The Exchange Image File (EXIF) format is a standard developed by the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA) that lets digital cameras store meta-information in the header of an image file. EXIF data is included with image file formats such as JPEG and TIFF, as well as with audio formats such as RIFF. Depending on the model and make of your camera, the meta-information stored in the header of the image file can include settings such as the date and time of creation, the exposure time, the aperture setting, the exposure program, the size, the resolution, and the orientation of the image. Linux provides several tools for manipulating EXIF data directly. Directly manipulating the metadata associated with an image file saves time, promotes automation, and, in some cases, prevents the data loss that would occur with graphic manipulation. This article describes some techniques for using EXIF metadata to rename and manipulate JPEG images.

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