Remove file (image, pdf) metadata before sharing on the internet

andy4222 · March 5, 2024, 9:46pm

Any way to accomplish that before sharing files?

cornchip · March 5, 2024, 10:46pm

Try ExifCleaner.

WayneG · March 6, 2024, 1:26am

I take a screenshot of the document/image.

cornchip · March 6, 2024, 1:30am

That can be revealing!

appledispatch · March 6, 2024, 8:01pm

ExifCleaner is definitely good to have on hand for these situations, especially since it can handle video files as well.

I would also recommend ImageOptim. It’s a native Mac app (ExifCleaner is Electron) and is great to have in the toolbox when you are working only with images.

pkondo · March 6, 2024, 10:55pm

I have used ImageOptim for several years. My needs are minor but it seems to do the trick. I just drag files onto the app in the dock.

andy4222 · March 7, 2024, 2:44am

@cornchip @appledispatch @pkondo @WayneG

Thanks for showing the direction. I didn’t want to use a separate app since it takes time to open > process > close the app.

I used exiftool utility to write this Alfred workflow - Triggered via Universal Actions

Here is the command in case someone is curious

exiftool -r -overwrite_original -All= -FileModifyDate="1972:01:01 00:00:00" -FileCreateDate="1972:01:01 00:00:00" <FILE/DIRECTORY NAME>