What tags in .jpg files should I keep?

[calberga]

Is there a discusion about the pros and cons of keeping or deleting various classes of tags in .jpg files?

I know there is information that I want to keep in  the EXIF section, but what about MakerNotes, MPF, PrintIM, JFIF, and probably others that i haven't tripped over yet?

[Phil Harvey]

The MakerNotes in JPEG images are really only used by your camera and the software that came with your camera.  If you aren't interested in knowing your camera settings or other details like this, then you may safely delete this information.

MPF is only necessary for stereoscopic images.  Otherwise deleting it just deletes a preview, which isn't essential.

PrintIM is useless unless you happen to use this feature (unlikely).

JFIF is also useless, and has been superseded by EXIF.

- Phil

[calberga]

Thank you!  That may "fix" (at least eliminate) most of my problems!  At least I only have to run that on digital photos, not scans, so that cuts an hour or so off the job!

[calberga]

I have tried the following:

Code Select Expand

exiftool -ext jpg -r -P -F -v0 -overwrite_original -overwrite_original -MakerNotes:all= -mpf:all= -PrintIM:all= -JFIF:all= -ifd1:all= D:/P/Working/ >D:/P/X/Cleanup.txt 2>D:/P/X/Cleanup-errors.txt

which seems to be running (so far), but at the start I see:

Warning: Not a deletable group: mpf

A little later I get:

Warning: Duplicate Orientation tag in IFD0 - D:/P/Working/2009-12-25 California Christmas by Chris/2009-12-25 001 Christmas Balloon Ride (CC) .jpg

and then:

Warning: Multiple APP1 EXIF segments - D:/P/Working/2014-10-11 Becky and Keith's Wedding/becky-keith-04-X2.jpg

for a group of files. 

That is all so far,  but it will be some time before the run ends.

[Phil Harvey]

Warning: Not a deletable group: mpf

You are using an old version of ExifTool.  Also, read the MPF tag name documentation, because you are missing something else.

Warning: Duplicate Orientation tag in IFD0 - D:/P/Working/2009-12-25 California Christmas by Chris/2009-12-25 001 Christmas Balloon Ride (CC) .jpg

and then:

Warning: Multiple APP1 EXIF segments - D:/P/Working/2014-10-11 Becky and Keith's Wedding/becky-keith-04-X2.jpg

Yes.  This are errors that could possibly confusion down the road if they aren't fixed.

- Phil

[calberga]

Thanks, fixed them all (I think) with:

Code Select Expand

exiftool -ext jpg -r -P -F -v0 -overwrite_original -exif:all= -tagsfromfile @ -exif:all D:/P/Working

Looks good/