How to remove JPEG metadata in Apple OS X ( easy )

Update 1/2011 If you’re using iPhoto 11 a change needs to be made in preferences in order for this trick to work.

Playground Telescope After Metadata has been removed

You may not realize this but hidden information is embedded in your pictures that you may or may not want public. This information is known as Metadata. The information includes more than just the size and time stamp of your images. Metadata includes things like the camera settings, type of camera, type of lens as well as the operating system and software used. With programs like Adobe Bridge you can even add to the existing metadata ( location, notes, etc. ) Some cameras include GPS data as well. Now for most of us the information being embedded in the image file doesn’t really mean much or even matter. However for the rest of us having full metadata in your image file is like a chef giving out his recipe with every meal. The problem is that metadata cannot be simply deleted. Although Adobe Bridge for Photoshop can let you add to it, it will not delete the metadata. On the other hand, there are a few very simple tricks that I use to remove this info.

In Mac OSX you can view metadata by opening an image in Preview. Under “Tools” select “Show Inspector”.

EXIF Metadata from the Playground Telescope Picture. I cloned out the serial number in this image, perfect example of why removing metadata is important.

TIFF Metadata from original Playground Telescope image

First is the Apple Mail program….
This trick seems to only works from iPhoto. You will not get the same results if you drag the images strait to Mail. You start by selecting the pictures in iPhoto and click the mail icon in the lower right corner. Make sure “Actual Size” is selected in the drop down menu. iPhoto will then prepare the pictures for Mail. Once the pictures are in the Mail new message window, simply drag the images back to the desktop or wherever is convenient, close mail (no need to save), and you’re done. You will find the metadata to be removed while retaining the resolution and color profile data.

Update For Aperture 3/21/10
Aperture 3 metadata removal is outlined here

Next is the “Save As Save As” trick…

This one is straight forward. Open an image in Preview, save it as a PNG, then save it back to a JPEG or vice versa. Metadata gone.