More specific than the manufacturer name—tells you exactly which device was used.
Contains the device model name or number as ASCII text. Format is manufacturer-dependent—Apple includes color variants ("iPhone 15 Pro Max"), Canon uses marketing names ("Canon EOS R5"). May include internal codenames on some devices.
- Tag ID
- 0x0110 (272)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable (null-terminated)
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
Tells software how to rotate your photo for correct display. When you hold your phone sideways, the camera records this so apps know to show the image right-side-up. Without it, your vertical selfies might appear sideways.
Indicates the viewing orientation relative to pixel data. Uses values 1-8 representing combinations of rotation (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) and mirroring. The accelerometer in smartphones writes this at capture time. Pixel data stays in sensor orientation; display software applies the transform.
- Tag ID
- 0x0112 (274)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 1-8 (1=normal, 3=180°, 6=90° CW, 8=90° CCW)
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
A number (usually 72 or 300) indicating the suggested print density—how many pixels should fit in one inch when printed. Higher numbers mean finer detail. Most cameras default to 72, but this doesn't limit your actual print options.
Horizontal display/print resolution in units specified by ResolutionUnit (typically pixels per inch). Stored as RATIONAL for precision. Most cameras write 72 (legacy screen PPI) or 300 (print standard). Doesn't affect actual pixel count—purely advisory for rendering software.
- Tag ID
- 0x011A (282)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Common Values
- 72/1, 300/1, 96/1
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
Same concept as XResolution but for the vertical direction. Almost always matches XResolution (square pixels). Together they suggest how densely your photo should be printed.
Vertical display/print resolution, paired with XResolution. Non-square pixel ratios (XResolution ≠ YResolution) are technically possible but extremely rare in photography—more common in video/broadcast legacy formats.
- Tag ID
- 0x011B (283)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
Specifies whether resolution numbers are measured in inches or centimeters. Almost always set to "inches" (value 2), giving you DPI (dots per inch). This is just the measuring stick—doesn't change your actual image.
Defines the unit for XResolution and YResolution values. Virtually all digital cameras use value 2 (inches). Value 3 (centimeters) is technically valid but uncommon. Value 1 (no unit) means resolution values have no real-world meaning.
- Tag ID
- 0x0128 (296)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 1 = None, 2 = Inch, 3 = Centimeter
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
Records what software last touched your image. Fresh from camera, this shows firmware version ("Ver.1.2.0"). After editing, it might show "Adobe Photoshop 25.0" or "Lightroom 7.1". Tells you if and how a photo was processed.
Contains the name and version of software that created or last modified the file. Initially populated with camera firmware identifier; overwritten by editing applications on save. Format is software-dependent—no standard structure.
- Tag ID
- 0x0131 (305)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable (null-terminated)
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
When the image file was last changed. If you've never edited the photo, this matches when you took it. After any save operation, it updates to show when you last modified it. Different from the original capture time.
File modification timestamp in format "YYYY:MM:DD HH:MM:SS". Updated by any software that resaves the file. Located in IFD0, distinct from DateTimeOriginal (ExifIFD) which preserves capture time. No timezone information in standard format.
- Tag ID
- 0x0132 (306)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 20 (fixed length including null)
- Format
- YYYY:MM:DD HH:MM:SS
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
A text field for your copyright notice, like "© 2025 Jane Smith. All rights reserved." Embeds your ownership claim directly in the photo file so it travels wherever the image goes.
Free-text field for copyright notice. No enforced format, but conventions include "© [Year] [Name]" or "Copyright [Year] [Name]". May contain photographer and editor entries separated by null character when both are credited.
- Tag ID
- 0x8298 (33432)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
The name of the person who created the image. You can set this in your camera's menu so every photo automatically includes your name. This is your credit line embedded in the file itself.
Records the image creator's name. Can be preset in camera settings (Canon: Owner Name; Nikon: Artist) so it's written automatically at capture. Multiple artists can be separated by semicolons, though support varies.
- Tag ID
- 0x013B (315)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable (null-terminated)
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
A text field where you can describe what's in the photo—like a caption. "Sunset at Big Sur, California" or "Family reunion, June 2024". Most cameras leave this empty; it's typically added during editing or organization.
Free-form text describing the image subject. Rarely populated by cameras at capture time; typically written by cataloging software or manual entry. Limited to ASCII in original TIFF spec, though many tools handle UTF-8.
- Tag ID
- 0x010E (270)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
The exact date and time you pressed the shutter button. This is the "real" timestamp—when the photo was actually taken. Unlike DateTime (which changes on edit), this stays locked to the capture moment.
Immutable timestamp recording when the original image data was generated. For a photo, this is shutter actuation time. For scanned film, it should be the original exposure date if known. Stored in ExifIFD, not IFD0.
- Tag ID
- 0x9003 (36867)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 20
- Format
- YYYY:MM:DD HH:MM:SS
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
When the image became a digital file. For digital cameras, this matches DateTimeOriginal (same instant). For scanned film photos, it's when you scanned them—which could be decades after the original shot.
Records when the image was stored as digital data. For direct digital capture, equals DateTimeOriginal. Becomes distinct when digitizing analog sources—film scanning, video frame capture, or document imaging.
- Tag ID
- 0x9004 (36868)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 20
- Format
- YYYY:MM:DD HH:MM:SS
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Defines which "palette" of colors your photo uses. sRGB is the web standard—colors look consistent on most screens. Adobe RGB contains more colors (especially greens and blues) but needs special software to display correctly.
Indicates the color space of the image data. Value 1 means sRGB; value 65535 (0xFFFF) means "uncalibrated" and typically indicates Adobe RGB or another wide-gamut space. The actual ICC profile provides precise color characterization.
- Tag ID
- 0xA001 (40961)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 1 = sRGB, 65535 = Uncalibrated
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Shows which version of the EXIF standard your camera used. Most modern cameras write "0232" (version 2.32) or "0231" (2.31). Higher versions can store more types of information, but basic data is backward compatible.
Four-byte ASCII string indicating EXIF specification version. Written as "0232" for EXIF 2.32 (2019), "0231" for 2.31 (2016), etc. Determines which tags are valid and their interpretation. Stored as UNDEFINED type, not null-terminated.
- Tag ID
- 0x9000 (36864)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- 4
- Common Values
- "0230", "0231", "0232"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How many shades each color channel can represent. Standard photos use 8 bits (256 shades per channel = 16.7 million colors total). RAW files and professional images may use 12, 14, or 16 bits for smoother gradients and more editing flexibility.
Specifies the number of bits per color component. For RGB images, this is typically "8, 8, 8" (24-bit total) or "16, 16, 16" (48-bit). The array length matches SamplesPerPixel. Grayscale images have a single value.
- Tag ID
- 0x0102 (258)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- SamplesPerPixel
- Common Values
- [8, 8, 8], [16, 16, 16]
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
How the image data is squeezed to save space. Value "6" means JPEG compression (most common—small files but loses some quality). Value "1" means no compression (huge files but perfect quality). There are also lossless options in between.
Identifies the compression scheme applied to image data. In JPEG files, this primarily describes the embedded thumbnail's compression within the EXIF block. The main image compression is defined by the JPEG structure itself.
- Tag ID
- 0x0103 (259)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 1 = None, 6 = JPEG, 7 = JPEG (new), 8 = Deflate
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0, EXIF 2.32
Another width measurement, but specifically for the "valid" image area after any cropping or processing applied in-camera. Usually matches ImageWidth, but can differ if your camera did in-camera editing.
Valid width of meaningful image data when stored in an uncompressed format or when the file format doesn't record dimensions elsewhere. In JPEG files, this should match the SOF (Start of Frame) dimensions. Required in ExifIFD when using compressed data.
- Tag ID
- 0xA002 (40962)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3) or LONG (4)
- Count
- 1
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The valid height of your image's data—typically identical to ImageHeight. Exists as a partner to PixelXDimension for consistency in the EXIF specification.
Valid height of meaningful image data, paired with PixelXDimension. Together they define the actual image dimensions independent of the file's container format. Used by decoders when TIFF dimension tags might be stale or missing.
- Tag ID
- 0xA003 (40963)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3) or LONG (4)
- Count
- 1
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
A flexible note field for any text you want to attach to a photo. Unlike ImageDescription, this field properly supports international characters (Japanese, Arabic, emoji). Some cameras use it for voice memo transcriptions.
Stores user-defined comments with explicit character encoding. First 8 bytes indicate encoding: "ASCII\0\0\0", "JIS\0\0\0\0\0", "UNICODE\0", or "\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0" (undefined). Solves ImageDescription's ASCII limitation.
- Tag ID
- 0x9286 (37510)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- Variable
- Encoding
- First 8 bytes define character set
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The computer or device where the image was created or processed. For smartphone photos, this often contains the phone model. For scanned images, it might show the computer that ran the scanner software.
Records the computer system used to create the image file. In modern workflow, often duplicates or complements Make/Model. Originally intended for workstation identification in publishing environments.
- Tag ID
- 0x013C (316)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0
Photography Settings 89 terms
Camera settings recorded at the moment of capture. Exposure, aperture, ISO, focus, flash, and metering data that tells the complete story of how your photo was made.
How long your camera's sensor was exposed to light—basically how long the "shutter was open." Displayed as fractions like 1/250 (fast) or whole seconds like 2" (slow).
Stored as a RATIONAL type (two unsigned 32-bit integers forming numerator/denominator). A value of 1/250 is stored as {1, 250}. Long exposures use values like {30, 1} for 30 seconds. Camera firmware typically records the value used, not the metered value.
- Tag ID
- 0x829A (33434)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Seconds
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How wide your lens opening was. Think of it like your eye's pupil—lower numbers (f/1.8) mean bigger opening, more light, blurrier backgrounds. Higher numbers (f/16) mean smaller opening, less light, everything sharp.
Represents lens aperture as the f-stop value, mathematically defined as the ratio of focal length to entrance pupil diameter. Stored as RATIONAL to allow precise fractional values (e.g., f/5.6 stored as {56, 10}).
- Tag ID
- 0x829D (33437)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Range
- Typically f/0.95–f/64
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32, TIFF/EP
How sensitive your camera was to light. Low numbers (100-400) give clean images in bright light. High numbers (3200+) let you shoot in dim conditions but add grainy "noise" to your photos.
Records sensor sensitivity per ISO 12232 standard. Originally named after film speed conventions (ASA/ISO). Modern cameras implement ISO through analog gain amplification and digital processing. May record multiple values for expanded ISO ranges.
- Tag ID
- 0x8827 (34855)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- Any (typically 1-2)
- Range
- Typically 50–409600
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
What mode dial setting you used—Auto, Manual, Aperture Priority (A/Av), Shutter Priority (S/Tv), or a scene mode. Shows how much control you had over the exposure.
Enumerated value indicating the exposure control mode active during capture. Values 0-8 are defined by EXIF standard; manufacturer-specific scene modes typically appear in MakerNotes rather than here.
- Tag ID
- 0x8822 (34850)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Not defined, 1=Manual, 2=Normal program, 3=Aperture priority, 4=Shutter priority, 5=Creative program, 6=Action program, 7=Portrait mode, 8=Landscape mode
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How your camera measured light to determine exposure. "Spot" measures one small area, "Center-weighted" prioritizes the middle, "Matrix/Evaluative" analyzes the whole scene intelligently.
Indicates the metering algorithm used to determine exposure. Most modern cameras default to multi-pattern/evaluative metering with machine learning enhancements, though this is recorded generically as "Pattern" (5).
- Tag ID
- 0x9207 (37383)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Unknown, 1=Average, 2=Center-weighted average, 3=Spot, 4=Multi-spot, 5=Pattern, 6=Partial, 255=Other
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Whether the flash fired, and how it was configured. Tells you if the photo used flash, if red-eye reduction was on, and whether the flash was automatic, forced, or suppressed.
Bitfield encoding multiple flash-related flags in a single SHORT value. Bit 0 indicates fired status; additional bits encode return detection, mode (auto/compulsory/suppressed), red-eye reduction, and function presence.
- Tag ID
- 0x9209 (37385)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Bit 0
- Flash fired (0=No, 1=Yes)
- Bits 1-2
- Return detection (0=No strobe return function, 2=Return not detected, 3=Return detected)
- Bits 3-4
- Mode (0=Unknown, 1=Compulsory firing, 2=Compulsory suppression, 3=Auto)
- Bit 5
- Flash function present (0=Yes, 1=No flash function)
- Bit 6
- Red eye reduction (0=No, 1=Yes)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How zoomed in your lens was, measured in millimeters. Lower numbers (18mm) give wide-angle views that capture more scene. Higher numbers (200mm) zoom in tight on distant subjects.
Records the actual focal length of the lens in millimeters at capture time. For zoom lenses, reflects the specific setting used. Does not account for sensor crop factor—see FocalLengthIn35mmFilm for equivalent field of view.
- Tag ID
- 0x920A (37386)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Millimeters
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Whether your camera automatically adjusted colors for the lighting (Auto), or you set it manually. Affects whether whites look truly white or have a warm/cool color cast.
Simple flag indicating automatic versus manual white balance selection. The specific color temperature or preset used is found in LightSource or manufacturer-specific MakerNotes. RAW files retain original sensor data regardless of this setting.
- Tag ID
- 0xA403 (42035)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Auto, 1=Manual
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
What type of lighting your camera thought it was under—daylight, cloudy, shade, tungsten bulbs, fluorescent tubes, or flash. This determines how colors are balanced.
Specifies the light source (illuminant) used for white balance calculation. Values correspond to standard illuminants defined by the CIE (International Commission on Illumination). Custom Kelvin temperatures use value 255.
- Tag ID
- 0x9208 (37384)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Key Values
- 0=Unknown, 1=Daylight, 2=Fluorescent, 3=Tungsten, 4=Flash, 9=Fine weather, 10=Cloudy, 11=Shade, 17-24=Various fluorescent types, 255=Other
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How much you told the camera to adjust its automatic exposure—typically shown as +1, -0.7, etc. Positive values make photos brighter; negative values make them darker.
Records the exposure compensation applied relative to the metered exposure, measured in APEX exposure value (EV) units. One EV equals one stop of exposure adjustment. Stored as SRATIONAL to support fractional negative values.
- Tag ID
- 0x9204 (37380)
- Data Type
- SRATIONAL (10)
- Count
- 1
- Range
- Typically -5.0 to +5.0 EV
- Unit
- APEX EV (stops)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Another way to record shutter speed—the same information as ExposureTime, but stored in a mathematical format cameras use internally for exposure calculations.
Shutter speed expressed in APEX (Additive System of Photographic Exposure) units, where Tv = -log₂(ExposureTime). This logarithmic format enables simple addition for exposure calculations: Ev = Av + Tv - Sv.
- Tag ID
- 0x9201 (37377)
- Data Type
- SRATIONAL (10)
- Count
- 1
- Formula
- Tv = -log₂(ExposureTime in seconds)
- Example
- 1/250s → Tv ≈ 7.97
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The same aperture information as FNumber, stored in a different mathematical format. Like ShutterSpeedValue, this exists for technical exposure calculations.
Aperture in APEX units, where Av = 2 × log₂(FNumber). The logarithmic scale means each increment of 1 represents one stop of exposure change, enabling simple arithmetic for exposure calculations.
- Tag ID
- 0x9202 (37378)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Formula
- Av = 2 × log₂(FNumber)
- Example
- f/5.6 → Av ≈ 4.97
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How bright the scene was when your camera metered it. Higher numbers mean brighter conditions (sunny day), lower numbers mean darker (dimly lit room).
Scene brightness measured by the camera's meter, expressed in APEX Bv units (approximately log₂ of luminance). This is the metered value before any exposure compensation. Value of 0xFFFFFFFF indicates unknown.
- Tag ID
- 0x9203 (37379)
- Data Type
- SRATIONAL (10)
- Count
- 1
- Typical Range
- -4 (candlelit) to +15 (bright snow)
- Unit
- APEX Bv
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The widest your lens can open (its "fastest" aperture) at the focal length used. A lens marked f/2.8 might only achieve f/4 when fully zoomed in—this field tells you the actual maximum.
Records the maximum (widest) aperture available at the focal length used for capture, in APEX units. For variable-aperture zoom lenses, this reflects the maximum aperture at the specific focal length, not the lens's widest specification.
- Tag ID
- 0x9205 (37381)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Formula
- FNumber = √(2^Av)
- Example
- Av 2.97 ≈ f/2.8
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How far your camera focused—the distance to your main subject in meters. Helps you understand if you were shooting close-up portraits or distant landscapes.
Estimated distance to the focused subject in meters. Derived from lens focus position, phase-detection AF data, or depth sensors. Accuracy varies significantly—some cameras don't populate this field at all. Value 0xFFFFFFFF means infinity focus.
- Tag ID
- 0x9206 (37382)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Meters
- Special Values
- 0=Unknown, 0xFFFFFFFF=Infinity
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Whether the camera set exposure automatically, you set it manually, or you used bracketing (taking multiple shots at different exposures for HDR or to ensure a good exposure).
Indicates the exposure setting method at capture time. Distinguishes between camera-determined exposure (Auto), photographer-set exposure (Manual), and exposure bracketing sequences. Complements ExposureProgram which describes the specific program mode.
- Tag ID
- 0xA402 (42034)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Auto exposure, 1=Manual exposure, 2=Auto bracket
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Whether your camera used digital zoom (cropping and enlarging electronically) and by how much. A value of 2.0 means the image was digitally magnified 2x beyond optical zoom.
Records the digital zoom factor applied at capture time as a ratio. Value of 1.0 means no digital zoom; 2.0 means 2x digital magnification. Zero or absent indicates digital zoom wasn't used. Modern smartphones may record crop factors from multi-lens switching here.
- Tag ID
- 0xA404 (42036)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Range
- 0 (none) to 10+ (heavy digital zoom)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
A standardized focal length that lets you compare zoom levels across different cameras. "50mm equivalent" means the same field of view whether you're using a phone, compact camera, or professional DSLR.
Equivalent focal length assuming a 35mm full-frame sensor (36×24mm). Calculated by multiplying actual focal length by the crop factor. Stored as integer millimeters. A 50mm lens on APS-C (1.5x crop) yields 75mm equivalent.
- Tag ID
- 0xA405 (42037)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Millimeters (35mm equivalent)
- Special Value
- 0=Unknown
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
What type of scene your camera thought it was shooting—standard, landscape, portrait, or night scene. Some cameras detect this automatically; others record your mode dial selection.
Indicates the scene classification used for image processing optimization. Values reflect either manual mode selection or camera scene detection algorithms. Affects in-camera JPEG processing; RAW files preserve original data regardless.
- Tag ID
- 0xA406 (42038)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Standard, 1=Landscape, 2=Portrait, 3=Night scene
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How much your camera amplified the signal from its sensor. "High Gain Up" means the camera boosted sensitivity significantly, which often introduces noise but allows shooting in darker conditions.
Qualitative indicator of sensor amplification level. Relates to ISO sensitivity but provides categorical rather than numeric information. Useful for understanding relative signal boosting without exposing proprietary gain algorithms.
- Tag ID
- 0xA407 (42039)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=None, 1=Low gain up, 2=High gain up, 3=Low gain down, 4=High gain down
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The contrast level applied to your image—how much difference there is between light and dark areas. "Soft" preserves shadow detail; "Hard" creates punchier, more dramatic images.
Records the contrast processing setting applied by camera firmware during JPEG generation. Affects the tone curve applied to image data. RAW files retain linear data regardless of this setting.
- Tag ID
- 0xA408 (42040)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Normal, 1=Soft, 2=Hard
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How vivid or muted colors appear in your photo. "Low" creates more subtle, pastel-like colors; "High" makes colors pop and appear more vibrant—sometimes unrealistically so.
Records the color saturation processing level applied during in-camera JPEG rendering. Affects chroma intensity without altering luminance. RAW files preserve original color data for custom processing.
- Tag ID
- 0xA409 (42041)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Normal, 1=Low saturation, 2=High saturation
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How much edge enhancement was applied to make details appear crisper. "Soft" gives a gentler look good for portraits; "Hard" emphasizes edges and texture—sometimes creating unnatural halos.
Indicates the level of unsharp mask or similar edge-enhancement processing applied during JPEG conversion. Excessive sharpening introduces ringing artifacts. Professional workflows typically use minimal in-camera sharpening, preferring RAW processing.
- Tag ID
- 0xA40A (42042)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Normal, 1=Soft, 2=Hard
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
A category describing roughly how far away your subject was: macro (very close), close-up (near), distant (far), or unknown. Simpler than the exact SubjectDistance measurement.
Categorical classification of focus distance. Often derived from lens focus position or AF system data. Less precise than SubjectDistance but more reliably populated across cameras. May influence camera scene optimization.
- Tag ID
- 0xA40C (42044)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Unknown, 1=Macro, 2=Close view, 3=Distant view
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
What type of image sensor captured your photo. Most cameras today use "one-chip color area sensors"—a single sensor with a colored filter over each pixel to capture red, green, and blue.
Describes the image sensor type and configuration. Value 2 (one-chip color area) is standard for Bayer-pattern CMOS/CCD sensors. Foveon X3 sensors may report differently. Values 7 and 8 typically indicate scanning-type sensors.
- Tag ID
- 0xA217 (41495)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 1=Not defined, 2=One-chip color area sensor, 3=Two-chip color area sensor, 4=Three-chip color area sensor, 5=Color sequential area sensor, 7=Trilinear sensor, 8=Color sequential linear sensor
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Whether the image came from a digital camera, a scanner, or another type of device. Almost all photos from cameras and phones will say "DSC" (Digital Still Camera).
Single-byte indicator of image source hardware category. Value 3 (DSC) is nearly universal for digital cameras and smartphones. Scanners should write 1-2 but compliance varies. Custom or unknown sources may use 0.
- Tag ID
- 0xA300 (41728)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Other, 1=Film scanner, 2=Reflection print scanner, 3=DSC (Digital Still Camera)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Whether this is a directly-photographed image or something else. Value 1 means "directly photographed"—the camera pointed at a real scene and captured it. This is what virtually all photos are.
Indicates whether the image was captured directly from a scene. Value 1 is the only defined value and indicates direct photography. Intended to distinguish from synthetic or composite images, but lacks reliable implementation for modified images.
- Tag ID
- 0xA301 (41729)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 1=Directly photographed
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Whether your camera applied special processing—like art filters, HDR, or other effects. "Normal" means standard processing; "Custom" indicates some special effect was applied in-camera.
Binary flag indicating whether non-standard image processing was applied. Does not specify what processing was used—that information may be in MakerNotes. HDR, panorama stitching, and art filters typically set value 1.
- Tag ID
- 0xA401 (42033)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Normal process, 1=Custom process
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Which ISO measurement standard your camera used. There are actually several ways to measure ISO sensitivity—this tells you which one applies to the ISO number in your photo's data.
Specifies which ISO 12232 sensitivity measurement method was used. SOS (Standard Output Sensitivity) and REI (Recommended Exposure Index) are most common. Different methods can yield different ISO numbers for identical exposure behavior.
- Tag ID
- 0x8830 (34864)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Unknown, 1=SOS, 2=REI, 3=ISO, 4=SOS + ISO, 5=REI + ISO, 6=SOS + REI, 7=SOS + REI + ISO
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How powerful the flash was when it fired, measured in a standard unit of light output. Higher numbers mean more light was dumped onto the scene. Rarely recorded by consumer cameras.
Records strobe energy at capture time in BCPS (Beam Candle Power Seconds). Primarily used by studio flash systems and scientific imaging. Consumer camera flashes rarely populate this field. Not the same as guide number.
- Tag ID
- 0xA20B (41483)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- BCPS (Beam Candle Power Seconds)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Where in the frame your camera's autofocus locked on. This tells you which part of the image was considered the "main subject"—useful for understanding focus decisions.
Specifies the main subject location as pixel coordinates. Encoding varies by count: 2 values = center point (X, Y); 3 values = circle (X, Y, diameter); 4 values = rectangle (X, Y, width, height). Coordinates are relative to full sensor area, not cropped output.
- Tag ID
- 0x9214 (37396)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 2, 3, or 4
- Format
- [X, Y] or [X, Y, diameter] or [X, Y, width, height]
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The exact pixel coordinates of your main subject within the image—where the camera detected or you selected the primary focus point. Shown as X and Y pixel positions.
Records the main subject location as X, Y pixel coordinates within the image. Unlike SubjectArea which can describe regions, this field specifies only a point location. Origin (0, 0) is top-left corner of the image.
- Tag ID
- 0xA214 (41492)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 2
- Format
- [X column, Y row]
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How densely packed the pixels are on your camera's sensor—how many pixels fit per unit of physical sensor area. Higher density means smaller individual pixels.
Records the sensor's horizontal pixel density as pixels per FocalPlaneResolutionUnit. Combined with image dimensions, enables calculation of actual sensor dimensions. FocalPlaneYResolution provides the vertical complement.
- Tag ID
- 0xA20E (41486)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Per FocalPlaneResolutionUnit (0xA210)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
A unique code assigned to identify this specific image, like a serial number. Helps distinguish between different photos even if they have identical filenames or capture times.
32-character hexadecimal identifier intended to uniquely identify the image. Generation method is manufacturer-specific and may incorporate serial numbers, timestamps, or random values. Not guaranteed globally unique across all cameras.
- Tag ID
- 0xA420 (42016)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 33 (32 hex digits + null terminator)
- Format
- 128-bit value as hexadecimal string
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
A value describing how brightness levels in the image file map to actual display brightness. Most images use a value around 2.2, which matches typical computer monitors.
Records the gamma coefficient of the image, describing the relationship between encoded pixel values and light intensity. Value 2.2 is standard for sRGB. Value 1.0 indicates linear gamma (no encoding). Rarely populated by cameras; typically assumed to be sRGB-compatible.
- Tag ID
- 0xA500 (42240)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Typical Values
- 1.0 (linear), 1.8 (older Mac), 2.2 (sRGB), 2.4 (Rec. 709)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Your timezone when the photo was taken, shown as an offset from UTC (like +05:30 for India or -08:00 for Pacific US). This makes the capture time globally precise, not just "local time."
Records the timezone offset for the DateTime tag (ModifyDate). Format is ±HH:MM relative to UTC. Added in EXIF 2.31 to address the historic ambiguity of EXIF timestamps. Three related tags exist: OffsetTime (ModifyDate), OffsetTimeOriginal (DateTimeOriginal), OffsetTimeDigitized.
- Tag ID
- 0x9010 (36880)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 7
- Format
- ±HH:MM
- Example
- -08:00, +05:30, +00:00
- Standard
- EXIF 2.31+
Fractions of a second for the capture time—the part after the decimal point. Normal timestamps only go down to seconds; this adds precision like .250 (quarter second) or .083 (one-twelfth second).
Provides sub-second precision for the DateTime tag. Stored as an ASCII string representing decimal fractions (e.g., "123" means .123 seconds). Related tags SubSecTimeOriginal and SubSecTimeDigitized provide precision for their respective timestamps.
- Tag ID
- 0x9290 (37520)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Format
- Decimal digits (e.g., "250" for .250 seconds)
- Related
- SubSecTimeOriginal (0x9291), SubSecTimeDigitized (0x9292)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
A code indicating which compatibility standard the image follows. "R98" means it's a standard JPEG that any EXIF-aware software can read; "R03" indicates DCF Option File (typically thumbnail or special format).
Identifies the interoperability rule to which the file conforms, stored in the Interoperability IFD. R98 indicates ExifR98 (standard JPEG with sRGB), R03 indicates DCF option file (non-standard colorspace or thumbnail). Part of DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) specification.
- Tag ID
- 0x0001 (1) in Interoperability IFD
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 4
- Values
- "R98" (ExifR98, sRGB JPEG), "R03" (DCF Option File), "THM" (DCF Thumbnail)
- Standard
- DCF 2.0, EXIF 2.32
GPS & Location 27 terms
Geographic coordinates, altitude, direction, and timing data embedded by GPS-enabled devices. These fields can pinpoint exactly where and when a photo was taken—often to within a few meters.
Your north-south position on Earth when the photo was taken. Combined with longitude, this pinpoints exactly where you were standing—sometimes accurate to within 3 meters with modern smartphones.
Stores latitude as three RATIONAL values representing degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS format). Requires GPSLatitudeRef to indicate North or South hemisphere. Some implementations use decimal degrees with minutes and seconds as zero.
- Tag ID
- 0x0002 (2)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 3
- Format
- [degrees, minutes, seconds]
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
A simple indicator—"N" for north of the equator, "S" for south. Works together with GPSLatitude to form a complete position. Without this, the latitude number would be ambiguous.
Single ASCII character indicating latitude hemisphere. "N" for northern hemisphere (positive latitude), "S" for southern hemisphere (negative latitude). Must be present when GPSLatitude is recorded.
- Tag ID
- 0x0001 (1)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 2 (including null)
- Values
- "N" or "S"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Your east-west position on Earth. Together with latitude, this creates an exact point on the map. The Prime Meridian (through Greenwich, London) divides East from West longitudes.
Stores longitude as three RATIONAL values in degrees, minutes, seconds format. Requires GPSLongitudeRef for East/West designation. Range: 0° to 180° (with reference indicating direction from Prime Meridian).
- Tag ID
- 0x0004 (4)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 3
- Format
- [degrees, minutes, seconds]
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Indicates whether the longitude is "E" (east of the Prime Meridian) or "W" (west). Americas are West; Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia are primarily East.
Single ASCII character for longitude hemisphere. "E" indicates positive longitude (east of Greenwich), "W" indicates negative longitude (west). Forms a required pair with GPSLongitude tag.
- Tag ID
- 0x0003 (3)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 2
- Values
- "E" or "W"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
How high you were above (or below) sea level when taking the photo, measured in meters. At the beach it's near 0; in Denver it's around 1,600; on a mountaintop it could be 4,000+.
Altitude in meters, stored as RATIONAL for fractional precision. Reference datum (above/below sea level) is specified by GPSAltitudeRef. Consumer GPS altitude accuracy is typically ±10-20m, significantly less precise than horizontal positioning.
- Tag ID
- 0x0006 (6)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Units
- Meters
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Indicates whether the altitude is above sea level (normal, value 0) or below sea level (rare, value 1). Unless you're photographing from a submarine or the Dead Sea, this is almost always 0.
Single byte indicating altitude reference. Value 0 means altitude is above sea level; value 1 means below sea level. Default is 0 when not specified. Required when GPSAltitude is present.
- Tag ID
- 0x0005 (5)
- Data Type
- BYTE (1)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0 = Above sea level, 1 = Below sea level
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The time from GPS satellites when your location was recorded—always in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), regardless of your local timezone. GPS time comes from atomic clocks in space, so it's extremely accurate.
UTC time from GPS fix, stored as three RATIONAL values for hours, minutes, and seconds. GPS time derives from satellite atomic clocks, accurate to nanoseconds. May differ from DateTimeOriginal if camera clock isn't synced.
- Tag ID
- 0x0007 (7)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 3
- Format
- [hours, minutes, seconds] in UTC
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The date component from GPS data, always in UTC timezone. Because of timezone differences, this might show a different date than your local time—if you take a photo at 11 PM in New York, the GPS date might show tomorrow's date (UTC is 5 hours ahead).
Date of GPS fix in UTC, formatted as "YYYY:MM:DD". Paired with GPSTimeStamp for complete UTC datetime. May differ from DateTimeOriginal's local date due to timezone offset, especially near midnight.
- Tag ID
- 0x001D (29)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 11
- Format
- YYYY:MM:DD
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
How fast you were moving when the photo was taken. Useful for action shots while driving, cycling, skiing, or flying. The unit (mph, km/h, or knots) is specified separately.
GPS-derived speed of movement at capture time. Units specified by GPSSpeedRef tag. Calculated from position changes between GPS fixes, so accuracy depends on fix interval and conditions.
- Tag ID
- 0x000D (13)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Units
- Per GPSSpeedRef: K=km/h, M=mph, N=knots
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Tells you what unit the GPSSpeed value is measured in: "K" for kilometers per hour, "M" for miles per hour, or "N" for nautical miles per hour (knots). Check this before interpreting the speed number.
Single character defining GPSSpeed units. Default is "K" (kilometers/hour) if not specified. Aviation and marine equipment may use "N" (nautical miles/hour, knots).
- Tag ID
- 0x000C (12)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 2
- Values
- "K" = km/h, "M" = mph, "N" = knots
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The compass direction your camera was pointing when you took the photo—0° is North, 90° is East, 180° is South, 270° is West. Recorded by your phone's digital compass or magnetometer.
Camera heading in degrees (0-360) when image was captured. Reference type (true north vs magnetic north) specified by GPSImgDirectionRef. Derived from device magnetometer; accuracy affected by magnetic interference.
- Tag ID
- 0x0011 (17)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Range
- 0.00 to 359.99 degrees
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Specifies whether the image direction is measured against true north ("T") or magnetic north ("M"). True north points to the geographic North Pole; magnetic north points where a compass needle points, which shifts over time.
Reference for GPSImgDirection bearing. "T" = true (geographic) north; "M" = magnetic north. Smartphones typically apply magnetic declination correction and report true north.
- Tag ID
- 0x0010 (16)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 2
- Values
- "T" = True North, "M" = Magnetic North
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The compass direction you were traveling when the photo was taken—not where the camera was pointed, but which way you were moving. Different from GPSImgDirection if you took a photo while facing sideways.
Direction of GPS receiver movement in degrees (0-360). Distinct from GPSImgDirection which records camera pointing direction. Calculated from successive position fixes, so requires movement to be accurate.
- Tag ID
- 0x000F (15)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Range
- 0.00 to 359.99 degrees
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Whether GPSTrack is measured relative to true north ("T") or magnetic north ("M"). Same concept as GPSImgDirectionRef but for your movement direction instead of camera pointing direction.
Reference for GPSTrack bearing. "T" = true north; "M" = magnetic north. GPS-derived track is inherently referenced to true north; magnetic is used with traditional compasses.
- Tag ID
- 0x000E (14)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 2
- Values
- "T" or "M"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The coordinate system used for the GPS data—almost always "WGS-84", the global standard used by GPS satellites and mapping services like Google Maps. It defines the shape of Earth used for calculations.
Geodetic datum for GPS coordinates. "WGS-84" (World Geodetic System 1984) is the GPS native datum and nearly universal. Historical data might use local datums (NAD27, ED50) which can differ by hundreds of meters.
- Tag ID
- 0x0012 (18)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Common Value
- "WGS-84"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The latitude of your subject (what you photographed), not where you were standing. Rarely used in consumer photography—it's designed for cases where you're photographing something at a known different location.
Latitude of the subject/destination point, formatted identically to GPSLatitude. Used with GPSDestLatitudeRef, GPSDestLongitude, and GPSDestLongitudeRef to specify subject location distinct from camera position.
- Tag ID
- 0x0014 (20)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 3
- Format
- [degrees, minutes, seconds]
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The longitude of your subject, paired with GPSDestLatitude. Together they mark the location of what you photographed, separate from where the camera was positioned.
Longitude of subject/destination point in standard DMS format. Completes the destination coordinate pair with GPSDestLatitude. Rarely populated in consumer photography equipment.
- Tag ID
- 0x0016 (22)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 3
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The compass direction from where you stood to what you photographed. If you're at a lookout point photographing a mountain to your east, this would be around 90 degrees.
Bearing from camera position to destination/subject in degrees. Can be calculated from coordinates or measured directly. Reference direction (true/magnetic) specified by GPSDestBearingRef.
- Tag ID
- 0x0018 (24)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Range
- 0.00 to 359.99 degrees
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
How far away the subject of your photo was from where you stood. Useful when photographing distant landmarks—"That mountain is 15 kilometers away." Units are specified separately.
Distance from camera position to subject/destination. Can be calculated from coordinate pairs or measured directly (e.g., by rangefinder). Units specified by GPSDestDistanceRef.
- Tag ID
- 0x001A (26)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Units
- Per GPSDestDistanceRef
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
How your device figured out where you were. "GPS" means satellite-based (most accurate). "CELLID" means estimated from cell towers. "WLAN" means derived from WiFi networks. Some devices use combinations.
Text string identifying the positioning method. Standard values: "GPS", "CELLID", "WLAN", or combinations like "GPS/CELLID". First 8 bytes indicate character encoding (as with UserComment). Device-dependent implementation.
- Tag ID
- 0x001B (27)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- Variable
- Common Values
- "GPS", "CELLID", "WLAN", "MANUAL"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
A quality score for the GPS reading—lower is better. Values under 2 are excellent; 2-5 is good; over 5 suggests the coordinates may be less accurate. It measures how well-positioned the satellites were overhead.
Dilution of Precision—a unitless quality metric where lower values indicate better satellite geometry. PDOP (position), HDOP (horizontal), or VDOP (vertical) may be stored; exact type is often unspecified.
- Tag ID
- 0x000B (11)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Quality Scale
- <2 excellent, 2-5 good, 5-10 moderate, >10 poor
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Information about the GPS satellites used to calculate your position. Might include how many satellites were visible or their individual signal strengths. More satellites generally means better accuracy.
Free-form ASCII text describing satellites used for the position fix. Format varies by manufacturer—may include satellite count, PRN codes, elevations, azimuths, or SNR values. No standardized structure.
- Tag ID
- 0x0008 (8)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Whether the GPS was actively tracking ("A" for active) or still searching for satellites ("V" for void/invalid). If this shows "V", the coordinates might be old or estimated.
GPS receiver status at time of fix. "A" indicates active measurement (valid fix); "V" indicates void/invalid (receiver searching or using dead reckoning). Derived from NMEA sentence status flags.
- Tag ID
- 0x0009 (9)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 2
- Values
- "A" = Active, "V" = Void
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
Whether the GPS calculated a 2D fix (latitude and longitude only) or a 3D fix (latitude, longitude, and altitude). 3D is better and requires at least 4 satellites; 2D only needs 3 but can't determine height.
GPS measurement dimensionality. "2" = 2D fix (latitude/longitude only, 3 satellites minimum); "3" = 3D fix (full position including altitude, 4+ satellites). Affects altitude reliability.
- Tag ID
- 0x000A (10)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- 2
- Values
- "2" = 2D, "3" = 3D
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
The version of the GPS metadata format used in this file—almost always "2.3.0.0" for modern cameras. Like a format identifier that tells software how to interpret the other GPS tags.
Version of the GPSInfoIFD. Four bytes representing major.minor.revision.build. Current version is 2.3.0.0 (bytes: 2, 3, 0, 0). Must be first tag in GPS IFD to enable proper parsing.
- Tag ID
- 0x0000 (0)
- Data Type
- BYTE (1)
- Count
- 4
- Current Value
- [2, 3, 0, 0]
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (GPS IFD)
IPTC Metadata 48 terms
Professional metadata standard developed by the International Press Telecommunications Council. Creator credits, captions, keywords, copyright, and contact information used by news agencies and stock photo services.
A short reference name for your image—like giving a file a nickname that describes what's in it. News agencies use this to quickly identify photos in their systems.
Short textual identifier assigned to the object by the creator, functioning as a unique reference within the provider's system. Distinct from the headline (which is for publication) and caption (which describes content). Limited to 64 characters per IPTC IIM specification.
- Dataset
- 2:05
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 64 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
A 1-8 scale showing how quickly this image needs to be processed or published. News agencies use this to prioritize breaking news photos over feature stories.
Editorial priority indicator on a scale of 1 (most urgent) to 8 (least urgent), with 5 representing normal urgency. Originally designed for wire service workflows to prioritize transmission order. Value 0 is reserved, and 9 indicates user-defined priority.
- Dataset
- 2:10
- Data Type
- Digits
- Value Range
- 1-8 (0 reserved, 9 user-defined)
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
A three-letter code identifying the subject area—like "SPO" for sports, "WAR" for war/conflict, or "FIN" for finance. Think of it as a filing system for news photos.
Three-character alphabetic code identifying the subject matter according to provider's classification scheme. Originally used ANPA codes (American Newspaper Publishers Association). Now largely deprecated in favor of Subject Reference codes, though still supported for backward compatibility.
- Dataset
- 2:15
- Data Type
- Alpha (3 chars)
- Max Length
- 3 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2 (deprecated)
Additional category codes to further classify an image beyond the main category. If the main Category is "SPO" (sports), supplemental might specify "basketball" or "NBA Finals."
Repeatable field containing additional subject classification codes that supplement the primary Category. Each instance can be up to 32 characters. Now deprecated in favor of Subject Reference (2:12), which uses standardized IPTC NewsCodes.
- Dataset
- 2:20
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters each
- Repeatable
- Yes
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2 (deprecated)
Searchable words or phrases describing what's in your photo—like hashtags, but embedded in the file itself. "sunset," "beach," "California," "vacation" would all be separate keywords.
Repeatable field for individual words or short phrases describing the intellectual content. Each keyword should be atomic (one concept per keyword). Forms the primary discovery mechanism for image databases. Maps to dc:subject in XMP. Controlled vocabularies are recommended for consistency.
- Dataset
- 2:25
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 64 characters each
- Repeatable
- Yes (unlimited)
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2, XMP dc:subject
Notes to photo editors about how to handle this image. "EMBARGO until 9am EST" or "Do not crop" or "Model release on file." Think of it as a sticky note attached to your photo.
Free-text field for editorial handling instructions that travel with the image through production workflows. Common uses include embargo dates, cropping restrictions, sensitivity warnings, and model/property release status. Content should be actionable instructions, not descriptive metadata.
- Dataset
- 2:40
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 256 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The date when the intellectual content was created—typically when you pressed the shutter. For a scan of a 1960s photo, this would be 1960s, not the scan date.
Designates the date the intellectual content was created. Per IPTC definition, this is explicitly the date of content creation, not file creation or modification. Stored as CCYYMMDD (8 digits). Should be combined with TimeCreated (2:60) for complete temporal specification. Maps to photoshop:DateCreated in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:55
- Data Type
- Digits
- Format
- CCYYMMDD (e.g., 20240315)
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The time of day when the photo was taken, paired with DateCreated to give the complete moment. Includes timezone information so editors know exactly when events occurred.
Time component corresponding to DateCreated, indicating when the intellectual content was created. Format includes optional timezone offset from UTC. Combined with DateCreated, provides complete ISO 8601-compatible timestamp for content creation moment.
- Dataset
- 2:60
- Data Type
- Digits
- Format
- HHMMSS±HHMM (e.g., 143022+0100)
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The photographer's name—who actually pressed the shutter. This is your credit line that appears under published photos: "Photo by Jane Smith."
Contains the name(s) of the creator(s) of the intellectual content. Repeatable for multiple creators. Maps to dc:creator in XMP Dublin Core. Should contain individual names, not organization names (use Credit for organization attribution). Format typically "Surname, Firstname" for consistent sorting.
- Dataset
- 2:80
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters each
- Repeatable
- Yes
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2, XMP dc:creator
The photographer's job title or role—"Staff Photographer," "Freelance," "Chief Photographer," or "Contributing Photographer." Accompanies the Byline for fuller attribution.
Contains the job title or position of the creator(s) identified in Byline. Should describe their role at time of creation, not their current position. Maps to photoshop:AuthorsPosition in XMP. Multiple titles correspond positionally to multiple Byline entries.
- Dataset
- 2:85
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The city where the photo was taken—"New York," "London," or "Tokyo." This is a text location, not GPS coordinates, so it's human-readable and searchable.
Identifies the city of content origin per IPTC location hierarchy (Sublocation → City → State/Province → Country). Use official city name, not colloquial names. For non-urban locations, use the nearest named municipality. Maps to photoshop:City in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:90
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The specific place within a city—"Central Park," "Eiffel Tower," "Madison Square Garden," or "Westminster Abbey." More precise than just the city name.
Most specific element of the IPTC location hierarchy. Can be a landmark, venue, named area, or street address. Should identify a recognizable location narrower than city level. Maps to Iptc4xmpCore:Location in XMP. For unnamed locations, consider leaving empty rather than using GPS coordinates.
- Dataset
- 2:92
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The state, province, or region where the photo was taken—"California," "Ontario," "Bavaria," or "New South Wales." The administrative level between city and country.
Primary administrative subdivision of the country—typically a state, province, territory, or region. Use official names, not abbreviations. For countries without administrative subdivisions, this field may be omitted. Maps to photoshop:State in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:95
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
A standardized two or three-letter code for the country—"US" for United States, "GB" for Great Britain, "JP" for Japan. Computers use these codes for consistent international sorting.
ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country code indicating location of content origin. Provides unambiguous, language-independent country identification. Should be used together with Country-PrimaryLocationName for human readability. Maps to Iptc4xmpCore:CountryCode in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:100
- Data Type
- Alpha
- Length
- 3 characters (ISO 3166-1 alpha-3)
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2, ISO 3166-1
The full, readable country name—"United States," "United Kingdom," "Japan." The human-friendly version of the country code.
Full name of the country depicted in the content. Use official English name per ISO 3166-1 or UN standards. Should always be accompanied by Country-PrimaryLocationCode for machine processing. Maps to photoshop:Country in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:101
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 64 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
Originally a wire service routing code, now commonly used as a job number or client reference. "Wedding-Smith-2024" or "Client123-Project456" helps track which project a photo belongs to.
Originally designated for wire transmission routing codes; now repurposed as a general job/project identifier. IPTC Photo Metadata Standard recommends using this for job tracking, purchase order numbers, or client references. Maps to photoshop:TransmissionReference in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:103
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
A short, publishable summary of the image—like a newspaper headline. "President Signs Climate Bill" or "Sunset Over Golden Gate Bridge." Intended for publication, not just internal use.
A brief synopsis of the content, suitable for publication. Should be concise and journalistically styled. Distinct from ObjectName (internal reference) and Caption (detailed description). Maps to photoshop:Headline in XMP. Limited to 256 characters, though shorter headlines are more effective.
- Dataset
- 2:105
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 256 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The organization or person to credit when publishing—"Reuters," "Getty Images," or "Jane Smith Photography." This is often the agency or company name, separate from the individual photographer.
Identifies who should be credited when the image is published. Typically contains the content provider (agency, archive, or organization) rather than the individual creator. When both exist, publications often format as "Credit/Byline." Maps to photoshop:Credit in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:110
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
Where the image originally came from—the original owner or supplier. For a wire photo, this might be "AFP" even if you got it from Getty. It's the chain of custody for images.
Identifies the original owner or creator of the intellectual content. Distinguished from Credit (who to attribute when publishing) and Copyright (legal rights holder). Represents the earliest known source in the distribution chain. Maps to photoshop:Source in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:115
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
Your legal copyright statement—"© 2024 Jane Smith. All rights reserved." This travels with the image file to assert your ownership wherever the photo ends up.
Contains any necessary copyright notice for claiming intellectual property rights. Should include copyright symbol (©), year of first publication, and rights holder name at minimum. May include licensing terms or contact information. Maps to dc:rights in XMP Dublin Core.
- Dataset
- 2:116
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 128 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2, XMP dc:rights
A detailed description of what's in the image—who, what, where, when, why. This is the full story behind the photo, often used as the caption printed beneath it in publications.
Textual description of the content, providing the who/what/where/when/why for news photos or detailed descriptions for other imagery. Can be used as photo caption for publication. Should be written in complete sentences. Maps to dc:description in XMP. No practical length limit, though 2000 characters is typical maximum.
- Dataset
- 2:120
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 2000 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2, XMP dc:description
Who wrote the caption—not the photographer, but the person who penned the description. In news organizations, this is often a different person than the one who took the photo.
Identifies the person who wrote, edited, or corrected the Caption-Abstract field. Provides accountability for caption content separate from the image creator. Repeatable for multiple contributors. Maps to photoshop:CaptionWriter in XMP.
- Dataset
- 2:122
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters each
- Repeatable
- Yes
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The earliest date when this image can be published—an embargo date. If set to next Monday, editors know they can't use the photo until then.
Designates the earliest date the provider intends the object to be used. Often used for embargo enforcement in news workflows. Format matches DateCreated (CCYYMMDD). Should be paired with ReleaseTime for precise embargo management.
- Dataset
- 2:30
- Data Type
- Digits
- Format
- CCYYMMDD
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The exact time when the embargo lifts—paired with ReleaseDate for precise control. "9:00 AM EST on Monday" is clearer than just "Monday."
Time component of earliest intended use date. Includes timezone offset for unambiguous international coordination. Combined with ReleaseDate provides complete embargo timestamp. Format: HHMMSS±HHMM.
- Dataset
- 2:35
- Data Type
- Digits
- Format
- HHMMSS±HHMM
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The date after which this image shouldn't be used anymore—a "kill date." Common for time-limited campaigns, seasonal content, or licensed images with usage windows.
Designates the latest date the provider intends the object to be used. After this date, the object should be removed from active use. Commonly used for time-limited rights or content that becomes stale. Format: CCYYMMDD.
- Dataset
- 2:37
- Data Type
- Digits
- Format
- CCYYMMDD
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The exact time when usage rights end—paired with ExpirationDate. "Midnight GMT on December 31st" for precise rights management.
Time component of latest intended use date. Provides hour/minute precision when date-level granularity is insufficient. Combined with ExpirationDate for complete expiration timestamp.
- Dataset
- 2:38
- Data Type
- Digits
- Format
- HHMMSS±HHMM
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
An identifier for recurring features or series—like "Daily Weather Map" or "Weekly Fashion" or "Olympics-2024." Groups related images that appear regularly.
Identifies editorial content that recurs regularly. Used by wire services to route content to appropriate destinations automatically based on standing requests. Limited to 32 alphanumeric characters.
- Dataset
- 2:22
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
Workflow status indicator—"Draft," "Approved," "Final," or "Published." Tracks where an image is in the editorial pipeline.
Status of the object within the editorial workflow. Provider-defined values indicate review/approval state. Not standardized across organizations—each outlet may define their own status values. Maximum 64 characters.
- Dataset
- 2:07
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 64 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
Which edition the image is intended for—morning (a), afternoon (p), or both (b). A holdover from when newspapers had multiple daily editions.
Single-character code indicating intended publication cycle: 'a' (morning), 'p' (afternoon/evening), 'b' (both). Legacy field from print newspaper workflows with multiple daily editions. Largely obsolete in digital publishing.
- Dataset
- 2:75
- Data Type
- Alpha
- Values
- a, p, b
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2 (legacy)
A standardized code classifying what the image is about—using the IPTC Subject NewsCodes taxonomy. More precise than free-form keywords because everyone uses the same codes.
Structured reference to IPTC Subject NewsCodes, a standardized taxonomy of 1,400+ subject matter concepts. Format: IPR:SubjectCode:SubjectName:SubjectMatter:SubjectDetail. Enables automated routing and precise categorization across news systems. Replaces deprecated Category field.
- Dataset
- 2:12
- Data Type
- Text (structured)
- Format
- IPR:XXXXXXXX:Name:Matter:Detail
- Repeatable
- Yes
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2, IPTC NewsCodes
When the digital file was created—as opposed to when the intellectual content was created. For a scan of a 1960s photo, DateCreated is 1960s but DigitalCreationDate is when you scanned it.
Date when the digital representation was created. For born-digital content, matches DateCreated. For digitized content, indicates scan/digitization date. Enables tracking of both intellectual creation and digital asset creation timelines. Format: CCYYMMDD.
- Dataset
- 2:62
- Data Type
- Digits
- Format
- CCYYMMDD
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The time of day when the digital file was created—paired with DigitalCreationDate. Less commonly used than the date alone.
Time component corresponding to DigitalCreationDate. Combined provides complete ISO 8601-compatible timestamp for digital asset creation. Format includes optional timezone offset.
- Dataset
- 2:63
- Data Type
- Digits
- Format
- HHMMSS±HHMM
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The software that created or last modified the IPTC data—"Adobe Photoshop," "Photo Mechanic," or "Lightroom." Shows which program was used to manage the metadata.
Identifies the software that created or last modified the IPTC metadata. Not the camera software—that's in EXIF Software tag. Records the application used for metadata entry/editing. Typically combined with ProgramVersion.
- Dataset
- 2:65
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 32 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
Version number of the software identified in OriginatingProgram—"25.0" or "2024.1" or "6.0." Helps pinpoint exactly which software release created the metadata.
Version number corresponding to OriginatingProgram. Format varies by vendor—may be numeric, semantic versioning, or build number. Together with OriginatingProgram, provides complete software identification.
- Dataset
- 2:70
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 10 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
Describes the color/component characteristics—black & white, color, CMYK, etc. A two-character code indicating what kind of image data is present.
Two-character code describing image components. First character indicates number of components (0-4), second indicates color type (W=monochrome, Y=yellow component, M=magenta, C=cyan, K=black, R=red, G=green, B=blue). Legacy field from wire transmission era.
- Dataset
- 2:130
- Data Type
- Text (coded)
- Length
- 2 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2 (legacy)
Whether the image is landscape (horizontal), portrait (vertical), or square. A single letter code: L, P, or S.
Single-character code indicating aspect ratio: P (portrait/vertical), L (landscape/horizontal), S (square). Determined by comparing pixel dimensions. Note: This is different from EXIF Orientation (rotation)—this is purely about aspect ratio.
- Dataset
- 2:131
- Data Type
- Alpha
- Values
- P, L, S
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The language used in textual metadata—"en" for English, "de" for German, "ja" for Japanese. Tells readers what language the caption and other text fields are written in.
ISO 639:1988 two or three-letter language code indicating the language of textual metadata (caption, headline, keywords). Enables language-aware search and routing in multilingual systems. Format: 2-3 character ISO 639 code.
- Dataset
- 2:135
- Data Type
- Alpha
- Length
- 2-3 characters
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2, ISO 639
How to reach the creator or rights holder—may include email, phone, website, or mailing address. Embedded right in the photo so potential buyers can find you.
Structured contact information for the creator(s) or maintainer(s). In IPTC Core/Extension, this is a complex type with multiple fields: Address, City, State/Province, Postal Code, Country, Phone(s), Email(s), Website(s). Maps to Iptc4xmpCore:CreatorContactInfo in XMP.
- Standard
- IPTC Photo Metadata Standard
- XMP Mapping
- Iptc4xmpCore:CreatorContactInfo
- Structure
- Bag of ContactInfo
- Fields
- Address, City, Region, PostalCode, Country, Phone, Email, Website
ISO country code indicating where the content was created. Similar to Country-PrimaryLocationCode but can be repeated for images showing multiple countries.
ISO 3166-1 country code(s) indicating location(s) depicted in or relevant to the content. Repeatable field—unlike Country-PrimaryLocationCode which is singular. Enables tagging content relevant to multiple geographic locations.
- Dataset
- 2:26
- Data Type
- Alpha
- Length
- 3 characters (ISO 3166-1 alpha-3)
- Repeatable
- Yes
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2, ISO 3166-1
Full name of location(s) depicted in the image, paired with ContentLocationCode. Human-readable complement to the country code.
Full text name corresponding to ContentLocationCode. Repeatable field allowing multiple location names. Each ContentLocationName should correspond positionally to a ContentLocationCode entry. Maximum 64 characters per entry.
- Dataset
- 2:27
- Data Type
- Text
- Max Length
- 64 characters each
- Repeatable
- Yes
- Standard
- IPTC IIM 4.2
The editorial nature of the content—"Current," "Analysis," "Feature," "Profile," or "Opinion." Tells editors what kind of story this image supports.
Describes the intellectual or editorial character of the content using IPTC Genre NewsCodes. Examples: "Current," "Analysis," "Archive," "Background," "Feature," "Obituary," "Opinion." Distinct from subject matter (what it's about) vs. editorial treatment (how it's presented).
- Standard
- IPTC Photo Metadata Standard
- XMP Mapping
- Iptc4xmpCore:IntellectualGenre
- Data Type
- Text
- Vocabulary
- IPTC Genre NewsCodes
What type of scene is depicted using IPTC Scene codes—"headshot," "general view," "action," "performing," "press conference," etc. Describes how the subject is shown.
Describes what type of visual scene is depicted using IPTC Scene NewsCodes. Six-digit codes covering scene types: aerial, close-up, couple, exterior, full length, group, half length, headshot, interior, night scene, off-beat, panoramic, performing, portrait, etc. Repeatable field.
- Standard
- IPTC Photo Metadata Standard
- XMP Mapping
- Iptc4xmpCore:Scene
- Data Type
- Text (6-digit codes)
- Vocabulary
- IPTC Scene NewsCodes
- Repeatable
- Yes
Names of people visible in the photo—separate from the photographer (Byline). "Barack Obama," "Taylor Swift," or "John Smith, CEO."
Names of persons depicted in the image. Distinct from Byline (creator) and CaptionWriter (metadata author). Repeatable field for multiple subjects. In IPTC Extension, can be enhanced with PersonInImageWithDetails providing identifier, name, and optional description per person.
- Standard
- IPTC Photo Metadata Extension
- XMP Mapping
- Iptc4xmpExt:PersonInImage
- Data Type
- Text
- Repeatable
- Yes (bag of names)
The event where the photo was taken—"Super Bowl LVIII," "Oscars 2024," "G20 Summit," or "Smith-Jones Wedding." Names the specific occasion or happening.
Identifies the event at which the photo was taken. Free-text field describing the specific occasion. More granular than Keywords—captures the particular event rather than general topic. Maps to Iptc4xmpExt:Event in XMP.
- Standard
- IPTC Photo Metadata Extension
- XMP Mapping
- Iptc4xmpExt:Event
- Data Type
- Text (langAlt)
- Localizable
- Yes (language alternatives)
Age of the model(s) at the time the photo was taken. Important for legal compliance and appropriate usage—especially for distinguishing minors from adults.
Age(s) of human model(s) in years at time of capture. Part of PLUS (Picture Licensing Universal System) schema adopted by IPTC. Repeatable for multiple models. Essential for legal compliance in jurisdictions with age-specific restrictions. Integer values only.
- Standard
- PLUS Coalition / IPTC Extension
- XMP Mapping
- plus:ModelAge
- Data Type
- Integer
- Repeatable
- Yes (bag of integers)
Whether you have legal permission from people in the photo to use their likeness commercially. "Unlimited Model Release," "Limited Release," "No Release," or "Not Applicable."
Indicates model release status using PLUS controlled vocabulary: MR-NON (No release), MR-NAP (Not applicable—no people), MR-UMR (Unlimited model release), MR-LMR (Limited/restricted). Essential for licensing workflow compliance.
- Standard
- PLUS Coalition / IPTC Extension
- XMP Mapping
- plus:ModelReleaseStatus
- Data Type
- Closed Choice
- Values
- MR-NON, MR-NAP, MR-UMR, MR-LMR
Whether you have permission to use recognizable property—buildings, artwork, branded items, pets—commercially. Similar to model releases but for things instead of people.
Indicates property release status using PLUS controlled vocabulary: PR-NON (No release), PR-NAP (Not applicable—no recognizable property), PR-UPR (Unlimited property release), PR-LPR (Limited/restricted). Covers buildings, artwork, trademarks, pets, and other distinctive property.
- Standard
- PLUS Coalition / IPTC Extension
- XMP Mapping
- plus:PropertyReleaseStatus
- Data Type
- Closed Choice
- Values
- PR-NON, PR-NAP, PR-UPR, PR-LPR
A unique identifier issued by an image registry service—like a social security number for photos. Used to track and verify image authenticity across the internet.
Structured identifier from an image registry, containing both the registry organization identifier and the item ID issued by that registry. Enables persistent identification across systems and over time. Supports multiple registry entries per image.
- Standard
- IPTC Photo Metadata Extension
- XMP Mapping
- Iptc4xmpExt:RegistryId
- Structure
- RegOrgId (URI) + RegItemId (text)
- Repeatable
- Yes
Human-readable licensing terms—how the image can be used. "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0," "Editorial Use Only," or "Contact owner for licensing."
Free-form text describing licensing and usage terms in human-readable language. More detailed than CopyrightNotice—can include full license names, restrictions, or instructions. Maps to xmpRights:UsageTerms in XMP. Localizable via langAlt for multiple languages.
- Standard
- IPTC Photo Metadata Standard
- XMP Mapping
- xmpRights:UsageTerms
- Data Type
- Text (langAlt)
- Localizable
- Yes
A URL linking to your full copyright or licensing statement online. Points to a webpage with complete terms, contact info, or licensing portal.
URL referencing a web page with copyright ownership and usage rights information. Should be a persistent URL. For Creative Commons licenses, typically points to the specific license deed (e.g., creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Standard
- IPTC Photo Metadata Standard
- XMP Mapping
- xmpRights:WebStatement
- Data Type
- URL
XMP Extended 55 terms
Adobe's Extensible Metadata Platform—a flexible framework that can store ratings, labels, editing history, custom properties, and much more. The modern choice for complex metadata workflows.
Your name as the photographer or artist who made the image. This is the XMP equivalent of the EXIF Artist field.
Ordered array of entities primarily responsible for making the resource. In photo contexts, typically the photographer. From Dublin Core Metadata Element Set. Maps to IPTC Creator (Byline) for interoperability.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Ordered array of ProperName
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
- IPTC Sync
- Creator (2:80 Byline)
A detailed caption or description of what's in the photo. Tell the story behind the image—who, what, where, when, why.
Language-alternative array for textual descriptions of the resource content. Supports multiple languages through the xml:lang attribute. Primary storage location for image captions in XMP-aware workflows.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Lang Alt (language alternative)
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
- IPTC Sync
- Description (2:120 Caption-Abstract)
A short, catchy title for your image—like naming a painting. Not the filename, but a proper title like "Golden Hour at Half Dome".
Language-alternative array for the formal name given to the resource. Distinct from filename or technical identifiers. Supports localization for international distribution.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Lang Alt (language alternative)
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
- IPTC Sync
- Title (2:05 ObjectName)
Keywords that describe your photo—basically tags. "sunset", "beach", "California", "silhouette". The more relevant tags, the more discoverable your image.
Unordered array of descriptive phrases about the resource's content. Primary XMP storage for keywords, synchronized with IPTC Keywords. No hierarchy—for hierarchical keywords, use lr:hierarchicalSubject.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Unordered array of Text
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
- IPTC Sync
- Keywords (2:25)
Your copyright statement—like "© 2024 Jane Smith. All rights reserved." Establishes who owns the image and can license it.
Language-alternative array containing copyright and rights information. Should include copyright symbol, year, and rights holder. Synchronized with IPTC CopyrightNotice and EXIF Copyright.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Lang Alt (language alternative)
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
- IPTC Sync
- CopyrightNotice (2:116)
The file format—"image/jpeg", "image/png", "image/tiff". Tells software what kind of file this is, independent of the filename extension.
MIME type of the resource following IANA media type conventions. Set automatically by applications. Helps identify resource format independent of file extension.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- MIMEType
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
- Example
- image/jpeg, image/tiff, application/pdf
A unique ID for this image—could be your catalog number, a stock agency ID, or a DOI. Think of it like a book's ISBN, but for photos.
Unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context. Can be a URI, ISBN, DOI, stock photo ID, or any formal identification system. Distinct from xmpMM:DocumentID which tracks file identity across edits.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
- Example
- urn:isbn:978-0-123456-78-9, DOI:10.1234/photo.2024
What language the text in your photo is—relevant for images with signs, documents, or text overlays. Uses codes like "en", "es", "ja".
Language(s) of the intellectual content using RFC 3066 tags (based on ISO 639). For images, indicates language of visible text content. Uses BCP 47 language tags.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Unordered array of Locale
- Standard
- Dublin Core, BCP 47
- Example
- en-US, fr-CA, zh-Hans
Who's responsible for making this image available—could be a stock agency, news wire, or your own business name.
Entity responsible for making the resource available. In photography, typically the distributing agency or organization rather than the creator. Distinct from dc:creator.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Unordered array of ProperName
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
Where this image originally came from—the original source if this is a derivative or digital copy. Could reference an archive, agency, or original work.
Reference to a resource from which the present resource is derived. May use a formal identifier or URI. Supports provenance tracking for derivative works.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Dublin Core, XMP 1.0
- IPTC Sync
- Source (2:115)
What type of resource this is—"Image", "StillImage", "Collection". More about the nature of the file than its subject matter.
Nature or genre of the resource. Recommended to use DCMI Type Vocabulary terms: Collection, Dataset, Event, Image, InteractiveResource, MovingImage, PhysicalObject, Service, Software, Sound, StillImage, Text.
- Namespace
- http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
- Data Type
- Unordered array of open Choice
- Standard
- Dublin Core, DCMI Type Vocabulary
- Example
- StillImage, Image
When the image was originally created—the moment you pressed the shutter. This is the XMP version of EXIF's DateTimeOriginal.
Date and time the resource was created. For photographs, should match EXIF DateTimeOriginal. Stored in ISO 8601 format with optional timezone. Preserved across format conversions.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/
- Data Type
- Date (ISO 8601)
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- EXIF Sync
- DateTimeOriginal (0x9003)
When the file was last changed—whether that's pixel editing, metadata updates, or re-exporting. Updates automatically when you save changes.
Date and time the resource was last modified. Updated by applications when file content changes (pixel or metadata). Corresponds to file system modification time in many contexts.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/
- Data Type
- Date (ISO 8601)
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- EXIF Sync
- DateTime (0x0132)
When the metadata itself was last changed—even if the image pixels weren't touched. Adding keywords? Updating copyright? This timestamp changes.
Date and time any metadata for this resource was last changed. Different from xmp:ModifyDate which tracks resource content changes. Enables efficient metadata synchronization workflows.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/
- Data Type
- Date (ISO 8601)
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
What software created this file—"Adobe Photoshop 2024", "Lightroom Classic 13.0", "iPhone 15 Pro". Can be a camera, scanner, or editing software.
Name of the first application used to create the resource. For scans, may be the scanner software. For photos, may be the camera model or capture software. Preserved through edits—use xmpMM:History for complete processing chain.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/
- Data Type
- AgentName
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- EXIF Related
- Software (0x0131)
Your star rating—1 to 5 stars, just like in Lightroom or Photos. Rate your best shots 5 stars to find them easily later.
User-assigned rating indicating relative quality or importance. Uses integer scale where -1 = rejected, 0 = unrated, 1-5 = star rating. Universally supported by asset management software.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/
- Data Type
- Closed Choice of Integer
- Range
- -1 (rejected) to 5 (★★★★★)
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
A color label—Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple. Like colored stickers for your photos. Use them however you want: Red = needs editing, Green = ready to share.
Free-form text label for user-defined classification. Typically mapped to colors in applications (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple) but stored as text. Meaning is user-defined—no standard semantics.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- Common Values
- Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple
A simple yes/no flag indicating whether this image is copyrighted. True = copyrighted, False = public domain. Separate from the actual copyright text.
Boolean indicating whether this is a rights-managed resource. True = copyrighted, False = public domain, absent = unknown. Distinct from copyright notice text—this is a machine-readable rights status flag.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/rights/
- Data Type
- Boolean
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- Values
- True (copyrighted), False (public domain)
Who owns the copyright—could be you, your employer, or a client who bought all rights. Not necessarily the photographer.
Unordered array of legal owners of the resource. May differ from dc:creator (photographer) in work-for-hire situations. Used for rights management and licensing queries.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/rights/
- Data Type
- Unordered array of ProperName
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
Plain-language description of how this image can be used. "Editorial use only", "Licensed to Acme Corp through 2025", "CC BY 4.0 Attribution Required".
Language-alternative text describing usage rights and restrictions. Human-readable complement to machine-readable license URLs. Supports localization for international distribution.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/rights/
- Data Type
- Lang Alt (language alternative)
- Standard
- XMP 1.0, IPTC Photo Metadata
- IPTC Sync
- Rights Usage Terms
A URL pointing to your full copyright or licensing page online. Links to where people can find complete terms, contact info, or buy a license.
URL referencing a web page with comprehensive rights and licensing information. Should be a persistent URL. For Creative Commons, typically points to the license deed (e.g., creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/rights/
- Data Type
- URL
- Standard
- XMP 1.0, IPTC Photo Metadata
- IPTC Sync
- Web Statement of Rights
A URL to a certificate proving your copyright registration or other legal documentation. Links to official registration records.
URL pointing to a web-accessible certificate documenting rights ownership. Typically links to copyright registration services or blockchain-based provenance records.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/rights/
- Data Type
- URL
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
A unique fingerprint for this image that stays the same even when you make copies or edits. Like a social security number for your file.
Universally unique identifier for the document. Assigned when the resource is first created and preserved through modifications. Enables tracking of document lineage across edits and format conversions. Uses UUID URN format.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/
- Data Type
- URI (UUID URN)
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- Format
- xmp.did:UUID or uuid:UUID
Changes every time you save the file—each save creates a new "instance". While DocumentID stays constant, InstanceID tracks each version.
Identifier that changes with each save operation. Combined with DocumentID, enables tracking specific versions of a resource. Should be updated whenever the file is modified and saved to new state.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/
- Data Type
- URI (UUID URN)
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- Behavior
- New UUID on each save
Points back to the very first file this came from—your original RAW file, even if you've converted to JPEG, then TIFF, then back to JPEG.
DocumentID of the original resource from which this one was derived. Set when SaveAs creates a new document from an existing one. Enables tracing complete derivation chain back to original capture.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/
- Data Type
- URI (UUID URN)
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- Set When
- Save As / Export operation
A log of everything that's been done to this file—created, opened, saved, exported. Like a timeline showing the image's journey from camera to final version.
Ordered array of ResourceEvent structures documenting high-level actions performed on the resource. Each event records action type, timestamp, software agent, and optional parameters. Comprehensive audit trail for asset management.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/
- Data Type
- Ordered array of ResourceEvent
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- Actions
- created, saved, converted, copied, derived
References the immediate parent file this one came from. If you exported a JPEG from a PSD, this points to that PSD file.
ResourceRef structure pointing to the immediate source from which this resource was derived. Contains DocumentID and InstanceID of the parent resource. Enables single-hop provenance tracking.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/
- Data Type
- ResourceRef
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- Contains
- documentID, instanceID, fromPart, toPart
Lists all the files that went into making this composite image—like a recipe's ingredient list. References each source photo, texture, or element used.
Unordered array of ResourceRef structures listing all resources that contributed to this composite. Each entry identifies a source document and optionally which parts were used. Critical for tracking multi-source derivations.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/
- Data Type
- Unordered array of ResourceRef
- Standard
- XMP 1.0
- Use Case
- Composite images, collages, layered documents
How colors are stored—RGB (for screens), CMYK (for print), Grayscale (black and white), or LAB (device-independent). Most photos are RGB.
Color model of the document matching Photoshop's internal modes. Integer enumeration: 0=Bitmap, 1=Grayscale, 2=Indexed, 3=RGB, 4=CMYK, 7=Multichannel, 8=Duotone, 9=LAB.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Closed Choice of Integer
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- Values
- 0-9 (see Photoshop documentation)
The color profile name—"sRGB", "Adobe RGB", "ProPhoto RGB", "Display P3". Defines exactly which colors the RGB numbers represent.
Name of the ICC color profile embedded in or associated with the document. Should match the actual embedded profile. Used by color management systems to interpret color values correctly.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- Common Values
- sRGB IEC61966-2.1, Adobe RGB (1998), ProPhoto RGB
The date the intellectual content was created—typically when the photo was taken. Similar to EXIF DateTimeOriginal but in IPTC/Photoshop format.
Date the intellectual content was created. Maps to IPTC DateCreated. Distinct from file creation date. Should be synchronized with EXIF DateTimeOriginal for photographs.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Date
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- DateCreated (2:55)
A short, attention-grabbing summary of the image—like a newspaper headline. More descriptive than a title, shorter than a caption.
Brief synopsis of the image content. XMP mapping for IPTC Headline (2:105). Intended for quick identification—should be more descriptive than title but briefer than caption.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- Headline (2:105)
The credit line to display when the image is published—"Photo: Jane Smith / Getty Images". Combines photographer and provider information.
Credit line to be published with the image. May combine creator and provider names. XMP mapping for IPTC Credit (2:110). Designed for direct use in published photo credits.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- Credit (2:110)
The city where the photo was taken—"Paris", "Tokyo", "New York". Human-readable location name, not GPS coordinates.
City of image origin. XMP mapping for IPTC City (2:90). Part of the legacy IPTC location hierarchy (City, State, Country). For new metadata, consider IPTC Extension LocationShown.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- City (2:90)
The state or province where the photo was taken—"California", "Ontario", "Bavaria". The middle level of the location hierarchy.
Province/state of image origin. XMP mapping for IPTC Province-State (2:95). Part of legacy location hierarchy. Full name preferred over abbreviations.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- Province-State (2:95)
The country where the photo was taken—"United States", "Japan", "Germany". Full country name, not ISO codes.
Full country name of image origin. XMP mapping for IPTC Country-PrimaryLocationName (2:101). Use full names per ISO 3166-1 rather than codes. Codes go in separate CountryCode field.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- Country-PrimaryLocationName (2:101)
A job ID or reference number for tracking—"Assignment #12345", "Wedding-Johnson-2024". Your own coding system for organizing work.
Code representing original transmission reference. Originally for wire service identification, now commonly used as job/assignment identifier. Maps to IPTC OriginalTransmissionReference (2:103).
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- OriginalTransmissionReference (2:103)
Notes for editors or publishers—"Do not crop", "Embargo until Jan 1", "Editorial use only". Communicates special handling requirements.
Any special instructions or editorial handling notes. Maps to IPTC SpecialInstructions (2:40). Used for embargoes, usage restrictions, or processing notes that must travel with the image.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- SpecialInstructions (2:40)
Your job title or role—"Staff Photographer", "Freelance", "Photo Editor". Describes your professional capacity when you made the image.
Title or position of the creator. Maps to IPTC By-lineTitle (2:85). Provides professional context for the creator named in dc:creator/Byline.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- By-lineTitle (2:85)
Who wrote the caption—might be you, a photo editor, or an agency staffer. Not necessarily the same person who took the photo.
Name of the person who wrote the caption/description. Maps to IPTC Writer-Editor (2:122). Distinct from image creator—used in workflows where captioning is separate from shooting.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- Writer-Editor (2:122)
Where this image came from—the original supplier. Could be "Getty Images", "Associated Press", or your own studio name.
Original owner or provider of the image. Maps to IPTC Source (2:115). In wire service context, identifies the original transmitting organization. Distinct from Credit which is for publication.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Photoshop XMP
- IPTC Sync
- Source (2:115)
How urgent this image is on a scale of 1-8, with 1 being most urgent. A legacy field from wire service days when breaking news needed priority handling.
Editorial urgency rating. Maps to IPTC Urgency (2:10). Scale: 1 (most urgent) to 8 (least). Value 0 reserved, 9 means user-defined. Legacy field—consider xmp:Rating for modern workflows.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- 1 (high) to 8 (low)
- IPTC Sync
- Urgency (2:10)
Keywords organized in a tree structure—like "Animals|Mammals|Dogs|Golden Retriever". The pipe character shows the hierarchy from general to specific.
Adobe Lightroom's hierarchical keyword format using pipe (|) as delimiter. Each entry shows full path from root to leaf. Enables controlled vocabulary hierarchies. Synchronized to flat dc:subject for compatibility.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/lightroom/1.0/
- Data Type
- Unordered array of Text
- Standard
- Adobe Lightroom XMP
- Delimiter
- | (pipe character)
Which version of Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom's processing engine was used—like "15.0". Different versions can render the same settings slightly differently.
Version of Camera Raw that last modified the settings. Critical for ensuring consistent rendering across systems. Format matches ACR version numbers.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Camera Raw XMP
- Example
- 15.0, 14.5
The rendering engine generation—newer process versions have better highlight recovery, shadow detail, and color science. Updating can dramatically improve old photos.
The demosaic and rendering engine version. Major revisions: 5.0 (2003), 5.7 (2010), 6.7 (2012), 11.0 (2018), 15.0 (2023). Each version changes how sliders affect the image. Upgrading recalculates all settings.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe Camera Raw XMP
- Key Versions
- 5.0, 5.7, 6.7, 11.0, 15.0
The white balance preset applied in RAW processing—"As Shot", "Daylight", "Cloudy", "Tungsten", or "Custom". Affects the overall color warmth.
White balance preset name. When set to "Custom", uses crs:Temperature and crs:Tint values. Other presets apply predefined temperature/tint combinations based on lighting conditions.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Closed Choice of Text
- Standard
- Adobe Camera Raw XMP
- Presets
- As Shot, Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom
Color temperature in Kelvin—lower numbers (3000K) look warm/orange, higher numbers (7000K) look cool/blue. 5500K is roughly daylight.
White balance temperature in Kelvin. For RAW files, the actual adjustment value. For rendered files (JPEG/TIFF), relative adjustment from original. Range typically 2000-50000K depending on file type.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Unit
- Kelvin
- Typical Range
- 2000-50000
Adjusts color between green and magenta—the other half of white balance. Negative values add green, positive adds magenta. Usually fine-tunes after setting temperature.
White balance tint adjustment along green-magenta axis. Complements Temperature which adjusts blue-yellow. Negative = more green, Positive = more magenta. Range typically -150 to +150.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -150 to +150
- Neutral
- 0
Overall brightness adjustment in stops—the main "make it brighter or darker" slider. +1.0 doubles the brightness, -1.0 halves it.
Overall exposure adjustment in stops (EV). Uses 2012 process version algorithm targeting midtones primarily. Range -5.0 to +5.0 stops, though practical limits depend on file bit depth and noise.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Real
- Range
- -5.0 to +5.0
- Unit
- EV (stops)
Makes bright areas brighter and dark areas darker—increases the difference between light and shadow. Adds "punch" to flat images.
S-curve contrast adjustment primarily affecting midtones. Uses 2012 algorithm which applies gentler adjustment than legacy versions. Operates independently from tone curve.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Controls the brightest parts of your image. Negative values recover blown-out skies and windows. Positive values brighten highlights further.
Adjustment targeting highlight tones. Negative values recover clipped highlights from RAW data (if available). Uses Process Version 2012 algorithm with improved highlight reconstruction.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Brightens or darkens the shadow areas without affecting highlights. Positive values reveal detail hiding in dark areas.
Adjustment targeting shadow tones. Positive values lift shadows, potentially revealing noise. Uses Process Version 2012 algorithm with improved shadow separation. Works best with RAW files with good dynamic range.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Sets where your brightest white point is—how bright the very brightest pixels become. Positive values push whites brighter, negative pulls them back.
White point adjustment affecting the brightest tones. Sets the mapping of the whitest image values. Different from Highlights which affects a broader range. Typically adjusted with histogram clipping preview.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Sets where your black point is—how dark the very darkest pixels become. Negative values crush blacks deeper, positive lifts them.
Black point adjustment affecting the darkest tones. Sets the mapping of the blackest image values. Negative values increase black clipping, positive values lift the black point (faded look).
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Adds local contrast and edge definition—makes textures pop without affecting overall exposure. Positive values add punch, negative creates a soft/dreamy look.
Midtone local contrast adjustment using a modified unsharp mask algorithm. Affects medium-scale detail without changing overall luminance. Process 2012 version has improved halo control.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Enhances or smooths fine details like skin texture, fabric, or foliage. Positive brings out detail, negative smooths it away. More natural than clarity for many uses.
Medium-frequency detail enhancement using machine learning-based algorithm. Operates on smaller scale features than Clarity. Designed specifically to preserve skin texture while being adjustable. Added in 2019.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Cuts through haze, fog, and atmospheric murk to reveal hidden detail. Positive values remove haze, negative values add a misty, ethereal effect.
Atmospheric haze removal based on dark channel prior algorithm. Estimates atmospheric light and transmission map to recover scene visibility. Can introduce color shifts and artifacts at extreme values.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Smart saturation boost—enhances muted colors while protecting already-saturated colors and skin tones. Less likely to make things look radioactive than regular saturation.
Intelligent saturation adjustment that protects skin tones and already-saturated colors. Uses nonlinear response curve—more effect on desaturated colors, less on saturated ones. Prevents clipping in any channel.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
Raw color intensity boost—makes all colors more vivid. Goes from grayscale (-100) through natural (0) to extremely vivid (+100). No intelligence—affects everything equally.
Linear saturation adjustment affecting all colors equally. At -100 produces complete desaturation. No protection for skin tones or already-saturated colors. Can cause color channel clipping.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- -100 to +100
- Default
- 0
A graph controlling how input tones map to output tones. Pull up the curve to brighten, push down to darken. The classic film-era tool for precise tonal control.
Point-curve tone mapping stored as coordinate pairs. Applied after Basic panel adjustments. Separate curves available for RGB composite and individual R, G, B channels. Uses Process Version 2012 coordinate system.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Ordered array of Integer pairs
- Standard
- Adobe Camera Raw XMP
- Format
- 0, 0, 255, 255 (linear default)
Adds film-like grain texture to digital images. Higher values = more visible grain. Gives modern digital photos that analog film aesthetic.
Synthetic film grain intensity. Uses procedural grain generation with Size and Roughness sub-parameters. Applied late in pipeline to avoid interaction with noise reduction. Value 0 = disabled.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Integer
- Range
- 0 to 100
- Default
- 0
A simple yes/no flag showing whether this image has been processed in Camera Raw or Lightroom. "True" means settings have been applied.
Boolean flag indicating whether Camera Raw settings have been applied to this resource. True = has develop settings, False = using defaults. Used by Bridge and other applications to filter developed vs. undeveloped files.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/camera-raw-settings/1.0/
- Data Type
- Boolean
- Standard
- Adobe Camera Raw XMP
- Values
- True, False
Alternative lens identification field—often more detailed than EXIF LensModel. May include information like focal length range and maximum aperture.
Adobe's auxiliary namespace field for lens identification. Often populated from MakerNotes data that doesn't map cleanly to EXIF LensModel. May contain normalized or enriched lens descriptions.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/aux/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe XMP
- Source
- Often derived from MakerNotes
Your camera's serial number, as recorded by Adobe software. Like a fingerprint for your specific camera body.
Camera body serial number from Adobe's auxiliary namespace. Often pulled from MakerNotes. May differ from EXIF BodySerialNumber field depending on how camera formats serial data.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/aux/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe XMP
- Privacy
- Identifying
Your lens's serial number. Uniquely identifies the exact lens used—useful when you own multiple copies of the same lens model.
Lens serial number from Adobe's auxiliary namespace. Retrieved from lens-to-camera communication (for lenses that report serial) or MakerNotes. Not all lenses report serial numbers electronically.
- Namespace
- http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/aux/
- Data Type
- Text
- Standard
- Adobe XMP
- Availability
- Depends on lens capabilities
Camera & Lens 16 terms
Device identification fields including camera body details, lens specifications, serial numbers, and firmware versions. These fields can uniquely identify the exact equipment used.
The name of the lens that took the photo—like "EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM" or "Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM". Shows exactly which lens you used.
Contains the complete lens designation as a text string. Format varies by manufacturer—may include focal length range, maximum aperture, optical stabilization designation, and lens series codes. For adaptered lenses, may be missing or show adapter information instead.
- Tag ID
- 0xA434 (42036)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Example
- "EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The company that manufactured your lens—Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Sony, Zeiss, etc. May differ from your camera manufacturer if using third-party lenses.
Records the lens manufacturer as a text string. Should match the actual lens maker, not the camera body maker. Third-party lens manufacturers (Sigma, Tamron, Tokina) should report their own names. Older or manual lenses often leave this field empty.
- Tag ID
- 0xA433 (42035)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Example
- "SIGMA", "Canon", "TAMRON"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The unique serial number of your lens—the same number printed on the lens barrel. Uniquely identifies your specific lens among all lenses of that model ever made.
Records the lens serial number as reported via the lens-camera communication protocol. Not all lens mounts transmit serial numbers electronically. Manual lenses and some older autofocus lenses lack electronic serial number reporting. Format varies by manufacturer.
- Tag ID
- 0xA435 (42037)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Your camera's unique serial number—the same number on the sticker under the battery door. Uniquely identifies your specific camera among millions produced.
Records the camera body's serial number as stored in firmware. Format varies by manufacturer—some use numeric only, others alphanumeric. This is the EXIF 2.3+ standardized tag; older cameras may store serial numbers only in proprietary MakerNotes.
- Tag ID
- 0xA431 (42033)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The name you entered in your camera's settings as the owner. This text appears in every photo you take and identifies you as the equipment owner.
User-configurable field set through camera menus. Intended for ownership identification but often used for photographer credits. Character encoding and maximum length vary by camera. Empty by default on most cameras—requires deliberate configuration.
- Tag ID
- 0xA430 (42032)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Technical capabilities of your lens in four numbers: minimum and maximum focal lengths, and maximum apertures at those focal lengths. Tells you "what this lens can do."
Four RATIONAL values describing lens optical characteristics: [MinFocalLength, MaxFocalLength, MinFNumberAtMinFL, MinFNumberAtMaxFL]. Prime lenses have identical min/max focal lengths. Constant-aperture zooms have identical f-numbers; variable-aperture zooms differ.
- Tag ID
- 0xA432 (42034)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 4
- Format
- [MinFL, MaxFL, MinF@MinFL, MinF@MaxFL]
- Example
- [24, 70, 2.8, 2.8] for 24-70mm f/2.8
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
A hidden serial number stored in manufacturer-specific data that may survive even when you think you've removed EXIF data. Often different from the visible BodySerialNumber.
Manufacturer-proprietary serial number field stored in MakerNotes. Tag location and encoding varies by brand—Canon, Nikon, Sony all use different structures. May contain production batch codes, factory calibration data, or modified serial formats. Not part of official EXIF spec.
- Location
- MakerNotes (varies by manufacturer)
- Canon
- Tag 0x00c
- Nikon
- Tag 0x001d
- Sony
- Various encrypted tags
- Standard
- Proprietary
A catch-all container where camera manufacturers store their own proprietary data—everything from autofocus point information to internal settings that don't fit standard EXIF fields.
UNDEFINED data block containing manufacturer-specific metadata. Structure is entirely proprietary—each brand uses different formats, some encrypted. ExifTool maintains extensive reverse-engineered documentation. Can be several KB in size. Some editors preserve it, others destroy it during saves.
- Tag ID
- 0x927C (37500)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- Variable (often 1000s of bytes)
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (container only; contents proprietary)
The version of your camera's internal software (firmware) when the photo was taken. Shows whether you were running the latest updates or an older version.
Firmware information may appear in multiple locations: the standard Software tag (IFD0), manufacturer-specific MakerNotes, or both. Format varies—some show just version numbers, others include build dates or internal codes. Updates can change image processing characteristics.
- Common Locations
- Software (0x0131), MakerNotes
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Example
- "Ver.1.3.2", "Firmware Version 2.10"
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32 (Software); Proprietary (MakerNotes)
How many photos your camera has taken since it was manufactured—like an odometer for your camera. High counts mean more wear; shutters have rated lifespans (typically 100,000-500,000 actuations).
Stored in manufacturer-specific MakerNotes, often encrypted or obfuscated. Not all cameras expose this data in EXIF—some require special software or service mode access. Includes mechanical shutter actuations; electronic shutter shots may or may not increment depending on implementation.
- Location
- MakerNotes (varies by manufacturer)
- Nikon
- Often in ShutterCount tag
- Canon
- Often requires special tools
- Sony
- Encrypted in newer models
- Standard
- Proprietary
Which autofocus point(s) your camera used to focus on the shot. Shows exactly where in the frame the camera locked focus—whether single-point, zone, or face/eye detection.
Stored in manufacturer-specific MakerNotes with highly varied formats. May include: selected point, active points in zone/wide mode, face detection regions, eye-AF target, confidence scores, and phase-detect vs contrast-detect flags. Critical for focus troubleshooting.
- Location
- MakerNotes
- Format
- Varies extensively by manufacturer/model
- Data
- Point ID, coordinates, or zone information
- Standard
- Proprietary
The color profile used to interpret your RAW file's colors—like "Camera Standard," "Adobe Portrait," or "Camera Neutral." Different profiles give the same RAW file dramatically different looks.
Stored in DNG files or XMP sidecars, specifies the color transform matrix and tone curve used for RAW conversion. Adobe Camera RAW uses embedded or looked-up profiles. DCP (DNG Camera Profile) files contain full color matrices, hue/saturation/luminance adjustments, and tone curves.
- Namespace
- crs (Camera Raw Settings)
- XMP Tag
- crs:CameraProfile
- Values
- "Adobe Standard", "Camera Neutral", "Camera Vivid", custom DCP names
- Standard
- DNG 1.6, Adobe XMP
Whether image stabilization was active—the anti-shake technology in your lens or camera body that counteracts hand movement for sharper handheld shots.
Stored in MakerNotes with manufacturer-specific terminology: Canon IS, Nikon VR, Sony SteadyShot/IBIS, etc. May indicate mode (Standard/Active/Off), type (optical/sensor), and sometimes compensation amount achieved. Camera IBIS and lens OIS may be recorded separately.
- Location
- MakerNotes
- Canon
- ImageStabilization tag
- Nikon
- VibrationReduction tag
- Sony
- SteadyShot / IBISEnabled
- Standard
- Proprietary
How your camera captured the image—single shot, continuous burst, self-timer, remote trigger, etc. Shows whether you fired one shot or were in spray-and-pray mode.
Stored in MakerNotes with values for: single shot, continuous low/high, self-timer (various delays), remote control, interval timer, bracketing sequences, etc. Terminology and value encoding varies significantly between manufacturers.
- Location
- MakerNotes
- Typical Values
- Single, Continuous, Self-timer (2s/10s), Remote
- Standard
- Proprietary
The physical dimensions of your camera's image sensor. "Full frame" (36×24mm) is the largest common size, followed by APS-C (~23×15mm), Micro Four Thirds (~17×13mm), and smaller smartphone sensors.
Not stored directly—must be calculated from FocalPlaneResolution tags, looked up from camera model, or derived from FocalLengthIn35mmFilm ratio. ExifTool and similar tools can calculate sensor dimensions when sufficient data is present.
- Full Frame
- 36 × 24 mm (1.0x crop)
- APS-C (Canon)
- 22.3 × 14.9 mm (1.6x crop)
- APS-C (Nikon/Sony)
- 23.6 × 15.6 mm (1.5x crop)
- Micro 4/3
- 17.3 × 13.0 mm (2.0x crop)
- Calculation
- ImageWidth ÷ FocalPlaneXResolution × 25.4
Environmental Sensors 6 terms
Ambient conditions recorded by cameras with environmental sensors. Temperature, humidity, pressure, water depth, and acceleration data captured alongside your photos.
The air temperature when your photo was taken, measured by a sensor in the camera. Shows whether you were shooting in freezing cold or scorching heat.
Records ambient temperature from an internal or external sensor. Stored as SRATIONAL allowing negative values. Available on select rugged/outdoor cameras (Olympus TG series, some Nikons). May lag actual conditions due to camera body heat absorption.
- Tag ID
- 0x9400 (37888)
- Data Type
- SRATIONAL (10)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Degrees Celsius
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The relative humidity when your photo was taken—how much moisture was in the air, from 0% (bone dry) to 100% (saturated/foggy).
Records relative humidity as a percentage. Found on cameras with environmental sensors. May be measured internally or via connected external sensors. Accuracy varies with sensor placement—internal sensors may be affected by camera heat.
- Tag ID
- 0x9401 (37889)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Percent (%)
- Range
- 0–100
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Atmospheric pressure when the photo was taken. Lower pressure indicates higher altitude or stormy weather; higher pressure suggests sea level or fair weather.
Records barometric pressure from an internal sensor. Can be used for altitude estimation when combined with reference pressure. Available on select cameras with environmental sensors. Standard sea-level pressure is approximately 1013.25 hPa.
- Tag ID
- 0x9402 (37890)
- Data Type
- RATIONAL (5)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- hPa (hectopascals)
- Reference
- ~1013 hPa at sea level
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How deep underwater you were when shooting—measured in meters below the surface. Only recorded by waterproof cameras and diving housings with depth sensors.
Records depth below water surface from pressure sensor. Available on waterproof cameras (Olympus TG series, Nikon AW series) and some underwater housings. Calculated from water pressure differential. Negative values indicate above-water altitude equivalent.
- Tag ID
- 0x9403 (37891)
- Data Type
- SRATIONAL (10)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Meters
- Note
- Positive = depth, Negative = altitude
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The G-force or movement detected by your camera's motion sensor at capture time. Indicates how much the camera was accelerating or being shaken.
Records accelerometer data at capture time. May be a single magnitude or three-axis vector. Used internally for image stabilization and orientation detection. At rest, reads approximately 1g (9.8 m/s²) due to gravity. Format varies by implementation.
- Tag ID
- 0x9404 (37892)
- Data Type
- SRATIONAL (10)
- Count
- 1 or 3 (for XYZ)
- Unit
- mG (milli-G) or m/s²
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How much your camera was tilted up or down from level—measured in degrees. 0° is horizontal, +90° is pointing straight up, -90° is straight down.
Records the pitch angle (elevation) of the camera relative to horizontal, derived from accelerometer or gyroscope data. Positive values indicate upward tilt; negative values indicate downward. Not the same as roll (horizon level) or compass direction (yaw).
- Tag ID
- 0x9405 (37893)
- Data Type
- SRATIONAL (10)
- Count
- 1
- Unit
- Degrees
- Range
- -90 to +90
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Composite & Advanced 8 terms
Advanced technical fields for composite images, color filter arrays, spectral data, and sensor-specific information. Specialized metadata used in computational photography and RAW processing.
Whether this image was created by combining multiple shots—like HDR (multiple exposures), panorama (stitched images), or computational photography (like Night Mode stacking).
Indicates whether the image is a composite of multiple captures. Added in EXIF 2.32 to address computational photography where phones/cameras merge multiple frames. When value is 2 (Composite), CompositeImageCount and CompositeImageExposureTimes tags may provide details.
- Tag ID
- 0xA460 (42080)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 1
- Values
- 0=Unknown, 1=Not a Composite, 2=General Composite, 3=Composite with capture times
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
How many individual photos were combined to create this composite image. A Night Mode shot might stack 30 frames; an HDR might merge 3-5 exposures.
Two-value array indicating: [total frames captured, frames used in composite]. For example, camera might capture 30 frames but use best 20. Only meaningful when CompositeImage indicates a composite was created.
- Tag ID
- 0xA461 (42081)
- Data Type
- SHORT (3)
- Count
- 2
- Format
- [total captured, used in composite]
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The color filter pattern on your camera's sensor—the arrangement of red, green, and blue filters over the pixels that lets it capture color. Most cameras use "Bayer" pattern (RGGB).
Describes the geometric pattern of the Color Filter Array on the sensor. Stored as 2-byte width, 2-byte height, followed by pattern values. Standard Bayer is 2×2: [0,1,1,2] representing RGGB. Fujifilm X-Trans uses 6×6 pattern. Critical for RAW demosaicing algorithms.
- Tag ID
- 0xA302 (41730)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- Variable
- Format
- [width, height, pattern values...]
- Values
- 0=Red, 1=Green, 2=Blue, 3=Cyan, 4=Magenta, 5=Yellow, 6=White
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Technical data about how your camera's sensor responds to different wavelengths of light. Describes the sensor's sensitivity to various colors in precise scientific terms.
Records spectral sensitivity of each channel per ASTM E1655 standard. Stored as ASCII text defining wavelength bands and response curves. Rarely populated by consumer cameras; primarily used in scientific/industrial imaging where precise color response characterization is required.
- Tag ID
- 0x8824 (34852)
- Data Type
- ASCII (2)
- Count
- Variable
- Format
- Per ASTM E1655
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Opto-Electronic Conversion Function—the mathematical curve describing how your camera converts light intensity into digital values. Like a detailed version of gamma that maps real-world brightness to pixel values.
Specifies the relationship between optical input and the resulting image file values. Stored per ISO 14524 as a structured table of columns/rows with stimulus and response values. Enables precise tone reproduction characterization. Almost never populated by consumer equipment.
- Tag ID
- 0x8828 (34856)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- Variable
- Format
- Per ISO 14524
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
Data about how well your camera/lens resolves fine detail at different frequencies—essentially how sharp things get as details get smaller. Related to lens resolution testing (MTF charts).
Records the camera/lens system's Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) response. Stored per ISO 12233 format with spatial frequency values and corresponding contrast values for each color channel. Almost never populated by consumer cameras. Used in laboratory characterization.
- Tag ID
- 0xA20C (41484)
- Data Type
- UNDEFINED (7)
- Count
- Variable
- Format
- Per ISO 12233
- Standard
- EXIF 2.32
The version of the DNG (Digital Negative) format used to save this RAW file. DNG is Adobe's open RAW format that many cameras and phones now support natively.
Four-byte array indicating DNG specification version: [major, minor, patch, patch]. For example, [1, 6, 0, 0] indicates DNG 1.6. Determines available features like floating-point data, ProPhoto RGB, semantic masks, and gain maps. Requires corresponding DNGBackwardVersion for reader compatibility.
- Tag ID
- 0xC612 (50706)
- Data Type
- BYTE (1)
- Count
- 4
- Format
- [major, minor, patch, patch]
- Current
- 1.7.0.0 (DNG 1.7)
- Standard
- Adobe DNG 1.7
Calibration data describing how noisy your camera's sensor is at different brightness levels. Helps RAW processing software apply optimal noise reduction without losing detail.
Contains coefficients for a per-color-channel noise model: NoiseProfile(level) = sqrt(a + b × level). Two doubles per color plane describe photon shot noise and sensor read noise. Enables optimal Poisson-Gaussian denoising. Calculated from sensor calibration data.
- Tag ID
- 0xC761 (51041)
- Data Type
- DOUBLE (12)
- Count
- 2 × ColorPlanes
- Format
- [a, b] coefficients per channel
- Model
- σ = √(a + b × L)
- Standard
- Adobe DNG 1.3+