EXIF Editor

Overview

The EXIF Editor is a powerful tool in Filmbase that allows you to embed detailed exposure metadata into your film scans. By adding proper EXIF data to your digital scans, you can preserve important information about the analog origins of your images, making them easier to organize, search, and analyze.

Accessing EXIF Editor

To access the EXIF Editor:

1. Navigate to the Tools section in the left sidebar
2. Click on "EXIF Editor"

The EXIF Editor requires a PRO membership to access all features, but Free tier users can embed camera make and model for up to 5 images per week.

Understanding EXIF Data

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data includes technical information about an image, such as:

• Camera and lens used
• Exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO)
• Date and time of capture
• Location data (if available)
• Other technical parameters

For digital cameras, this information is automatically embedded. The EXIF Editor allows you to add this data to your film scans, bridging the gap between analog and digital workflows.

How It Works

The EXIF Editor follows a three-step process:

Step 1: Upload

1. Upload your scans by dragging and dropping or selecting files
2. Supported file types:
   • Free tier: .jpeg, .jpg
   • PRO tier: .jpeg, .jpg, .tif, .tiff, and .dng
3. Original image quality is preserved; only metadata is modified

Step 2: Metadata

1. The tool attempts to read any existing EXIF data in your scans
2. There are two modes for embedding EXIF data: Manual and Automatic.
   • Manual (Free tier only): Enter your camera make and model manually
   • Automatic (PRO tier only): The EXIF Editor maps Field Recorder exposure data from the Film Log to your scans automatically using the filename structure

Step 3: Finalize

1. Review the mapping between your scans and the exposure data
2. Submit to download your updated scans with camera metadata embedded

Filename Structure for Automatic Detection

For best results, lab scans typically follow a filename structure that the EXIF Editor can automatically interpret:

• Format: 000039670001.jpg
• Where:
  • 3967 is the roll label ID
  • 01 is the frame number

This automatic detection helps map the correct exposure data from the Film Log to each scan.

Practical Applications

The EXIF Editor provides several benefits:

• Improved Organization: Search and filter images by camera, lens, or settings in photo management software
• Learning Tool: Analyze which exposure settings produced your best results
• Social Sharing: Some platforms (like Glass) can display EXIF data when sharing photos
• Archival Value: Preserve technical information for future reference
• Workflow Integration: Maintain a consistent metadata system across digital and film images

Integration with Other Modules

The EXIF Editor connects directly with:

• Film Log: Pulls roll information from your logged entries
• Field Recorder: Uses detailed exposure data recorded for each frame
• Glass Integration: Can post directly to your Glass account with properly embedded metadata

Best Practices

• Consistent Scanning Workflow: Request consistent file naming from your lab
• Complete Field Recorder Data: The more detailed your Field Recorder entries, the more complete your EXIF data will be
• Regular Updates: Embed EXIF data soon after receiving scans to maintain workflow momentum
• Backup Original Scans: Although the EXIF Editor preserves image quality, keeping originals is good practice
• Verify Results: Check that metadata appears correctly in your photo management software

Glass Integration

A special feature of the EXIF Editor is direct integration with Glass:

1. Connect your Glass account in Settings > Integrations
2. Use the EXIF Editor to embed metadata in your scans
3. Post directly to your Glass profile with complete technical information

This integration streamlines sharing your analog photography with proper attribution of technical details.