Tip #45: EXIF Exposed

Besides the pixels in your images, there is additional information stored within each image file. This extra meta-data is known as EXIF, Exchangeable Image File format. The details of the settings used to capture the image are listed in the EXIF for each photo. For cameras with location services (smartphones and newer digital cameras), the lattitude and longitude of the location of where the photo was taken is also stored. Some higher-end cameras even allow extra user information to be recorded, such as photographer's name, address, website, and copyright notice. I use these extra fields on each of my cameras.

Reading the EXIF data is pretty simple. On a Windows computer, you can right click on an image, select properties, then choose details. All the available information will be displayed. Nasim Mansurov has a nice article on the topic, complete with examples of different ways to view the EXIF data.

By knowing that the information is available, you can take steps to use it wisely. You can even address potential concerns, regarding the location information in your photos.


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Tip #42: Watermarks

This tip is a bit on the technical side. You will need software that can create and apply a transparent layer, such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Paintshop, or other similar product.

A watermark is a "stamp" that is applied to a photograph to help indentify the owner of the photo. While it is not a perfect security system, it does make copyright infringement issues a bit easier. There are other means for photo identity security, and watermarks are just one method in my arsenal. You have probably seen my watermark -- images posted with the Awestruck-Images logo from my main web site, Awestruck Images.

I recently developed a new watermark that uses my signature. Here's how I did it.

1. With a ballpoint pen, I autographed a plain white sheet of paper.


2. I scanned the signature at high resolution (600 dots per inch). If you don't have a scanner, then just use your camera to capture the image.


3. I loaded the resulting TIFF into my photo editor.


4. I performed an edge-preserving-smooth operation on the image, twice.


5. I performed a de-speckle operation to make the "signature" nice and dark.


6. With a selection tool, I selected the different pieces of the signature and saved the signature as a transparent layer.

To use the new watermark, I load a photo to be edited, then I layer the watermark on top of the image. Because the watermark is it's own layer I can adjust its transparency or use the negative of the image as needed for differently colored photographs. When I am satisfied with the result, I merge the layers together and save the final image. An example of the new watermark is in Tip #38.


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