How to Install and Use ExifTool on MacOS

As a photographer or image enthusiast, you may have encountered various file formats and metadata associated with your images. ExifTool is a powerful tool that allows you to view, edit, and manipulate the metadata of image files, including EXIF, GPS, IPTC, and others. In this article, we will guide you on how to install ExifTool on MacOS and demonstrate its functionality.

Installing ExifTool on MacOS

To install ExifTool on MacOS, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal app on your Mac.

2. Update your system by running the following command: `sudo apt update`

3. Upgrade your existing packages by running: `sudo apt upgrade`

4. Install ExifTool using the following command: `sudo apt install exiftool`

Basic Commands and Functions

Once installed, you can start using ExifTool to extract various metadata from image files. Here are some basic commands:

* Recursively extract JPG images from CRW files: `exiftool -b -JpgFromRaw -w _JFR.JPG -ext CRW -r`

* Save thumbnail image from one file to another: `exiftool -b -ThumbnailImage image.jpg > thumbnail.jpg`

* Recursively extract standard meta-information: `exiftool -r -w.`

* Print standard Canon information from two image files: `exiftool -s 'Camera Model' image1.cr2 image2.cr2`

Advanced Functions

ExifTool also allows you to perform more advanced tasks, such as:

* Extract all tags with names containing a specific word: Before proceeding with the tutorial, ensure your system is up-to-date with all existing packages. This can be achieved by running `sudo apt update` and `sudo apt upgrade`.

* Print formatted date/time for JPG files: `exiftool -s 'Modify Date' *.jpg`

* Recursively extract standard meta-information: `exiftool -r -w.`

In this article, we have demonstrated the basic installation process of ExifTool on MacOS and provided examples of its functionality. With these commands, you can easily manipulate metadata associated with your image files, making it a valuable tool for photographers and image enthusiasts alike.

Install exiftool macos