Making a PDF "print" of photo image with EXIF metadata

Introduction 

JPEG and HEIC photos will contain EXIF metadata which gives information about the time and date the photo was taken, the phone/camera model used to take it, and other data including the technical settings such as ISO number and focal length. It is important that the JPG/HEIC file itself is preserved so that the full metadata can always be examined, but also, particularly if the JPG/HEIC photo was not taken with a setting which stamped date/time stamp in the image at the time it was taken, it is important that the file is printed to a PDF (or captured in a screenshot) in such a way that metadata is shown below the image - so that the date and time the photo was taken can be seen at a glance. This should be done in a way which makes it obvious how the PDF "print" was produced and should show a reasonable size image with EXIF data below all in a single PDF in portrait orientation. 

The reason why it is important  that image and EXIF data should be shown together in a single PDF - or in a screenshot of a single window (rather than having the EXIF data shown in one window and the image in another window) - is that if there are two  separate windows (or two separate PDFs) that does not prove that the metadata in one window is actually from the same JPG as the image displayed in the other window. Of course any proof is relative: ultimately any computer data can be forged but deliberately putting forged evidence before a tribunal is a serious crime which is rare. Having image and EXIF data together in a single window, or in a single PDF, at least establishes that the image from one JPG/HEIC file is not being accidentally shown with the metadata from a different  JPG/HEIC file.

If the PDF/screenshot has a smaller image with metadata then it can be used together with a full-sized image (without metadata) as long as the small image is of sufficient size to identify the photo concerned. 

The filename, which is part of file-system metadata (not EXIF metadata) may provide corroboration for the EXIF date/time data if it is in the yyyyMMdd_hh.mm.ss format (rather than in the IMGnnnnn format). Other file-system metadata may be of less value - file-system "date/time last modified", for example, may have been updated when the JPG/HEIC file was copied from one device to another.     

There are not many programs available which show EXIF data together with a reasonable sized image. Many programs which show EXIF data do not show the image or only show a thumbnail image. In fact I only know of one which is described below (if you know of any others, please tell me). it is important to note that some other apps will display the ordinary file-system date/time if the EXIF date/time data is missing  without giving any obvious indication that that is what they are doing. It is important that any app which is used gives a clear indication where EXIF date/time data is missing rather than automatically substituting the file-system date in the display.    

Creating an HTML export of a JPG of HEIC file using Advanced Renamer on a Windows or Mac system

You can use the Advanced Renamer export function to create, on a Windows or Mac system, a HTML file showing the photo image with its EXIF metadata shown below (although Advanced Renamer is a file renaming program you can use it just to display).

First tap Files and select the JPG file whose metadata you wish to see.

Tap Export

In the Export panel select HTML, Details, Custom and tick the EXIF metadata.

Enter a filename for the output HTML file and Tap OK. 

If you have a number of image files which you wish to create image-and metadata "prints" for you can either do them one by one or alternatively, to save time, you can first use Advanced Renamer to generate a single large HTML file containing the details of all of them (each one starting on a new page and taking up one or two pages) then print that to PDF (selecting PDF as the printer) and then split the PDF into separate PDFs, one for each image. If you are using PDF X-Change Editor to do the split you would tap Split - Split Document - Every 2 Pages assuming that the print of each image is two pages long.   

Disclaimer

This information page is designed to be used only by clients of John Antell who have entered into an agreement for the provision of legal services. The information in it is necessarily of a general nature and will not be applicable to every case: it is intended to be used only in conjunction with more specific advice to the individual client about the individual case. This information page should not be used by, or relied on, by anyone else. 

The information on this page about specific computer techniques is provided for information purposes only. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date at the time it was written but no responsibility for its accuracy, or for any consequences of relying on it, is assumed by me. You should satisfy yourself, before using any of the techniques, software or services described, that the techniques are appropriate for your purposes and that the software or service is reliable.

This page was lasted updated in August 2025. Disclaimer