How can I remove EXIF data from a dataset?

Question

I am trying to remove EXIF data from images in a dataset (which I will use in transfer learning). However, it does not seem to be working. Below is my code:

import os
from PIL import Image
import piexif
import imghdr
from tqdm import tqdm
import warnings

Folder = 'drive/My Drive/PetImages'
labels =['Dog', 'Cat']
for label in labels:
  imageFolder = os.path.join(Folder, label)  
  listImages = os.listdir(imageFolder)
  for img in tqdm(listImages):
      imgPath = os.path.join(imageFolder,img)

      try:
        img = Image.open(imgPath)
        data = list(img.getdata())
        image_without_exif = Image.new(img.mode, img.size)
        image_without_exif.putdata(data)
        image_without_exif.save(img)
        print("done")
      except:
        print("except")

I tried saving the image using PIL (as per a previously asked question: Python: Remove Exif info from images) but the output is purely composed of "except"s.

I tried again using the piexif module, as below:

# Same imports as above
Folder = 'drive/My Drive/PetImages'
labels =['Dog', 'Cat']
for label in labels:
  imageFolder = os.path.join(Folder, label)  
  listImages = os.listdir(imageFolder)
  for img in tqdm(listImages):
      imgPath = os.path.join(imageFolder,img)

      try:
          ImageType = img.format
          # warnings.filterwarnings("error")
          if ImageType in ["JPEG", "TIF", "WAV"]:
            exif_data = img._getexif()
            print(exif_data)
            piexif.remove(img)
            print("done")
      except:
        print("except")

In the code above, I check for the image type first to make sure the method _getexif() actually exists, then I just remove the data after saving it in exif_data variable. The output consisted of "except"s and the occasional exif data (in the form of a dictionary) or "None" if it doesn't exist but never the word "done". Why doesn't it reach that part?

Can you please elaborate? I googled ```exiftool``` but I am unsure how to use it within my program. — Dana, Jul 25 '20 at 16:39
Thanks! I tried it and it is simple to use. If I may ask, can I use ```pip install exiftool``` in google colab? It doesn't work, but is there a similar way like an import? — Dana, Jul 25 '20 at 17:58
Sorry, I have no idea about Colab. `exiftool` is a Perl script, if that helps explain anything. — Mark Setchell, Jul 25 '20 at 18:46
Thank you so much for all your help! I solved my issue thanks to you. — Dana, Jul 26 '20 at 17:28

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 06 '22 at 15:41

For anyone stumbling upon this through Google, there is a simple solution using PIL:

from PIL import Image

im = Image.open('some-image.jpg')
# this clears all exif data
im.getexif().clear()
im.save('some-image-without-exif.jpg')

I thought that getexif() only allows read access as the name might imply, but it turns out that this is not the case.

Edit: In my case, it even worked to just load and save the file, without im.getexif().clear(). I don't know how reliable that is, though. That command definitely removes exif-data from the image-object, though. This can be simply tested in a Python shell:

>>> from PIL import Image
>>> im = Image.open('some-image.jpg')
>>> print(im.getexif())
{296: 2, 282: 72.0, 283: 72.0 ..... }
>>> im.getexif().clear()
>>> print(im.getexif())
{}

How can I remove EXIF data from a dataset?

1 Answers1