Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections

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JPEG Encoded File with Exif Metadata

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Format Description Properties Explanation of format description terms

Identification and description Explanation of format description terms

Full name JPEG file with Exif metadata (common name).
Description

One of two file types defined in the Exif specifications, mainly intended for digital photography. Employs baseline JPEG compression encoding (ISO/IEC 10918-1), which ensures that JPEG_EXIF files can be read by many image software applications. Exif's special contribution is metadata inserted as application marker segments (APP1 and APP2), representing a significant extension beyond JPEG's typical provision.

Several Web sites, including http://sylvana.net/jpegcrop/exifpatch.html, report that the placement of application marker segments (APPn) relative to start of image (SOI) means that a valid JPEG_EXIF image cannot also be a valid JFIF image.

The Exif specification also provides a method for recording thumbnails and allows for the inclusion of audio in the WAVE format, to support such things as a photographer's spoken annotations.

Production phase Generally applied by cameras in initial-state picture creation; may also be used for middle- and final-state archiving or end-user delivery.
Relationship to other formats
    Contains JPEG_DCT_BL, JPEG DCT Compression Encoding, Baseline
    Affinity to EXIF_2_2, Exif Exchangeable Image File Format, Version 2.2. Specification defines metadata elements for use in JPEG_EXIF.
    Affinity to EXIF_Family, Exchangeable Image File Format (Exif) Family. Specification defines metadata elements for use in JPEG_EXIF.

Local use Explanation of format description terms

LC experience or existing holdings Prints and Photographs Division holds a modest number of digital-camera generated photographs in JPEG_EXIF. Specific Exif versions are unknown.
LC preference See the Library of Congress Recommended Formats Statement for format preferences for still image works. The RFS does not mandate or suggest the use of Exif data.

Sustainability factors Explanation of format description terms

Disclosure Fully disclosed, non-proprietary standard. See JPEG and EXIF_Family
    Documentation See JPEG and EXIF_Family
Adoption Very widely adopted in digital cameras and supported by a number of image software applications. JPEG_EXIF may be more widely adopted than TIFF_UNC_EXIF.
    Licensing and patents See JPEG and EXIF_Family.
Transparency See JPEG_DCT_BL.
Self-documentation Good support. The Exif IFD (Image File Directory) attribute set defined in the specification includes tags pertaining to the Exif version, color space, camera manufacturer, date and time, and an extensive set pertaining to "picture-taking conditions." (pp. 24-25) Also from the specification: "Related attribute information for . . . compressed . . . files is stored in the tag information format defined in TIFF Rev. 6.0. Information specific to the camera system and not defined in TIFF is stored in private tags registered for Exif. . . . The reason for using the TIFF Rev. 6.0 tag format in the compressed [JPEG] file APP1 segment is to facilitate exchange of attribute data between Exif compressed [JPEG] and uncompressed [TIFF] files." (p. 2)
External dependencies None.
Technical protection considerations None.

Quality and functionality factors Explanation of format description terms

Still Image
Normal rendering Good support.
Clarity (high image resolution) Good. See JPEG_DCT_BL and see also Notes.
Color maintenance Good. The Exif tag set permits the identification of files that use sRGB.1 There appears to be no tag for the ICC profile2 for a capture device.
Support for vector graphics, including graphic effects and typography No support for vector graphics.
Functionality beyond normal rendering Supports thumbnails and audio content.
Sound
Normal rendering Good support.
Fidelity (high audio resolution) Good, depending on encoding, sampling frequency, and word length. Exif supports the following encodings: LPCM and μ-Law PCM (conforming to ITU-T G.711) for uncompressed audio data; IMA ADPCM (Adaptive Differential PCM) for compressed audio data. Highest fidelity from LPCM is limited in this standard to CD quality (44.1 kHz sampling and 16 bit words).
Multiple channels Stereo only.
Support for user-defined sounds, samples, and patches None
Functionality beyond normal rendering None.

File type signifiers and format identifiers Explanation of format description terms

Tag Value Note
Filename extension jpg
From Exif Specification version 3 and previous versions. While the container formats may accept other extensions, such as "jpeg", the Exif specification declares only "jpg" for compressed images.
Internet Media Type See note.  Although JPEG_EXIF files are not JFIF files, the same MIME types may be used, e.g., image/jpeg. Comments welcome.
Magic numbers HEX: FF D8 FF E1 xx xx 45 78 69 66 00
ASCII: ÿØÿà..EXIF.
The 0xFF 0xD8 part of the string is universal to all JPEG encoded bitstreams; the remainder of the string is wrapper specific. The ASCII rendering is from Gary Kessler's File Signatures Table. See also Notes in this description for a discussion of the point of conflict with JFIF file wrappers.
Pronom PUID x-fmt/398
Exchangeable Image File Format (Compressed) Version 2.0. Short name: Exif Compressed Image (2.0) See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/x-fmt/398.
Pronom PUID x-fmt/390
Exchangeable Image File Format (Compressed) Version 2.1. Short name: Exif Compressed Image (2.1). See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/x-fmt/390.
Pronom PUID x-fmt/391
Exchangeable Image File Format (Compressed) Version 2.2. Short name: Exif Compressed Image (2.2). See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/x-fmt/391.
Pronom PUID fmt/645
Exchangeable Image File Format (Compressed), Version 2.21. See https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/fmt/645.

Notes Explanation of format description terms

General

According to http://sylvana.net/jpegcrop/exifpatch.html, "IJG based software writes a JFIF APP0 marker between SOI and Exif APP1 marker. According to the Exif specification, the Exif APP1 marker has to follow immediately after the SOI, just as the JFIF specification requires the same for the JFIF APP0 marker! Therefore a JPEG file cannot legally be both Exif and JFIF at the same time!'

From the specification: "The combination of pixel composition and pixel sampling for image data shall be RGB 4:4:4 and either Y:Cb:Cr =4:2:2 or Y:Cb:Cr = 4:2:0. The pixel composition of image data shall also be 8 bits each. This specification is applied similarly to thumbnails. As sampling points on the elements making up pixels, the Y and Cb,Cr sampling points may be either co-sited or centered. . . . In the case of Y:Cb:Cr = 4:2:2, spatial co-siting is recommended for the sake of improved image quality on TV systems. For Y:Cb:Cr = 4:2:0, spatial centering is recommended as per the TIFF default and is [sic; "as in the" may have been intended] most common format of the personal computer applications." (page 5)

History See EXIF_2_2.

Format specifications Explanation of format description terms


Useful references

URLs

1The color space sRGB, standardized as IEC 61966-2-1, establishes an image viewing environment with a known color temperature (6500 degrees Kelvin) and gamma (2.2), thus increasing the user's ability to maintain color.

2The most effective color maintenance systems rely on the existence of an ICC (International Color Consortium) profile of the capture device, which can then be compared to profiles for output devices, permitting appropriate adjustments of image color.


Last Updated: 11/06/2023