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General discussion

files

May 4, 2004 2:24AM PDT

Hi,

I wonder if anyone could tell me how to find out some information about a file, e.g. a jpg or a gif. When it was created, and by what program etc. I realise right clicking the file gives properties | summary etc, but this doesn't give enough information.

Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Re:files
May 4, 2004 5:32AM PDT

Jeremy,

What else do you want to know about the picture? The "Properties" window will give you the "Created" date, "Modified" date, file size, etc. but it won't give the type of program that created the picture, assuming it's a standard file extension such as .jpg or .gif.

Unfortunately, the various dates in the "Properties" window can also change if the file was slightly changed when copying it to a CD, or another computer, or when changing the size, etc. If you're looking for the actual source computer or program that created it, I've never seen anything that would do what you're asking.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re:Re: file info in pictures (part 1 of 2)
May 4, 2004 4:19PM PDT

Actually there can be a LOT of information recorded inside the picture, regarding what was used in the making of the picture.
If the picture was created by a digital camera the types of things that can be automatically recorded in the files can be: (the following was copied from one of my pictures)

ImageDescription - MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
Make - Minolta Co., Ltd.
Model - DiMAGE Xt
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - Ver. 1.00
DateTime - 2003:10:14 15:23:53
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 336
ExposureTime - 10/450 seconds
FNumber - 2.80
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ISOSpeedRatings - 160
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:10:14 15:23:53
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:10:14 15:23:53
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 2 (bits/pixel)
BrightnessValue - 2.00
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Flash fired, auto mode
FocalLength - 6.00 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 2048
ExifImageHeight - 1536
InteroperabilityOffset - 1118
FileSource - DSC - Digital still camera
SceneType - A directly photographed image
CustomRendered - Custom process
ExposureMode - Auto
WhiteBalance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 0.00 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 38 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
SubjectDistanceRange - Distant view

(keep reading ... see part 2 of 2)

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Re:Re: file info in pictures (part 2 of 2)
May 4, 2004 4:34PM PDT

Now thiat was just the EXIF info recorded by the typical digital camera.

In addition to all that there can also be IPTC data.
IPTC data can be entered manually or by machine.
IPTC data, if it is there, can be searchable, and useful when you are trying to find a particular picture.

The types of info there can be:
Copyright info,
Caption info,
Caption writer name,
Headline data,
Special instructions,
Keywords,
Categories,
Credits,
Origins, and still lots more.

How to see it? How to edit it? Try IrfanView, (FREE!) Just press the "I" key, for Image Information.

IrfanView isn't the only free tool to get to the EXIF info,
there is "EasyExif" by Kevin Hu, and "kd" from Sam Francke.

But IrfanView does both EXIF and IPTC, and does it easily.

Now none of this is even approaching the programs that can hide secret messages within the file also.
There are a few free tools like Secret Text In Picture.

But to decode that sort of info you usually need the tool that created it, and a clue as to how to decode it, like a password.

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Good Point Chuck !
May 5, 2004 7:19AM PDT

With a third party program, more information can be obtained form certain types of picture files. Unfortunately, unless the information was originally recorded to the file, such as with a digital camera, not much information can be returned.

Still, it's worth a try.

Grif

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Re:Re:Re: file info in pictures (part 2 of 2)
May 6, 2004 7:10PM PDT

Thank you.

The information about IPTC was what I was looking for. I've used Irfanview for quite a while, and seen the EXIF information. But I have never seen the IPTC info, I had no idea it was there. And I have at last found a picture where when I click the I button in Irfanview I can see the IPTC button (mind you there's nothing there when I click it, haha).

Why is it that some JPG files you can see EXIF, some you can't? And the same for IPTC.

And what about GIFs? Can you ever find out this similar kind of information about them?

Thanks again.

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Re:Re:Re:Re: file info in pictures (part 2 of 2)
May 7, 2004 3:20AM PDT

There is much you can find or include in most image formats.

Go here and you can download the proper tools to read or write that information as well as other image manipulation. http://www.imagemagick.org/

Several of the utilities are command line tools but very easy to understand and use.

This page for instance ( http://www.imagemagick.org/www/ImageMagick.html ) lists several of the utilities and their usage. Scroll down and read mogrify and identify.

If you are serious about graphics you should take the time to read the info on the site and download the tools.