How can I remove picture metadata like in Windows 7?

Question

Windows 7 has a nifty feature where user can remove a picture's metadata

In windows 7 user goes to Properties > Details tab > "Remove Properties and Personal Information"

Does Ubuntu have similar feature? How can I remove a picture's metadata using Ubuntu?

jasmines · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-20T14:39:44.923

5

Some options.

With exif:

sudo apt-get install exif
cd to/folder/
exif --remove *

With exiftran:

sudo apt-get install exiftran
cd to/folder/
exiftran -d *

With jhead:

sudo apt-get install jhead
cd to/folder/
jhead -purejpg *

With exiv2 (for multiple formats support):

sudo apt-get install exiv2
cd to/folder/
exiv2 rm *

edited Jun 20 '12 at 14:39

answered Jun 20 '12 at 14:23

jasmines

exif only works on jpeg? what about other formats, like png? – Gerry Jun 20 '12 at 14:31
exif should work on pngs too. – jasmines Jun 20 '12 at 14:34
exif looks great. but are the other two options necessary for removal or are they just other manipulation tools to explore? can i just use exif and see all metadata and remove all metadata, or do I need all 3? – Gerry Jun 20 '12 at 14:39
The best seems to be exiv2. Execute exiv -h in a terminal for help about your last comment! – jasmines Jun 20 '12 at 14:41
When I run sudo apt-get install exiv2 I see this warning: WARNING: The following packages cannot be authenticated! exiv2 Install these packages without verification [y/N]? n – Jun 20 '12 at 15:31
I ended up installing libimage-exiftool-perl (8.60-2) from the Ubuntu Software Center. It's more than I need but it didn't have the packages cannot be authenticated warning. – Jun 22 '12 at 05:37
Sorry for making yet another comment but today I didn't get the warning when I tried to install exiv2. – Jun 22 '12 at 06:51
Probably you successfully disabled them! – jasmines Jun 22 '12 at 07:05

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 20 '12 at 14:23

0

Phatch contains the ability to remove metadata tags for a batch of photos as well as other nifty batch photo edits. https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/phatch/

answered Jun 20 '12 at 14:23

Reuben Swartz

do you know if ubuntu has a "built in" ability to remove the metadata? or is an app required to accomplish it? – Gerry Jun 20 '12 at 14:25
As far as I know there is no built in way to do out of the box. They have the difficult task of deciding what goes on the 700MB CD so things like image manipulation have to be installed by the users who need them to conserve space. – Reuben Swartz Jun 20 '12 at 14:36

2 Answers2