JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)

Import and Export fully support the JPEG standard.
Import and Export support Exif 2.3, IPTC 4.2, and XMP metadata standards.

Background & Context

- MIME type: image/jpeg
- JPEG raster image and compression format.
- Commonly used for photographic images by digital cameras and on the web.
- JPEG is an acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group.
- Supports Grayscale, RGB, and CMYK color spaces.
- Stores images as bitmaps at a resolution of 8 bits per color channel.
- Binary format.
- Uses a lossy compression method based on an 8×8 block-sized discrete cosine transform.
- Supports different compression levels.

Import & Export

Import["file.jpg"] imports a JPEG file, returning an image.
Import["file.jpg",elem] imports the specified element from a JPEG file.
The import format can be specified with Import["file","JPEG"] or Import["file",{"JPEG",elem,…}].
Export["file.jpg",expr] exports an image, graphics, or any other expression as an image to a JPEG file.
Image objects are by default exported at their full raster size. Graphics and other arbitrary expressions are exported using the same raster size as their displayed form.
See the following reference pages for full general information:

	Import, Export	import from or export to a file
	CloudImport, CloudExport	import from or export to a cloud object
	ImportString, ExportString	import from or export to a string
	ImportByteArray, ExportByteArray	import from or export to a byte array

Notebook Interface

In the notebook front end, Insert ▶ Picture and the Open menu allow the import of a JPEG file into a cell.
Save Selection As exports the selected part of a notebook as a JPEG file.

Import Elements

General Import elements:
"Elements" list of elements and options available in this file

"Summary" summary of the file

"Rules" list of rules for all available elements
Data representation elements:

	"ColorMap"	color reduction palette
	"Data"	array of pixel values
	"Graphics"	raster image, given as a Graphics object
	"Image"	raster image, given as an Image object
	"RawData"	array of color map indices
	"Thumbnail"	thumbnail of the first image

Import and Export by default use the "Image" element for the JPEG format.
Subelements for partial data import for any element elem can take row and column specifications in the form {elem,rows,cols}, where rows and cols can be any of the following:

	n	n^th row or column
	-n	counts from the end
	n;;m	from n through m
	n;;m;;s	from n through m with steps of s
	{n₁,n₂,…}	specific rows or columns n_i

Advanced Import elements:

	"BitDepth"	bits used to represent each color channel in the file
	"CameraTopOrientation"	orientation of the camera when the picture was taken
	"Channels"	the number of color channels used in the file
	"ColorProfileData"	embedded color profile, given as a ColorProfileData object
	"ColorSpace"	color encoding used in the file
	"FlashUsed"	whether the flash was fired
	"GeoPosition"	latitude and longitude represented as a GeoPosition object
	"GPSDateTime"	image creation date and time registered by GPS
	"RasterSize"	raster dimensions
	"RedEyeCorrection"	whether a red-eye correction was performed

Metadata elements:

	"Exif"	formatted Exif (Exchange image file format)
	"IPTC"	formatted IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council)
	"XMP"	formatted XMP (Extensible metadata platform)
	"MetaInformation"	combination of all formatted metadata present in the file

Raw metadata, as stored in the file, can be imported using "RawExif", "RawXMP" and "RawIPTC" elements which are returned in an association.
All Exif and IPTC tags can be imported individually. Common tags include:

	"ApertureValue"	lens aperture
	"Artist"	photographer or image creator
	"DateTime"	image creation date and time
	"ExposureTime"	exposure time, given in seconds
	"FlashInfo"	flash information: flash fired, red-eye correction, etc.
	"FNumber"	F number
	"FocalLength"	actual focal length of the lens, given in millimeters
	"GPSAltitude"	altitude of the GPS position
	"GPSLatitude"	latitude of the GPS position
	"GPSLongitude"	longitude of the GPS position
	"Make"	manufacturer of the recording equipment
	"Model"	model name or model number of the equipment
	"Software"	name and version of the software or firmware of the camera or image input device used to generate the image

Options

Import and Export options:

ImageResolution	Automatic	resolution values for import and export
"ImageTopOrientation"	Automatic	orientation of the image as stored in the file
IncludeMetaInformation	All	metadata types to import and export
RasterSize	Automatic	dimensions of the image

Export options:

ColorSpace	"RGB"	color space to be used in the file
CompressionLevel	0.25	sets the JPEG compression parameter
ImageFormattingWidth	$ImageFormattingWidth	target width when formatting an object
"Progressive"	False	whether to store the image in a way that allows progressive display while the file is being loaded
"Smoothing"	0	the JPEG smoothing parameters, given as a number in the range 0 (no smoothing) to 1

Supported ColorSpace settings are: "Grayscale", "RGB", and "CMYK". Using ColorSpace->Automatic, Export attempts to create a JPEG file with the same color space.
The value of CompressionLevel can be in the range from 0 to 1, with larger values resulting in smaller file sizes but lower-quality encodings.

Examples

open allclose all

Basic Examples (3)Summary of the most common use cases

Import a JPEG image as an image:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-vga

Out[1]=1

Summary of an image:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-pyg532

Out[1]=1

Export an RGB image to JPEG:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-b446dt

Out[1]=1

Scope (3)Survey of the scope of standard use cases

Import the image as a graphics:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-1i8t43

Out[1]=1

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-kirbjm

Out[2]=2

Import Exif metadata:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-43xk5z

Out[1]=1

Import a metadata element:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-dx7gqu

Out[1]=1

Import multiple metadata elements:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-o71gkw

Out[2]=2

Import Elements (35)

Available Elements (4)

List of available elements:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-1g2ndh

Out[1]=1

List of available Exif elements:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-e619fh

List of available IPTC elements:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-txorq8

Get image-related information as list of rules:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-myzd73

Data Representation (8)

"ColorMap" (2)

Get the color-reduction palette created on import:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-cy3ssw

Visualize the color-reduction palette:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-0vipsx

Out[2]=2

Apply the color map to the raw data to create the stored image:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-fdn6ld

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-qo9gx8

Out[2]=2

"Data" (1)

Import the image data:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-o8nr5i

Out[1]=1

Create an image from imported data:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-n493vs

Out[2]=2

"Graphics" (1)

Import as a Graphics object:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-oxk5kn

Out[1]=1

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-oxk2tw

Out[2]=2

"Image" (2)

Import as an Image object:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-vtuh6c

Out[1]=1

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-1f07e2

Out[2]=2

This is the default import element for JPEG:

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-s0naad

Out[3]=3

Import only the specified rows:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-yia4mv

Out[1]=1

Import specified rows and columns:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-26vfhv

Out[2]=2

"RawData" (1)

Get the raw data:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-2h3p49

Out[1]=1

Plot the array of raw data:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-efeoo6

Out[2]=2

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-t97776

Out[3]=3

Use the color map to create the stored image:

In[4]:=4

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-cokuc4

Out[4]=4

"Thumbnail" (1)

Import a thumbnail of an image:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-cd1hqq

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-64tjsb

Out[2]=2

Metadata (23)

"BitDepth" (1)

Get the bit count for the representation of each color channel:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-v4dei0

Out[1]=1

"CameraTopOrientation" (2)

Get the camera orientation at the capture time:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-r9gbrs

Out[1]=1

The image is auto-rotated on Import:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-g3mrer

Out[2]=2

An auto-rotated image has an updated Exif tag:

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-ob591l

Out[3]=3

Avoid auto-rotation by setting the "ImageTopOrientation" option:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-wlc57a

Out[1]=1

"Channels" (1)

Get the number of image channels:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-oedubm

Out[1]=1

"ColorProfileData" (1)

Get the embedded color profile, given as a ColorProfileData object:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-1xdwml

Out[1]=1

The color profile is stored in the ColorSpace option of the imported image:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-mpv214

Out[2]=2

"ColorSpace" (1)

Get the color encoding used on export:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-wb968h

Out[1]=1

Use ImageColorSpace to get the color space of an imported image:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-ca8qqr

Out[2]=2

"DateTime" (1)

Get the date and time that the image was captured:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-hz5at2

Out[1]=1

"Exif" (3)

Get Exif metadata:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-f0526s

Out[1]=1

Extract an individual tag from the association:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-omm9zg

Out[1]=1

Individual Exif tags can also be imported directly:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-55ozsh

Out[2]=2

Some Exif tags are processed to give more detailed information:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-xpmhcz

Out[1]=1

Compare with the raw "FlashInfo" tag:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-3h2d51

Out[2]=2

"FlashUsed" (1)

Import a tag that shows whether the flash fired:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-xabiy

Out[1]=1

"FlashUsed" is a subelement of the "FlashInfo" element:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-v4pueu

Out[2]=2

Extract "FlashUsed" from the full "Exif":

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-h0cksj

Out[3]=3

"GeoPosition" (2)

Import an image geo position:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-e0aa3z

Out[1]=1

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-iusskr

Out[2]=2

Use the image thumbnail as the marker:

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-g2wkji

Out[3]=3

The image geo position may be unavailable:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-pxb14l

Out[1]=1

"GPSDateTime" (1)

Get the image creation date and time registered by GPS:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-b6mo4e

Out[1]=1

"IPTC" (1)

Get IPTC metadata:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-c5ofhl

Out[1]=1

"MetaInformation" (1)

Get all the metadata:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-b0ags9

Out[1]=1

"RasterSize" (1)

Get the dimensions of the image stored in the file:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-ma62cc

Out[1]=1

Using ImageDimensions on an imported image gives the same result:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-hjusgl

Out[2]=2

"RawExif" (1)

Import raw Exif data:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-mf9zrs

Out[1]=1

When importing processed Exif data, missing tags are removed:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-181rsc

Out[2]=2

Raw Exif tags return the actual values stored in the file:

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-dj1jcj

Out[3]=3

When importing "Exif", most tags are processed:

In[4]:=4

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-k1llg3

Out[4]=4

"RawIPTC" (1)

Import unprocessed IPTC metadata:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-dqu9l8

Out[1]=1

"RawXMP" (1)

Import unprocessed XMP metadata:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-naipdj

Out[1]=1

"RedEyeCorrection" (1)

Whether a red-eye correction was performed:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-0vr677

Out[1]=1

"Summary" (1)

Get the image summary:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-4is8p9

Out[1]=1

"XMP" (1)

Get XMP metadata:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-bum7ez

Out[1]=1

Extract the XMP "BasicSchema" metadata:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-k0ukx6

Out[2]=2

Import Options (6)

ImageResolution (1)

By default, the image resolution is extracted from the file:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-kux3uu

Out[1]=1

Specify the resolution of the imported image:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-f98eh7

Out[2]=2

Specify different resolutions in and directions:

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-rc4e7v

Out[3]=3

"ImageTopOrientation" (1)

By default, images are imported with the native orientation stored in the file:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-qpx1rr

Out[1]=1

Specify the side that is supposed to be on the top:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-f2hain

Out[2]=2

The correct orientation can also be achieved by rotating the image to be upright:

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-y94tbh

Out[3]=3

IncludeMetaInformation (3)

By default, all available metadata is imported:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-oy06er

Possible classes of metadata for JPEG files are "Exif", "IPTC", and "XMP":

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-k3r4ps

Out[2]=2

Import the image with no metadata:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-inmgwp

Out[1]=1

Import the image with "XMP" metadata only:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-fpx9h0

RasterSize (1)

By default, images are imported in their full resolution:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-ty3hak

Out[1]=1

Specify the raster size of the imported JPEG image:

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-df7mw1

Out[2]=2

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-d5h5xu

Out[3]=3

Export Options (7)

ColorSpace (1)

By default, the native color space of the image is used for export:

In[8]:=8

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-umqnom

In[9]:=9

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-cd7oot

Out[9]=9

In[10]:=10

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-dky0tw

Out[10]=10

Export as a CMYK image:

In[11]:=11

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-zxgis3

Out[11]=11

In[12]:=12

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-6mo35w

Out[12]=12

CompressionLevel (2)

By default, an automatic compression is used:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-cp4z8j

In[2]:=2

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-m3pjgi

Out[2]=2

Use maximum compression:

In[3]:=3

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-spt1wl

Out[3]=3

Use minimum compression:

In[4]:=4

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-4bsrso

Out[4]=4

Compare the byte count for different compression levels:

In[1]:=1

✖

https://wolfram.com/xid/0cvl7wm-gg1mb9

Out[1]=1