Image metadata library and tools

Exiv2 Overview

Exiv2 is a C++ library and a command line utility to manage image metadata. It provides fast and easy read and write access to the Exif, IPTC and XMP metadata of images in various formats. Exiv2 is available as free software and with a commercial license, and is used in a growing number of projects.

fast read and write access to the Exif, IPTC, and XMP metadata of an image through Exiv2 keys and standard C++ iterators. Examples: read Exif; add, modify, delete Exif; read IPTC; set IPTC; set XMP
an easy to use and well documented API
conversions of Exif and IPTC metadata to XMP and vice versa
a smart IPTC implementation that does not affect data that programs like Photoshop store in the same image segment
Exif MakerNote support:
- MakerNote tags can be accessed just like any other Exif metadata
- a sophisticated write algorithm avoids corrupting the MakerNote
extract and delete methods for Exif thumbnails (both, JPEG and TIFF thumbnails)
set methods for Exif thumbnails (JPEG only, TIFF thumbnails can be set from individual tags)

print the Exif metadata of JPEG, TIFF and several RAW image formats as summary info, interpreted values, or the plain data for each tag (a sample is here)
print IPTC and XMP metadata
print, set and delete the JPEG comment of JPEG images
set, add and delete Exif, IPTC and XMP metadata of JPEG images
adjust the Exif timestamp (that's how it all started...)
rename Exif image files according to the Exif timestamp
extract, insert and delete Exif, IPTC and XMP metadata and JPEG comments
extract, insert and delete the thumbnail image embedded in the Exif metadata
fix the Exif ISO setting of picture taken with Nikon cameras

Future plans include