Image Metadata
What image metadata is, what it reveals about screenshots, and privacy concerns when sharing.
Image metadata is information stored in an image file in addition to the pixels. It describes how, when and where the image was made, and how it should be displayed.
The common standards are EXIF (camera settings, date and time, orientation, GPS location), IPTC (captions, credits, keywords) and XMP (an XML-based format from Adobe that can hold any of these fields). Files can also carry an ICC color profile, resolution values and, in PNG, text chunks.
File system details, such as the creation date shown in Finder, are stored outside the file. They are usually lost when a file is uploaded or sent.
What metadata contains
| Field group | Examples | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | Date, time, device model, lens | Cameras and phones |
| Location | GPS latitude and longitude | Phones with location on |
| Display | Orientation, color profile, DPI | Most image tools |
| Description | Title, caption, author, copyright | Editors and asset managers |
| Software | App name and version | Editors and exporters |
Where metadata matters
- Photo libraries, which sort by capture date and place.
- Evidence and records, where the capture time supports a claim.
- Publishing, where credits and copyright fields travel with the file.
- Color accuracy, which depends on the embedded profile.
Metadata and privacy
Phone photos can include the exact location where they were taken. Screenshots usually carry less, but they can include the date, the device or the software name. Many social networks strip metadata on upload. Email, chat file transfers and cloud links often keep it. Check before sharing photos of private places.
Metadata can also be edited with common tools. A date field supports a record but does not prove when an image was made.
Common mistakes
- Sharing photos with GPS data without checking.
- Assuming redaction or blurring removes metadata. It only changes pixels.
- Stripping the color profile along with personal fields, which shifts colors.
- Treating metadata as tamper-proof evidence.
Have an image to fix right now?
Cover sensitive content in the pixels with Image Redaction Tool, then check the exported file's details in Preview before you send it.
Common questions
How do I view metadata on a Mac?
Open the image in Preview and choose Tools, then Show Inspector. Finder's Get Info also shows some fields.
Does Temposhot upload my captures?
No. Captures, sessions and Documents stay on your Mac.
Sources
Related resources
- Image redaction: removing sensitive content from pixels.
- Previous sessions: where Temposhot keeps capture sessions.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot captures a screen, window or area on a timer and exports the set as a PDF, images, ZIP or MP4. The free browser tools fix single images.
Related resources
Related terms
- Color ProfileWhat color profiles are, how sRGB, Display P3, and Adobe RGB affect screenshots, and how to avoid color inconsistencies.
- DPIWhat DPI means for screenshots, how it affects resolution and file size, and common confusion with PPI.
- Screenshot EvidenceWhat screenshot evidence is, where it's used in legal and QA contexts, and how to capture it properly.
- Image RedactionWhat image redaction is, how it differs from blurring and cropping, and how to redact properly before sharing.
- Privacy BlurWhat privacy blur is, how it differs from redaction, and how to blur sensitive information in screenshots.
- Screenshot SharingHow to share a screenshot by clipboard, file, cloud link, or chat, and how to check tabs, notifications, and URLs for private data before you send.