View RAW EXIF Metadata

RAW photos typically contain EXIF data, but this isnt guaranteed in all cases. While most modern digital cameras and smartphones automatically embed EXIF information in RAW files, some devices may not record this metadata due to technical limitations or manufacturer specifications. Additionally, certain image processing software and editing tools can strip EXIF data during file conversion or manipulation, either intentionally or as a byproduct of the editing process. Once EXIF data is removed, its impossible to determine whether it was present in the original file. Its worth noting that some image formats, particularly those designed for different purposes like GIFs, dont support EXIF data at all. This means that when converting from RAW to these formats, any existing EXIF information would be lost in the process. For photographers and digital artists who rely on EXIF data for cataloging and reference purposes, its essential to verify their equipments metadata capabilities and take necessary precautions to preserve this information throughout their workflow.

RAW photos can reveal their capture location through embedded GPS coordinates, also known as geotags, which are stored in the images metadata. Using Framebird, you can easily extract this location information from your RAW files with just a simple upload. However, this location data is only available if GPS tagging was enabled on your camera or smartphone when taking the photo. For privacy-conscious users, most devices offer the option to disable geotagging through their settings menu, preventing GPS coordinates from being automatically embedded in future photos. If geotagging was disabled during capture or if the GPS data was later removed, determining the exact location where the photo was taken becomes significantly more challenging and may require alternative methods, such as recognizing visible landmarks or distinctive features in the image itself.

Once an image has been edited to blur, censor, or hide certain parts, those areas cannot be recovered or revealed in the RAW file or through EXIF data manipulation. The process of blurring or censoring permanently alters the actual pixel data within the image, creating an irreversible change that becomes part of the final image file. While RAW files contain more image data than processed formats like JPEG, they cannot restore intentionally obscured content since the modification directly affects the visual information captured by the cameras sensor. EXIF metadata only stores technical information about how the photo was taken, such as camera settings, date, time, and location, but does not preserve or contain the original unedited pixel data. This means that any attempt to unblur or reveal censored portions of an image through metadata analysis or RAW file examination will be unsuccessful, as the original visual information in those areas has been permanently replaced with the censoring effect.

EXIF data in RAW photos cannot be considered a guaranteed source of truth, as it can be manipulated using readily available metadata editing software. While RAW files contain detailed information about camera settings, date, time, and location, these details can be altered after the fact, making it impossible to verify whether the metadata is original or has been modified by someone else. Even though RAW files are often considered more authentic than processed formats like JPEG, their associated EXIF data remains vulnerable to tampering. This limitation is particularly relevant in contexts where image authenticity is crucial, such as photojournalism or legal documentation. Professional photographers and organizations requiring verified image information often need to implement additional verification methods beyond simply trusting EXIF data, such as blockchain technology or secure digital signatures, to establish the authenticity of their photographs.

Checking EXIF data of RAW photos on Framebird is completely secure and private, as the platform operates entirely within your local browser environment. The service processes all image data directly on your device without uploading any files to external servers or Framebirds infrastructure. This client-side processing approach ensures maximum privacy protection and eliminates data transfer concerns. The transparency of Framebirds system is further validated by its use of the open-source ExifReader library, which can be publicly reviewed on GitHub. This means photographers and digital artists can confidently examine their RAW files technical metadata without compromising sensitive information or risking unauthorized access to their original images. The zero-data-transfer design also makes the tool efficient and cost-effective, as it doesnt consume any network bandwidth during the EXIF data extraction process.

We support all common image file formats including JPG, PNG, TIFF, AVIF, WEBP, HEIC, HEIF, JFIF, CR3, ARW, NEF, RAW and more. Your files never leave your device, all the processing is done locally in your browser. Thats why it's fast and secure.

If you want to remove the metadata from your image you can use either our Image Compressor or our Image Converter and tick the 'Remove Metadata' checkbox to remove the Metadata from your Image.