Question about metadata removal

I've been removing data from images by doing the following (using Mac OS X): I first open an original NEF (or TIF) file with all the attached data using "Preview".

I do a "save as" of this original NEF file and save it as a PNG file. I then re-open this PNG file using Preview again, and do another "save

as" of this PNG file, saving it finally as a JPEG file. This final JPEG file shows all the original metadata has now been removed....at least I can't

find any of the original data when I look for it.

 

 

Question: Even if I cannot find any of the original NEF file data on the final "save as" JPEG file, is there some metadata information

remaining that someone else could access from this final JPEG version? I'm curious if there is any way to restore this stripped

information by someone who receives this file, something I'm trying to avoid.

<p>Download and run ExifTool and see what EXIF info is in the file before and after. It's free and will run on Mac OS X.</p>

<p>Rather than re-saving the file in different formats and tools, check out something like "exiftool" - you can purge all EXIF data with one command.<br>

<a href="http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/">http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/</a></p>

<p>If you are working in Photoshop with a file for other reasons, you have the option to remove EXIF data by simply "Saving for Web and Devices" - look at the options there.</p>

<p>Another trick is to select all, copy. Make a new document that is clipboard size, paste. Save. No metadata. You can setup an action to do this of course. </p>

<p>Another command-line utility is exiv2. I use it under linux, but I know people who use it under OSX just fine.</p>

<p>You can also do this in a couple of mouse clicks in the program, XnView.</p>

<p>Tom M</p>

<p>Thanks to all for the quick responses and helpful information. </p>

Try my app ExifChanger, which uses ExifTool underneath, but has a very nice GUI. In the Mac App Store.

 

<p>This app works well for me:</p>

<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://davidcrowell.com/jstrip/" target="_blank">http://davidcrowell.com/jstrip/</a></p>

<p>And many more mentioned here:</p>

 

http://www.photo.net/digital-darkroom-forum/00Dy2C?start=0

<p>Sergio,<br /> <br /> ExifCleaner by Superutils removes EXIF data very well (nobody will can restore it without having original/raw files!). It works in a batch mode, has integration with Windows' Explorer, and does not affect an image itself — only the metadata stored inside JPEGs.</p>