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Overview

ImageGlass automatically reads and displays EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) metadata from your images. Access detailed information about camera settings, capture time, GPS coordinates, copyright, and more without opening external tools.

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What is EXIF Metadata?

EXIF metadata is embedded information stored within image files, typically by digital cameras and smartphones. It includes:
  • Camera settings - ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focal length
  • Date and time - When the photo was taken
  • Camera information - Make, model, lens details
  • Image properties - Dimensions, color space, orientation
  • Copyright and attribution - Artist, copyright, software used
  • GPS location - Where the photo was taken (if available)
Not all images contain EXIF data. Screenshots, digital artwork, and images edited in some programs may have limited or no EXIF information.

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Viewing EXIF Data

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In Title Bar / Image Info

ImageGlass displays selected EXIF fields in the title bar or image info overlay. Default visible fields:
  • File name and path
  • Image dimensions
  • File size
  • Date/time information
  • Rating (if set)

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Configuring Visible Information

1

Open Settings

Go to Settings > Image Info
2

Select Information Tags

Choose which EXIF fields to display:
  • App Name - ImageGlass branding
  • Name - File name
  • Path - Full file path
  • Zoom - Current zoom percentage
  • ListCount - Image position in list (e.g., “3/25”)
  • FileSize - File size in bytes/KB/MB
  • Dimension - Width x Height in pixels
  • FrameCount - Number of frames (for animated images)
  • ColorSpace - Color space and profile
  • ExifRating - Star rating
  • ExifDateTime - EXIF modification date
  • ExifDateTimeOriginal - Original capture date
  • DateTimeAuto - Best available date (auto-selects)
  • ModifiedDateTime - File system modification date
3

Customize Format

Drag and drop to reorder fieldsChoose separator characters
Use DateTimeAuto to automatically display the most relevant date: EXIF Original, EXIF Modified, or File Modified (in that priority).

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EXIF Data Fields

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Date and Time Fields

ImageGlass tracks three different timestamps:

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EXIF Date Time Original

public DateTime? ExifDateTimeOriginal { get; set; }
The original capture date from the camera. This is when the photo was actually taken and should not change when editing. Display format: 2024-03-08 14:30:45 (o) The (o) suffix indicates “original” date.

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EXIF Date Time

public DateTime? ExifDateTime { get; set; }
The last modification date in EXIF data. Updated when the image is edited or processed. Display format: 2024-03-08 15:20:30 (e) The (e) suffix indicates “EXIF” date.

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Modified Date Time

public DateTime FileLastWriteTime { get; set; }
The file system modification date. Updated whenever the file is saved. Display format: 2024-03-08 16:45:12 (m) The (m) suffix indicates “modified” date.

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Auto Date Time

Automatically selects the best available date: 
if (ExifDateTimeOriginal != null)
    return ExifDateTimeOriginal + " (o)";
else if (ExifDateTime != null)
    return ExifDateTime + " (e)";
else
    return FileLastWriteTime + " (m)";
Use DateTimeAuto in image info to always see the most meaningful date without configuration.

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Rating

public int ExifRatingPercent { get; set; }
Image rating from 0-100%, typically displayed as stars:
  • 0% - No rating
  • 1-20% - ★☆☆☆☆ (1 star)
  • 21-40% - ★★☆☆☆ (2 stars)
  • 41-60% - ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)
  • 61-80% - ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
  • 81-100% - ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Display format: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Ratings are read-only in ImageGlass. Use photo management software like Adobe Lightroom or Windows Photos to set ratings.

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Camera Settings

ImageGlass reads camera technical information:

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ISO Speed

public int? ExifISOSpeed { get; set; }
Camera sensor sensitivity (e.g., 100, 400, 1600, 3200).

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Exposure Time

public float? ExifExposureTime { get; set; }
Shutter speed in seconds (e.g., 1/500, 1/60, 2.5).

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F-Number (Aperture)

public float? ExifFNumber { get; set; }
Lens aperture value (e.g., f/2.8, f/5.6, f/16).

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Focal Length

public float? ExifFocalLength { get; set; }
Lens focal length in millimeters (e.g., 24mm, 50mm, 200mm).

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Device Information

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Camera Model

public string? ExifModel { get; set; }
Camera or phone model (e.g., “Canon EOS R5”, “iPhone 15 Pro”).

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Artist

public string? ExifArtist { get; set; }
Photographer or artist name. 
public string? ExifCopyright { get; set; }
Copyright information.

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Software

public string? ExifSoftware { get; set; }
Software used to create or edit the image.

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Image Description

public string? ExifImageDescription { get; set; }
Image title or description.

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Color Space Information

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Color Space

public string ColorSpace { get; set; }
The image’s color space:
  • sRGB - Standard RGB (most common)
  • AdobeRGB - Adobe RGB (wider gamut)
  • CMYK - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (print)
  • Grayscale - Black and white

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Color Profile

public string ColorProfile { get; set; }
Embedded ICC profile name:
  • sRGB IEC61966-2.1
  • Adobe RGB (1998)
  • Display P3
  • Custom profile names
Display format: 
ColorSpace/ProfileName
Examples:
  • sRGB/sRGB IEC61966-2.1
  • RGB/Adobe RGB (1998)
  • RGB/- (no profile)
Color profile information helps ensure accurate color display. See Color Management for details.

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File Metadata

ImageGlass also displays file system information:

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File Properties

public class IgMetadata
{
    public string FilePath { get; set; }
    public string FileName { get; set; }
    public string FileExtension { get; set; }
    public long FileSize { get; set; }
    public DateTime FileCreationTime { get; set; }
    public DateTime FileLastAccessTime { get; set; }
    public DateTime FileLastWriteTime { get; set; }
}

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Image Properties

public class IgMetadata
{
    public uint OriginalWidth { get; set; }     // Source dimensions
    public uint OriginalHeight { get; set; }
    public uint RenderedWidth { get; set; }     // Displayed dimensions
    public uint RenderedHeight { get; set; }
    public int FrameCount { get; set; }         // Animation frames
    public bool HasAlpha { get; set; }          // Transparency
    public bool CanAnimate { get; set; }        // Is animated
}

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Metadata Loading

ImageGlass loads metadata in two stages:

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Quick Metadata (Ping)

public static IgMetadata LoadMetadata(string filePath)
Loads metadata without reading the full image:
1

Read File Headers

Extracts basic information from file headers
2

Parse EXIF Data

Reads EXIF tags using ImageMagick
3

Extract Color Profile

Identifies embedded ICC profiles
4

Return Metadata

Provides all information instantly
Performance: Very fast, no image decoding required.

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EXIF Profile Reading

ImageGlass uses ImageMagick’s EXIF profile reader: 
if (imgM.GetExifProfile() is IExifProfile exifProfile)
{
    // Read rating
    meta.ExifRatingPercent = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.RatingPercent);
    
    // Read dates
    meta.ExifDateTimeOriginal = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.DateTimeOriginal);
    meta.ExifDateTime = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.DateTime);
    
    // Read camera settings
    meta.ExifISOSpeed = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.ISOSpeed);
    meta.ExifExposureTime = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.ExposureTime);
    meta.ExifFNumber = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.FNumber);
    meta.ExifFocalLength = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.FocalLength);
    
    // Read text fields
    meta.ExifArtist = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.Artist);
    meta.ExifCopyright = GetExifValue(exifProfile, ExifTag.Copyright);
}

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Practical Uses

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Photography Review

Enable camera settings in image info to review:
1

Configure Display

Add camera EXIF fields to image info:
  • ISO Speed
  • Exposure Time
  • F-Number
  • Focal Length
2

Browse Images

Navigate through photos normally
3

Review Settings

See camera settings in title bar for each image
4

Learn and Improve

Identify patterns in successful shots

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Image Organization

Use date fields for organization:
  • Sort by capture date - Use ExifDateTimeOriginal
  • Find recent edits - Use ExifDateTime
  • Track file changes - Use ModifiedDateTime
ImageGlass’s loading order can sort by any date field. Use Loading Order > Last Modified to see recently edited images first.
View copyright information:
1

Enable Copyright Display

Add ExifCopyright and ExifArtist to image info
2

Verify Attribution

Check images have proper copyright tags
3

Identify Ownership

Quickly see who created each image

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Color Space Verification

For color-accurate workflows:
1

Enable Color Info

Add ColorSpace to image info
2

Verify Profiles

Ensure images use expected color space
3

Identify Issues

Spot images with wrong or missing profiles

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EXIF Data Sources

ImageGlass reads EXIF from multiple sources:

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Primary: ImageMagick

Most comprehensive EXIF reading:
  • Supports all standard EXIF tags
  • Handles proprietary camera formats
  • Reads RAW file EXIF data

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Fallback: GDI+ PropertyItems

For formats without ImageMagick EXIF support: 
using var fs = File.OpenRead(filePath);
using var img = Image.FromStream(fs, false, false);

// Read EXIF_DateTimeOriginal (tag 36867)
var pi = img.GetPropertyItem(0x9003);
var dateTimeText = enc.GetString(pi.Value, 0, pi.Len - 1);
Provides basic date/time information as a fallback.

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Supported File Formats

EXIF metadata support by format:
FormatEXIF SupportNotes
JPEGFullMost common EXIF carrier
TIFFFullProfessional standard
PNGLimitedText chunks, not traditional EXIF
WebPFullModern format with EXIF
HEIF/HEICFullApple’s format, complete EXIF
RAW formatsFullCR2, NEF, ARW, etc.
GIFNoneNo EXIF support
BMPNoneNo EXIF support
SVGNoneVector format, no EXIF
PNG files can contain EXIF-like data in text chunks (tEXt, iTXt, zTXt), which ImageGlass may read depending on the encoder.

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Privacy Considerations

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Location Data

Some images contain GPS coordinates in EXIF:
Sharing images with GPS EXIF data reveals the location where photos were taken. Remove GPS tags before sharing sensitive images.

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Personal Information

EXIF can contain:
  • Your name (Artist field)
  • Camera serial number
  • Software and device information
  • Editing history
To protect privacy:
  • Use EXIF removal tools before sharing
  • Configure camera to not embed GPS
  • Use “Export for Web” features in editors

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Troubleshooting

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No EXIF Data Displayed

Possible causes:
  • Image format doesn’t support EXIF
  • EXIF data was stripped during editing
  • File is corrupted
  • Image is a screenshot or digital creation
Solutions:
  • Verify file format supports EXIF (see table above)
  • Check original file before editing
  • Use EXIF reader tool to verify data exists

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Wrong Date Displayed

Possible causes:
  • Camera clock was set incorrectly
  • File was edited and timestamp updated
  • Timezone conversion issues
Solutions:
  • Use ExifDateTimeOriginal for true capture time
  • Check camera date/time settings
  • Use EXIF editing tool to correct dates

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Incomplete EXIF Data

Possible causes:
  • Limited metadata from source device
  • Some fields not supported by camera
  • Data stripped by editing software
Solutions:
  • Check camera settings for metadata options
  • Enable “Preserve EXIF” in editing software
  • Use original unedited files when possible

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Special Characters Garbled

Possible causes:
  • Character encoding issues
  • Unicode not properly supported
Solutions:
  • Check camera language settings
  • Re-save with UTF-8 encoding
  • Edit metadata with specialized tools

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Best Practices

Preserve originals: Keep original files with EXIF intact for archival purposes.
Set camera clock: Ensure your camera’s date/time is accurate for proper EXIF timestamps.
Use consistent copyright: Set copyright information in-camera or during import for automatic attribution.
Review before sharing: Check EXIF data before sharing images publicly to avoid privacy issues.

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