Command line utility examples
By default, the utility prints a summary of the Exif information
$ exiv2 img_1771.jpg
File name : img_1771.jpg
File size : 32764 Bytes
MIME type : image/jpeg
Image size : 480 x 360
Thumbnail : image/jpeg, 5448 Bytes
Camera make : Canon
Camera model : Canon PowerShot S40
Image timestamp : 2003:12:14 12:01:44
File number : 117-1771
Exposure time : 1/500 s
Aperture : F4.9
Exposure bias : 0 EV
Flash : No, auto
Flash bias : 0 EV
Focal length : 21.3 mm
Subject distance: 7.82 m
ISO speed : 100
Exposure mode : Program (P)
Metering mode : Center weighted average
Macro mode : Off
Image quality : Superfine
White balance : Auto
Copyright :
Exif comment :
Image with the Exif data shown in the sample output
With the -pt option, the utility prints out all Exif information as interpreted (translated) values. Alternatively, -pv prints the plain Exif data values.
$ exiv2 -pt img_1771.jpg
Exif.Image.Make Ascii 6 Canon
Exif.Image.Model Ascii 20 Canon PowerShot S40
Exif.Image.Orientation Short 1 top, left
Exif.Image.XResolution Rational 1 180
Exif.Image.YResolution Rational 1 180
Exif.Image.ResolutionUnit Short 1 inch
Exif.Image.DateTime Ascii 20 2003:12:14 12:01:44
Exif.Image.YCbCrPositioning Short 1 Centered
Exif.Image.ExifTag Long 1 196
Exif.Photo.ExposureTime Rational 1 1/500 s
Exif.Photo.FNumber Rational 1 F4.9
Exif.Photo.ExifVersion Undefined 4 2.20
Exif.Photo.DateTimeOriginal Ascii 20 2003:12:14 12:01:44
Exif.Photo.DateTimeDigitized Ascii 20 2003:12:14 12:01:44
Exif.Photo.ComponentsConfiguration Undefined 4 YCbCr
Exif.Photo.CompressedBitsPerPixel Rational 1 5
Exif.Photo.ShutterSpeedValue SRational 1 1/501 s
Exif.Photo.ApertureValue Rational 1 F5
Exif.Photo.ExposureBiasValue SRational 1 0 EV
Exif.Photo.MaxApertureValue Rational 1 F2.8
Exif.Photo.MeteringMode Short 1 Center weighted average
Exif.Photo.Flash Short 1 No, auto
Exif.Photo.FocalLength Rational 1 21.3 mm
Exif.Photo.MakerNote Undefined 450 12 0 1 0 3 0 40 0 0 0 68 4 0 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 148 4 0 0 3 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 156 4 0 0 4 0 3 0 27 0 0 0 164 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 6 0 0 0 218 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 230 4 0 0 6 0 2 0 32 0 0 0 238 4 0 0 7 0 2 0 24 0 0 0 14 5 0 0 8 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 59 225 17 0 9 0 2 0 32 0 0 0 38 5 0 0 16 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 17 1 13 0 3 0 21 0 0 0 70 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 5 0 1 0 3 48 1 0 255 255 255 255 170 2 227 0 32 0 149 0 192 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 255 255 49 0 224 8 224 8 0 0 1 0 2 0 170 2 30 1 215 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 54 0 0 0 160 0 20 1 149 0 31 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 48 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 14 3 0 0 149 0 33 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 250 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 73 77 71 58 80 111 119 101 114 83 104 111 116 32 83 52 48 32 74 80 69 71 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 105 114 109 119 97 114 101 32 86 101 114 115 105 111 110 32 49 46 49 48 0 0 0 65 110 100 114 101 97 115 32 72 117 103 103 101 108 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 0 3 0 1 128 122 1 1 128 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 57 0 198 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Exif.MakerNote.Offset Long 1 942
Exif.MakerNote.ByteOrder Ascii 3 II
Exif.CanonCs.Macro Short 1 Off
Exif.CanonCs.Selftimer Short 1 Off
Exif.CanonCs.Quality Short 1 Superfine
Exif.CanonCs.FlashMode Short 1 Auto
Exif.CanonCs.DriveMode Short 1 Single / timer
Exif.CanonCs.FocusMode Short 1 Single
Exif.CanonCs.RecordMode Short 1 JPEG
Exif.CanonCs.ImageSize Short 1 Large
Exif.CanonCs.EasyMode Short 1 Manual
Exif.CanonCs.DigitalZoom Short 1 None
Exif.CanonCs.Contrast Short 1 Normal
Exif.CanonCs.Saturation Short 1 Normal
Exif.CanonCs.Sharpness Short 1 Normal
Exif.CanonCs.ISOSpeed Short 1 100
Exif.CanonCs.MeteringMode Short 1 Center-weighted average
Exif.CanonCs.FocusType Short 1 Auto
Exif.CanonCs.AFPoint Short 1 Center
Exif.CanonCs.ExposureProgram Short 1 Program (P)
Exif.CanonCs.LensType Short 1 n/a
Exif.CanonCs.Lens Short 3 7.1 - 21.3 mm
Exif.CanonCs.MaxAperture Short 1 F5
Exif.CanonCs.MinAperture Short 1 F8
Exif.CanonCs.FlashActivity Short 1 Did not fire
Exif.CanonCs.FlashDetails Short 1
Exif.CanonCs.FocusContinuous Short 1 Single
Exif.CanonCs.AESetting Short 1 Normal AE
Exif.CanonCs.ImageStabilization Short 1 (65535)
Exif.CanonCs.DisplayAperture Short 1 49
Exif.CanonCs.ZoomSourceWidth Short 1 2272
Exif.CanonCs.ZoomTargetWidth Short 1 2272
Exif.CanonCs.SpotMeteringMode Short 1 AF Point
Exif.Canon.FocalLength Short 4 21.3 mm
Exif.Canon.CanonFlashInfo Short 4 0 0 0 0
Exif.CanonSi.AutoISO Short 1 100
Exif.CanonSi.ISOSpeed Short 1 100
Exif.CanonSi.MeasuredEV Short 1 13.63
Exif.CanonSi.TargetAperture Short 1 F5
Exif.CanonSi.TargetShutterSpeed Short 1 1/501 s
Exif.CanonSi.ExposureCompensation Short 1 0
Exif.CanonSi.WhiteBalance Short 1 Auto
Exif.CanonSi.SlowShutter Short 1 Off
Exif.CanonSi.Sequence Short 1 0
Exif.CanonSi.OpticalZoomCode Short 1 6
Exif.CanonSi.CameraTemperature Short 1 --
Exif.CanonSi.FlashGuideNumber Short 1 0
Exif.CanonSi.AFPointUsed Short 1 3 focus points; center used
Exif.CanonSi.FlashBias Short 1 0 EV
Exif.CanonSi.AutoExposureBracketing Short 1 Off
Exif.CanonSi.AEBBracketValue Short 1 0
Exif.CanonSi.ControlMode Short 1 1
Exif.CanonSi.SubjectDistance Short 1 7.82 m
Exif.CanonSi.ApertureValue Short 1 F5
Exif.CanonSi.ShutterSpeedValue Short 1 1/523 s
Exif.CanonSi.MeasuredEV2 Short 1 -6.00
Exif.CanonSi.BulbDuration Short 1 0
Exif.CanonSi.CameraType Short 1 Compact
Exif.Canon.ImageType Ascii 32 IMG:PowerShot S40 JPEG
Exif.Canon.FirmwareVersion Ascii 24 Firmware Version 1.10
Exif.Canon.FileNumber Long 1 117-1771
Exif.Canon.OwnerName Ascii 32 Andreas Huggel
Exif.Canon.ModelID Long 1 PowerShot S40
Exif.Canon.CameraInfo Short 21 42 3 32769 378 32769 0 0 0 259 2 0 10 0 0 0 57 198 5 0 0 0
Exif.Photo.UserComment Undefined 264
Exif.Photo.FlashpixVersion Undefined 4 1.00
Exif.Photo.ColorSpace Short 1 sRGB
Exif.Photo.PixelXDimension Short 1 2272
Exif.Photo.PixelYDimension Short 1 1704
Exif.Photo.InteroperabilityTag Long 1 1416
Exif.Iop.InteroperabilityIndex Ascii 4 R98
Exif.Iop.InteroperabilityVersion Undefined 4 1.00
Exif.Iop.RelatedImageWidth Short 1 2272
Exif.Iop.RelatedImageLength Short 1 1704
Exif.Photo.FocalPlaneXResolution Rational 1 8114.29
Exif.Photo.FocalPlaneYResolution Rational 1 8114.29
Exif.Photo.FocalPlaneResolutionUnit Short 1 inch
Exif.Photo.SensingMethod Short 1 One-chip color area
Exif.Photo.FileSource Undefined 1 Digital still camera
Exif.Photo.CustomRendered Short 1 Normal process
Exif.Photo.ExposureMode Short 1 Auto
Exif.Photo.WhiteBalance Short 1 Auto
Exif.Photo.DigitalZoomRatio Rational 1 1.0
Exif.Photo.SceneCaptureType Short 1 Standard
Exif.Thumbnail.Compression Short 1 JPEG (old-style)
Exif.Thumbnail.XResolution Rational 1 180
Exif.Thumbnail.YResolution Rational 1 180
Exif.Thumbnail.ResolutionUnit Short 1 inch
Exif.Thumbnail.JPEGInterchangeFormat Long 1 2036
Exif.Thumbnail.JPEGInterchangeFormatLength Long 1 5448
Short description of the actions and options supported by the Exiv2 utility (see the man page for details)
$ exiv2 -h
Usage: exiv2 [ option [ arg ] ]+ [ action ] file ...
Image metadata manipulation tool.
Where file is one or more files, optionally containing a URL
(http, https, ftp, sftp, data or file) or wildcard
Actions:
pr | print Print image metadata (default is a summary). This is the default
action
ad | adjust Adjust Exif timestamps by the given time. Requires
at least one of -a, -Y, -O or -D
rm | delete Deletes image metadata, use -d to choose type to delete
(default is all)
in | insert Insert metadata from .exv, .xmp, thumbnail or .icc file.
Use option -S to change the suffix of the input files and
-l to change the location
ex | extract Extract metadata to .exv, .xmp, preview image, thumbnail,
or ICC profile. Use option -S to change the suffix of the input
files and -l to change the location
mv | rename Rename files and/or set file timestamps according to the
Exif timestamps. The filename format can be set with
-r format, timestamp options are controlled with -t and -T
mo | modify Apply commands to modify the Exif, IPTC and XMP metadata.
Requires option -m or -M
fi | fixiso Copy ISO setting from Canon and Nikon makernotes, to the
standard Exif tag
fc | fixcom Convert the Unicode Exif user comment to UCS-2. The current
character encoding can be specified with the -n option
Options:
-h Display this help and exit
-V Show the program version and exit
-v Be verbose during the program run
-q Silence warnings and error messages (quiet)
-Q lvl Set log-level to d(ebug), i(nfo), w(arning), e(rror) or m(ute)
-b Obsolete, reserved for use with the test suit
-u Show unknown tags (e.g., Exif.SonyMisc3c.0x022b)
-g str Only output where 'str' matches in output text (grep)
Append /i to 'str' for case insensitive
-K key Only output where 'key' exactly matches tag's key
-n enc Character set to decode Exif Unicode user comments
-k Preserve file timestamps when updating files (keep)
-t Set the file timestamp from Exif metadata when renaming (overrides -k)
-T Only set the file timestamp from Exif metadata ('rename' action)
-f Do not prompt before overwriting existing files (force)
-F Do not prompt before renaming files (Force)
-a time Time adjustment in the format [+|-]HH[:MM[:SS]]. For 'adjust' action
-Y yrs Year adjustment with the 'adjust' action
-O mon Month adjustment with the 'adjust' action
-D day Day adjustment with the 'adjust' action
-p mode Print mode for the 'print' action. Possible modes are:
s : A summary of the Exif metadata (the default)
a : Exif, IPTC and XMP tags (shortcut for -Pkyct)
e : Exif tags (shortcut for -PEkycv)
t : Interpreted (translated) Exif tags (-PEkyct)
v : Plain (untranslated) Exif tags values (-PExgnycv)
h : Hex dump of the Exif tags (-PExgnycsh)
i : IPTC tags (-PIkyct)
x : XMP tags (-PXkyct)
c : JPEG comment
p : List available image preview, sorted by size
C : Print ICC profile
R : Recursive print structure of image (debug build only)
S : Print structure of image (limited file types)
X : Extract "raw" XMP
-P flgs Print flags for fine control of tag lists ('print' action):
E : Exif tags
I : IPTC tags
X : XMP tags
x : Tag number for Exif or IPTC tags (in hexadecimal)
g : Group name (e.g. Exif.Photo.UserComment, Photo)
k : Key (e.g. Exif.Photo.UserComment)
l : Tag label (e.g. Exif.Photo.UserComment, 'User comment')
d : Tag description
n : Tag name (e.g. Exif.Photo.UserComment, UserComment)
y : Type
y : Type
c : Number of components (count)
s : Size in bytes of vanilla value (may include NULL)
v : Plain data value of untranslated (vanilla)
V : Plain data value, data type and the word 'set'
t : Interpreted (translated) human readable values
h : Hex dump of the data
-d tgt1 Delete target(s) for the 'delete' action. Possible targets are:
a : All supported metadata (the default)
e : Exif tags
t : Exif thumbnail only
i : IPTC tags
x : XMP tags
c : JPEG comment
C : ICC Profile
c : All IPTC data (any broken multiple IPTC blocks)
- : Input from stdin
-i tgt2 Insert target(s) for the 'insert' action. Possible targets are
a : All supported metadata (the default)
e : Exif tags
t : Exif thumbnail only (JPEGs only from <file>-thumb.jpg)
i : IPTC tags
x : XMP tags
c : JPEG comment
C : ICC Profile, from <file>.icc
X : XMP sidecar from file <file>.xmp
XX: "raw" metadata from <file>.exv. XMP default, optional Exif and IPTC
- : Input from stdin
-e tgt3 Extract target(s) for the 'extract' action. Possible targets
a : All supported metadata (the default)
e : Exif tags
t : Exif thumbnail only (to <file>-thumb.jpg)
i : IPTC tags
x : XMP tags
c : JPEG comment
pN: Extract N'th preview image to <file>-preview<N>.<ext>
C : ICC Profile, to <file>.icc
X : XMP sidecar to <file>.xmp
XX: "raw" metadata to <file>.exv. XMP default, optional Exif and IPTC
- : Output to stdin
-r fmt Filename format for the 'rename' action. The format string
follows strftime(3). The following keywords are also supported:
:basename: - original filename without extension
:dirname: - name of the directory holding the original file
:parentname: - name of parent directory
Default 'fmt' is %Y%m%d_%H%M%S
-c txt JPEG comment string to set in the image.
-m cmdf Applies commands in 'cmdf' file, for the modify action (see -M for format).
-M cmd Command line for the modify action. The format is:
( (set | add) <key> [[<type>] <value>] |
del <key> [<type>] |
reg prefix namespace )
-l dir Location (directory) for files to be inserted from or extracted to.
-S suf Use suffix 'suf' for source files for insert action.
Examples:
exiv2 -pe image.dng *.jp2
Print all Exif tags in image.dng and all .jp2 files
exiv2 -g date/i https://clanmills.com/Stonehenge.jpg
Print all tags in file, where key contains 'date' (case insensitive)
exiv2 -M"set Xmp.dc.subject XmpBag Sky" image.tiff
Set (or add if missing) value to tag in file
You can modify any Exif or IPTC metadata using modify-commands from a file (-m option) or directly from the command line (-M option). Multiple -M and -m directives can be combined. Here is a sample command file for the modify option (lines starting with # are comments)
# Sample Exiv2 command file
# -------------------------
#
# $ exiv2 -m cmd.txt file ...
#
# to apply the commands in cmd.txt to each file. Alternatively, commands can be
# run from the command line directly, without a command file:
#
# $ exiv2 -M"add Iptc.Application2.Credit String mee too!" file ...
#
# Note the quotes. Multiple -m and -M options are allowed and can be combined.
#
# Command file format
# -------------------
# Empty lines and lines starting with # are ignored
# Each remaining line is a command. The format for command lines is
# <cmd> <key> [[<type>] <value>]
# cmd = set|add|del
# set will set the value of an existing tag of the given key or add a tag
# add will add a tag (unless the key is a non-repeatable IPTC key)
# del will delete a tag
# key = Exiv2 Exif or IPTC key
# type =
# Byte|Ascii|Short|Long|Rational|Undefined|SShort|SLong|SRational|Comment
# for Exif keys, and
# String|Date|Time|Short|Undefined for IPTC keys
# The format for IPTC Date values is YYYY-MM-DD (year, month, day) and
# for IPTC Time values it is HH:MM:SS±HH:MM where HH:MM:SS refers to local
# hour, minute and seconds and ±HH:MM refers to hours and minutes ahead or
# behind Universal Coordinated Time.
# A default type is used if none is explicitly given. The default type
# is determined based on the key.
# value
# The remaining text on the line is the value. It can optionally be enclosed in
# double quotes ("value")
#
add Iptc.Application2.Credit String "mee too! (1)"
add Iptc.Application2.Credit mee too! (2)
del Iptc.Application2.Headline
set Iptc.Application2.Headline Filename
add Exif.Image.WhitePoint Short 32 12 4 5 6
set Exif.Image.DateTime Ascii "Zwanzig nach fuenf"
set Exif.Image.Artist Ascii nobody
set Exif.Image.Artist "Vincent van Gogh"
set Exif.Photo.UserComment Comment charset=Ascii This is an ASCII Exif comment
The following commands are for XMP tags, the result is the same as that of Example 5.
# Sample Exiv2 command file for XMP tags
# --------------------------------------
# Set basic properties. Exiv2 uses the value type of the XMP specification
# for the property, if it is not specified. The default XMP value type
# for unknown properties is a simple text value.
# A simple text property.
set Xmp.dc.source xmpsample.cpp
# An array item (unordered array).
set Xmp.dc.subject "Palmtree"
# Add a 2nd array item
set Xmp.dc.subject "Rubbertree"
# A language alternative (without a default)
set Xmp.dc.title lang=en-US Sunset on the beach
set Xmp.dc.title lang=de-DE Sonnenuntergang am Strand
# Any properties can be set provided the namespace is known.
set Xmp.dc.one -1
set Xmp.dc.two 3.1415
set Xmp.dc.three 5/7
set Xmp.dc.four 255
set Xmp.dc.five 256
set Xmp.dc.six false
set Xmp.dc.seven Seven
# The value type can be specified. Exiv2 has support for a limited number
# of specific XMP types with built-in types: The basic XmpText, array
# types XmpAlt (alternative array), XmpBag (unordered array), XmpSeq
# (ordered array) and language alternatives LangAlt.
# Simple text property with explicitly specified value type
set Xmp.dc.format XmpText "image/jpeg"
# An ordered array
set Xmp.dc.creator XmpSeq "1) The first creator"
set Xmp.dc.creator "2) The second creator"
set Xmp.dc.creator "3) And another one"
# A language alternative. The default entry of a langauge alternative
# doesn't need a language qualifier.
set Xmp.dc.description LangAlt lang=de-DE Hallo, Welt
set Xmp.dc.description LangAlt Hello, World
# According to the XMP specification, Xmp.tiff.ImageDescription is an
# alias for Xmp.dc.description. Exiv2 treats an alias just like any
# other property.
set Xmp.tiff.ImageDescription TIFF image description
set Xmp.tiff.ImageDescription lang=de-DE TIFF Bildbeschreibung
# Register a namespace which Exiv2 doesn't know yet with a prefix.
reg ns myNamespace/
# There are no built-in Exiv2 value types for structures, qualifiers and
# nested types. However, these can be added by using an XmpText value and a
# path as the key.
# Add a structure
set Xmp.xmpDM.videoFrameSize/stDim:w 16
set Xmp.xmpDM.videoFrameSize/stDim:h 9
set Xmp.xmpDM.videoFrameSize/stDim:unit inch
# Add an element with a qualifier (using the namespace registered earlier)
set Xmp.dc.publisher James Bond
set Xmp.dc.publisher/?ns:role secret agent
# Add a qualifier to an array element of Xmp.dc.creator (added above)
set Xmp.dc.creator[2]/?ns:role programmer
# Add an array of structures. First set a text property with just the
# array type. (Note: this is not the same as creating an XmpBag property.)
set Xmp.xmpBJ.JobRef XmpText type=Bag
# Then set the array items. Each of them is a structure with two elements.
set Xmp.xmpBJ.JobRef[1]/stJob:name XmpText Birthday party
set Xmp.xmpBJ.JobRef[1]/stJob:role XmpText Photographer
set Xmp.xmpBJ.JobRef[2]/stJob:name Wedding ceremony
set Xmp.xmpBJ.JobRef[2]/stJob:role Best man