UPDATED: March 2023

Metadata is a core component of digital objects. Some embedded metadata stores technical information that is necessary for applications, e.g. Adobe Photoshop, to open, edit, and save file(s). However, descriptive and rights information can also be embedded in some file types. OSUL follows the FADGI recommendations developed by the Smithsonian for embedding descriptive and rights information (http://www.digitizationguidelines.gov/guidelines/GuidelinesEmbeddedMetadata.pdf). (Note: If FADGI link to embedded guidelines does not work, the documentation can also be found on the Smithsonian website at https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/9719.) TIFF tags can be referenced via LOC's Sustainability of Digital Formats website (https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/content/tiff_tags.shtml). More details about embedded metadata tags can be found in the ExifTool website (https://exiftool.org/TagNames/index.html ) and Exiv2 website (https://www.exiv2.org/metadata.html ). There are fewer embedded metadata fields for PDFs; exiftool provides a list (https://exiftool.org/TagNames/PDF.html).

At OSUL, embedded metadata is viewed and edited with ExifTool (https://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/), Adobe Bridge, and Adobe Photoshop.

Embedded Metadata for Still Images

In collaboration with Preservation & Digitization and the Digital Preservation Librarian, Metadata Initiatives ensures that essential embedded metadata is recorded in digital still images for ingest to DC. This site has a useful analogy regarding the types of metadata embedded in image files (https://www.photometadata.org/META-101-metadata-types).

Resources:

Adobe products

Depending on whether you use Adobe Bridge or Photoshop, the embedded metadata will be visible in different sections. The table below explains the differences.

In Adobe Bridge, use the Metadata panel to view metadata for a specific file or a group of files. In Adobe Photoshop, open the specific file and go to File > File Info to view and edit embedded metadata in digital images.

Note: Sometimes Adobe products embeds the same metadata in multiple fields - see mapping to ExifTool. That duplication is not necessary.

Errors & Corrections - March 2023: The embedded metadata template has an error. It erroneously maps Source values to the tag by-line. The by-line tag has consequently been removed from the table below.

Adobe Bridge Section & Field Name		Adobe Photoshop Section & Field Name		ExifTool Tag	XMP Tags	Example	Entry	Embeds in PDF?	Explanation / Notes

Adobe Bridge Section & Field Name		Adobe Photoshop Section & Field Name		ExifTool Tag	XMP Tags	Example	Entry	Embeds in PDF?	Explanation / Notes
File Properties	Filename	n/a	n/a	FileName		d_19745.tif	auto-populate
	Document Type	Basic	Format	Format	<dc:format>	TIFF Image (in Bridge) image/tiff (in Photoshop and ExifTool)	auto-populate
	Date Created	Basic	Creation Date	DateTimeCreated ------------ dateTimeOriginal	<xmp:CreateDate> --------- <exif:DateTimeOriginal>	5/13/2019, 2:09:33 PM	auto-populate
	File Size	n/a	n/a	FileSize		134.31 MB	auto-populate
	Dimensions	Camera Data	Image Size	ImageSize ExifImageWidth/ExifImageHeight and ImageHeight/ImageWidth (for separate values)		11334 x 4141	auto-populate		Dimensions of digital image.
	Dimensions (in inches)	n/a	n/a			18.9" x 6.9"	auto-populate		This is useful to compare the size of the digital object as it represents the original object. Ideally, this measurement should accurately reflect original object. If it does not, consult Preservation & Digitization for guidance.
	Resolution	Camera Data	Resolution			600 ppi	auto-populate
	Bit Depth	n/a	n/a - Go to Image > Mode.	BitsPerSample	<tiff:BitsPerSample><rdf:Seq><rdf:li>	8	auto-populate		Values displayed differently between platforms.
	Color Mode	n/a	n/a - Go to Image > Mode.	ColorSpaceData		RGB	auto-populate		As per Preservation & Digitization, still images intended for DC should be digitized to RGB.
	Color Profile	n/a	n/a - Go to Edit > Assign Profile.	ProfileDescription		Adobe RGB (1998)	?		As per Preservation & Digitization, digitized still images should conform to Adobe RGB (1998) color profile.
				ICCProfileName	<photoshop:ICCProfile>	Adobe RGB (1998)	?		There is a documented issue with how ExifTool reads color info. For ColorSpace, sRGB is the value 1 and Adobe RGB is the value 2. However, ExifTool will display anything other than 1 as "Uncalibrated" for the ColorSpace field. Amy McCrory recommends referring to the ICCProfileName to verify that "Adobe RGB (1998)" is the value.
IPTC Core	Creator	IPTC	Creator	creator artist	<dc:creator><rdf:Seq> <rdf:li>	BICLM, Ohio State University	manual	Yes - both exif tags	OSUL unit that created the digital object, e.g. "Preservation & Digitization, Ohio State University". Notes: Due to 32-character limit (with spaces) in this field, unit may need to be abbreviated. Adobe products typically change commas into semi-colons in this field. In Adobe Photoshop, this field also populates Basic: Author.
	Date Created	IPTC	Date Created	createDate dateTimeOriginal		5/13/2019, 2:09:33 PM	auto-populate	auto-populate	The capture device, e.g. scanner, digital camera, should automatically record the date and time. Note: In Photoshop, this field also populates Origin: Date Created.
	Title	Basic	Document Title	objectName title	<dc:title><rdf:Alt><rdf:li xml:lang="x-default">	d_19745	manual	Yes - title exif tag	Identifier(s) for digital image and/or original object, e.g. call number. 64-character limit (with spaces) in this field.
	Source	IPTC	Source	source	<photoshop:Source>	BICLM, Ohio State University	manual	Yes - source exif tag	OSUL unit that owns or manages the digital object and/or analog object. Note: Due to 32-character limit (with spaces) in this field, unit may need to be abbreviated.
	Copyright Notice	IPTC	Copyright Notice	rights copyrightNotice copyright	<dc:rights><rdf:Alt> <rdf:li xml:lang="x-default">	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	manual	Yes - rights and copyright exif tags	Rights statement provided by Copyright Services for DC record. 128-character limit (with spaces)in this field.
	Copyright Status	Basic	Copyright Status	copyrightFlag marked		Copyrighted	manual	Yes - "TRUE" for copyrighted; "FALSE" for public domain	Drop-down options: Copyrighted, Public Domain, Unknown. Choose "Unknown" if copyright status is complicated.
	Rights Usage Terms	IPTC	Rights Usage Terms	usageTerms	<xmpRights:UsageTerms><rdf:Alt><rdf:li xml:lang="x-default">	This item, made available for research and educational purposes, may be protected by copyright; the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status.	manual	Yes	Rights note provided by Copyright Services for DC record.
Camera Data (Exif)	Make	Camera Data	Make	Make	<tiff:Make>	Better Light	?		Ideally, the capture device, e.g. digital camera, scanner, should automatically populate this information. If it does not, it will need to be added. While some applications refer to this as camera make, the field has traditionally be used for the scanner manufacturer as well.
Camera Data (Exif)	Model	Camera Data	Model	Model	<tiff:Model>	Model Super8k	?		Ideally, the capture device, e.g. digital camera, scanner, should automatically populate this information. If it does not, it will need to be added. While some applications refer to this as camera make, the field has traditionally be used for the scanner model as well.