How to Understand Metadata

Metadata are information about digital files. In the case of digital photographs, we distinguish two basic types of metadata:

Basic metadata (EXIF) are added to the photo directly by the camera’s software.
Extended data (IPTC) are usually added to the files in a photo editor.

Depending on the properties of the specific format, metadata can be saved either directly in the file (e.g. JPG) or in a separate XMP file (e.g. RAW).

EXIF

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is information that the camera automatically records when a photograph is taken and is an integral part of it. EXIF assigns to photographs:

information about the camera model used to take the picture and its manufacturer,
exposure values of the photo (shutter speed, lens aperture, ISO value),
data about the lens used and focal length,
information about flash settings,
date and time the photo was taken,
data about the photo resolution,
information about white balance settings,
GPS coordinates,
a photo preview,
and other data (varying by camera manufacturer).

IPTC

IPTC (the abbreviation comes from the name of the consortium that created this metadata standard – International Press Telecommunication Council) is data beyond the basic EXIF data. Some information, such as copyright (author name), can be inserted directly in the camera. In a photo editor you typically add more data, such as:

photo description,
keywords,
photo rating,
color labels,
and other data (again varying by camera or photo editor manufacturer).

Displaying Metadata

Metadata can also be viewed in Windows Explorer under the picture properties. However, Zoner Studio offers a clearer display. It also allows you to edit or add some data.

A basic metadata preview can be found in the Manager module in the right panel under the Basic EXIF and Detailed EXIF tabs.

What data is displayed in the right panel and under what circumstances can be adjusted by clicking the gear icon in the bottom-right corner of the panel.

In addition, metadata are available through the File Information dialog, which can be displayed in the Manager, Develop, and Editor modules as well as in the Viewer window. The dialog can be opened with the Ctrl+Shift+Enter keyboard shortcut.

The range of information contained in EXIF may vary depending on the camera manufacturer. With Zoner Studio you can insert information such as photo title, description, author, copyright, keywords, photo rating, color label, and GPS coordinates into a photo.

Besides the Manager module, you can also display metadata information in the Editor module using the File Information function (Ctrl+Shift+Enter).

Using Metadata in Practice

Improving photographic skills

If a shot did not turn out well, one useful step may be to look at the metadata and check how the camera was set. Information about aperture, shutter speed, or ISO can provide clues as to why the picture is, for example, blurry or overexposed.

Facilitating photo organization

When first sorting new photos, it is useful to somehow distinguish photos intended for editing from those meant for deletion or archiving. This is primarily done by adding ratings with stars or the Rejected value. For similar purposes, or for more detailed sorting, you can use color labels or keywords.

More information

Picture Ratings and Color Labels

Searching Photos

Specific images can also be searched for or sorted within a folder by any metadata. For effective searching by metadata, it is best to have the photos added to the Catalog. Thanks to the Catalog, you can browse and search photos by date taken, GPS location, and keywords, or use quick search.