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Export Options

Understand the flexible export options available in Metadata Fix for saving your images with metadata.

Overview

Metadata Fix follows the Tag That Photo Metadata Policy with flexible export options:

Default Behavior: Metadata is embedded directly in the image file

Optional Exports:

  • Create XMP sidecar file (mirror/backup or privacy strip)
  • Convert to JPEG format
  • Generate PDF report

Export Methods

Save Image Button

  1. Click "Save Image" at bottom of editor
  2. Save dialog appears with export options
  3. Select your preferred settings
  4. Click "Save" to download
  5. Continue editing if needed

Save & Exit Button

  1. Click "Save & Exit" in top navigation
  2. Save dialog appears (same options)
  3. Select your preferred settings
  4. Click "Save" to download
  5. Automatically returns to upload page after 2 seconds

Option 1: Standard Save (Embed Metadata)

Default for: JPEG, TIFF, HEIC, WebP

Behavior

  • All metadata and face regions embedded directly in image file
  • Written in all three standards (MWG, Microsoft MP, IPTC)
  • Single file download
  • ALL original metadata preserved via ExifTool

Supported Formats

Format Metadata Support Recommendation
JPEG ✅ Excellent RECOMMENDED
TIFF ✅ Full Large file size
HEIC/HEIF ✅ Full Apple format
WebP ✅ Full Modern format
PNG ⚠️ Best-effort only Use sidecar instead

What Gets Embedded

  • ✅ FHMWG essential metadata (title, description, artist, copyright, date)
  • ✅ Location information (place name, city, state, country, GPS)
  • ✅ Keywords (flat and hierarchical, synced across standards)
  • ✅ Face regions in three formats for maximum compatibility
  • ✅ ALL technical metadata (camera, software, orientation, ICC profile)
  • ✅ ALL original EXIF, IPTC, XMP fields preserved

PNG Warning

When saving PNG with metadata, you'll see a recommendation to either create an XMP sidecar or convert to JPEG for reliable metadata storage.

Option 2: Create XMP Sidecar

Choose one of two purposes for your XMP sidecar:

Purpose A: Mirror/Backup

Use Case: Create a backup copy of metadata alongside embedded data

  • ☑ Check "Create XMP Sidecar" option
  • Metadata is embedded in image (normal)
  • PLUS sidecar created as complete backup/mirror
  • Downloads: Image file + .xmp sidecar

Benefits:

  • External metadata backup for safety
  • Compatibility with tools that prefer sidecars (Lightroom, Photo Mechanic)
  • Professional archival workflows
  • Essential for PNG files with metadata

Purpose B: Privacy Strip Mode

Use Case: Share clean images publicly while keeping metadata privately

  • ☑ Check "Privacy Strip Mode" option
  • Removes ALL embedded metadata from image
  • Creates sidecar with complete metadata for your records
  • Optional: Also remove ICC color profile
  • Downloads: Clean image + .xmp sidecar (ZIP)

Use Cases:

  • Share photos on social media without exposing GPS location
  • Publish images publicly without revealing personal information
  • Remove camera serial numbers before sharing
  • Protect copyright info while sharing clean images

Privacy Strip Details

  • Image is completely cleaned of metadata
  • GPS coordinates removed
  • Camera info removed
  • Personal information removed
  • Keep the XMP sidecar for your personal archive

XMP Sidecar Contents

The XMP file contains:

  • All face regions in three standards (MWG, Microsoft MP, IPTC)
  • FHMWG essential metadata fields
  • Location and GPS data
  • Keywords (flat and hierarchical)
  • Technical metadata
  • Timestamp: xmp:MetadataDate
  • Tool info: xmp:CreatorTool

File Naming

  • Image: your-image.jpg or your-image.png
  • Sidecar: your-image.xmp (same base name)
  • Keep both files together for metadata to be recognized

PNG Special Case

For PNG files, the sidecar is authoritative when reading. Always create a sidecar for PNG files with metadata.

Option 3: Convert to JPEG

Available for: PNG, TIFF, HEIC, WebP (any non-JPEG format)

Behavior

  • Converts image to JPEG format during save
  • Embeds all metadata directly in the JPEG file
  • ALL original metadata preserved via ExifTool
  • High quality output (95% quality, optimized)
  • Handles transparency: RGBA → RGB with white background

Why Convert to JPEG?

  • PNG metadata solution - JPEG has excellent metadata support
  • Universal compatibility - JPEG works everywhere
  • Smaller file size - More efficient than TIFF or PNG
  • Maximum compatibility - Best format for embedded metadata

What's Preserved

  • ✅ All EXIF fields (camera info, GPS, dates, technical data)
  • ✅ All IPTC/IIM fields (keywords, captions, copyright)
  • ✅ All XMP fields (all namespaces and properties)
  • ✅ ICC color profiles
  • ✅ EXIF thumbnails
  • ✅ Maker notes
  • ✅ Face regions in all three standards
  • ✅ All unknown/proprietary fields

Transparency Handling

  • JPEG doesn't support transparency
  • Transparent areas filled with white background
  • All metadata still preserved

Output Format Dropdown

Choose your output format:

  • Same as Original (default) - Keep original format
  • Convert to JPEG - Convert any format to JPEG

When to convert:

  • PNG files with metadata (JPEG is more reliable)
  • Maximum compatibility needed
  • Smaller file sizes desired
  • Universal metadata embedding support

Metadata Standards

Face regions are saved in multiple formats for maximum compatibility:

MWG (Metadata Working Group)

  • Industry standard, most widely supported
  • Normalized coordinates (center-point, 0-1 range)
  • Supported by: Lightroom, digiKam, XnView, many others
  • Windows ecosystem standard
  • Rectangle coordinates (x1, y1, x2, y2 format)
  • Supported by: Windows Photos, Windows Live Photo Gallery

IPTC Extension

  • Future-proof international standard
  • Normalized coordinates with region boundaries
  • Supported by: Professional media management systems

Compatible Software

  • ✅ Adobe Lightroom
  • ✅ Adobe Bridge
  • ✅ Apple Photos (partial)
  • ✅ Windows Photo Gallery
  • ✅ digiKam
  • ✅ XnView
  • ✅ ExifTool
  • ✅ Professional media asset management systems

Metadata Preservation Guarantee

All exports use ExifTool -TagsFromFile -all:all:

  • ✅ ALL EXIF fields preserved
  • ✅ ALL IPTC/IIM fields preserved
  • ✅ ALL XMP fields preserved
  • ✅ ICC color profiles preserved
  • ✅ EXIF thumbnails preserved
  • ✅ Maker notes preserved
  • ✅ ALL unknown/proprietary fields preserved

What we edit:

  • Only fields you modify (title, description, date, location, artist, copyright)
  • Only face regions (add/edit/delete)
  • All other metadata passes through untouched

Quick Reference

Goal Recommendation
Best reliability JPEG with embedded metadata
PNG with metadata Create XMP sidecar OR convert to JPEG
Backup metadata Create XMP sidecar (mirror mode)
Share publicly Privacy Strip Mode
Maximum compatibility Convert to JPEG
Archival quality TIFF with embedded + XMP sidecar
Professional workflow Same format + XMP sidecar

Next Steps