# JPEG – JPEG JFIF File Format

Driver short name

JPEG

Build dependencies

(internal libjpeg provided)

The JPEG JFIF format is supported for reading, and batch writing, but not update in place. JPEG files are represented as one band (greyscale) or three band (RGB) datasets with Byte valued bands.

The driver will automatically convert images whose color space is YCbCr, CMYK or YCbCrK to RGB, unless GDAL_JPEG_TO_RGB is set to NO (YES is the default). When color space translation to RGB is done, the source color space is indicated in the SOURCE_COLOR_SPACE metadata of the IMAGE_STRUCTURE domain.

EXIF metadata can be read from JPEG files (but this will not result in a georeferenced image even if the EXIF_GPSLatitude and EXIF_GPSLongitude tags are set). But if an ESRI world file exists with the .jgw, .jpgw/.jpegw or .wld suffixes, it will be read and used to establish the geotransform for the image. If available a MapInfo .tab file will also be used for georeferencing. Overviews can be built for JPEG files as an external .ovr file.

The driver also supports the “zlib compressed mask appended to the file” approach used by a few data providers to add a bitmask to identify pixels that are not valid data. See RFC 15: Band Masks for further details.

Starting with GDAL 1.10.1, the driver can deal with bitmask where the bits are ordered with most significant bit first (whereas the usual convention is least significant bit first). The driver will try to autodetect that situation, but the heuristics may fail. In that circumstance, you can set the JPEG_MASK_BIT_ORDER configuration option to MSB. Bitmask can also be completely ignored by specifying JPEG_READ_MASK to NO.

The GDAL JPEG Driver is built using the Independent JPEG Group’s jpeg library. Also note that the GeoTIFF driver supports tiled TIFF with JPEG compressed tiles.

To be able to read and write JPEG images with 12-bit sample, you can build GDAL with its internal libjpeg (based on IJG libjpeg-6b, with additional changes for 12-bit sample support), or explicitly pass –with-jpeg12=yes to configure script when building with external libjpeg. See “8 and 12 bit JPEG in TIFF” wiki page for more details.

It is also possible to use the JPEG driver with the libjpeg-turbo, a version of libjpeg, API and ABI compatible with IJG libjpeg-6b, which uses MMX, SSE, and SSE2 SIMD instructions to accelerate baseline JPEG compression/decompression.

Starting with GDAL 1.9.0, XMP metadata can be extracted from the file, and will be stored as XML raw content in the xml:XMP metadata domain.

Starting with GDAL 2.0, embedded EXIF thumbnails (with JPEG compression) can be used as overviews, and generated by GDAL.

## Driver capabilities

Supports CreateCopy()

This driver supports the `GDALDriver::CreateCopy()` operation

Supports Georeferencing

This driver supports georeferencing

Supports VirtualIO

This driver supports virtual I/O operations (/vsimem/, etc.)

## Color Profile Metadata

Starting with GDAL 1.11, GDAL can deal with the following color profile metadata in the COLOR_PROFILE domain:

- SOURCE_ICC_PROFILE (Base64 encoded ICC profile embedded in file.)

Note that this metadata property can only be used on the original raw pixel data. If automatic conversion to RGB has been done, the color profile information cannot be used.

This metadata tag can be used as creation options.

## Error management

While decoding, libjpeg has resiliency towards some errors in the JPEG datastream and will try to recover from them as much of possible. Starting with GDAL 1.11.2, such errors will be reported as GDAL Warnings, but can optionally be considered as true Errors by setting the GDAL_ERROR_ON_LIBJPEG_WARNING configuration option to TRUE.

## Creation Options

JPEG files are created using the “JPEG” driver code. Only Byte band types are supported, and only 1 and 3 band (RGB) configurations. JPEG file creation is implemented by the batch (CreateCopy) method. YCbCr, CMYK or YCbCrK colorspaces are not supported in creation. If the source dataset has a nodata mask, it will be appended as a zlib compressed mask to the JPEG file.

- WORLDFILE=YES: Force the generation of an associated ESRI world file (with the extension .wld).

- QUALITY=n: By default the quality flag is set to 75, but this option can be used to select other values. Values must be in the range 10-100. Low values result in higher compression ratios, but poorer image quality. Values above 95 are not meaningfully better quality but can but substantially larger.

- PROGRESSIVE=ON: Enabled generation of progressive JPEGs. In some cases these will display a reduced resolution image in viewers such as Netscape, and Internet Explorer, before the full file has been downloaded. However, some applications cannot read progressive JPEGs at all. GDAL can read progressive JPEGs, but takes no advantage of their progressive nature.

- INTERNAL_MASK=YES/NO: By default, if needed, an internal mask in the “zlib compressed mask appended to the file” approach is written to identify pixels that are not valid data. Starting with GDAL 1.10, this can be disabled by setting this option to NO.

- ARITHMETIC=YES/NO: (Starting with GDAL 1.10) To enable arithmetic coding. Not enabled in all libjpeg builds, because of possible legal restrictions.

- BLOCK=1…16: (Starting with GDAL 1.10 and libjpeg 8c) DCT block size. All values from 1 to 16 are possible. Default is 8 (baseline format). A value other than 8 will produce files incompatible with versions prior to libjpeg 8c.

- COLOR_TRANSFORM=RGB or RGB1: (Starting with GDAL 1.10 and libjpeg 9). Set to RGB1 for lossless RGB. Note: this will produce files incompatible with versions prior to libjpeg 9.

- SOURCE_ICC_PROFILE=value: (Starting with GDAL 1.11). ICC profile encoded in Base64.

- COMMENT=string: (Starting with GDAL 2.0). String to embed in a comment JPEG marker. When reading, such strings are exposed in the COMMENT metadata item.

- EXIF_THUMBNAIL=YES/NO: (Starting with GDAL 2.0). Whether to generate an EXIF thumbnail(overview), itself JPEG compressed. Defaults to NO. If enabled, the maximum dimension of the thumbnail will be 128, if neither THUMBNAIL_WIDTH nor THUMBNAIL_HEIGHT are specified.

- THUMBNAIL_WIDTH=n: (Starting with GDAL 2.0). Width of thumbnail. Only taken into account if EXIF_THUMBNAIL=YES.

- THUMBNAIL_HEIGHT=n: (Starting with GDAL 2.0). Height of thumbnail. Only taken into account if EXIF_THUMBNAIL=YES.

- WRITE_EXIF_METADATA=YES/NO: (Starting with GDAL 2.3). Whether to write EXIF_xxxx metadata items in a EXIF segment. Default to YES.

## EXIF and GPS tags

The below tables list the EXIF and GPS tags that can be written.

- The “Metadata item name” column presents the name of the metadata item to attach to the source dataset.

- The “Hex code” column is the value of the corresponding TIFF EXIF/GPS tag (for reference only)

- The “Type” column is the TIFF type associated.

  - ASCII is for text values that are NUL-terminated (for a fixed length tag, the length includes this NUL-terminating characters). e.g EXIF_Make=the_make

  - BYTE/UNDEFINED is for values that can be made of any byte value. The value of the corresponding GDAL metadata item must be a string of hexadecimal formatted values, e.g EXIF_GPSVersionID=0x02 0x00 0x00 0x00. GDAL also accepts an ASCII string: e.g. EXIF_ExifVersion=0231

  - SHORT is for unsigned integer values in the range [0,65535]. Some tags may accept multiple values, in which case they must be separated by space.

  - LONG is for unsigned integer values in the range [0,4294967295]. Some tags may accept multiple values, in which case they must be separated by space.

  - RATIONAL is for positive floating-point values. Some tags may accept multiple values, in which case they must be separated by space. e.g EXIF_GPSLatitude=49 2 3.5

  - SRATIONAL is for positive or negative floating-point values. Some tags may accept multiple values, in which case they must be separated by space.

  When an item accepts a fixed number of values and that more are provided, they will be truncated with a warning. In the case they are less values provided than needed, they will be padded with appropriate spaces / zeroes

- The “Number of values” column is the number of values for the item. Might be “variable” if there is no restriction, or a fixed value. Fo Type=ASCII, the fixed value includes the NUL-terminating byte, so the number of actual printable characters is number of values - 1.

- The “Optionality” column indicates whether the item should be present (“Mandatory”), is “Recommended” or “Optional”. GDAL does not enforce this.

Many items have more restrictions on the valid content that are not expressed in the below tables. Consult the EXIF specification for more information.

Metadata item name | Hex code | Type | Number of values | Optionality
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
EXIF_Document_Name | 0x010D | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_ImageDescription | 0x010E | ASCII | variable | Recommended
EXIF_Make | 0x010F | ASCII | variable | Recommended
EXIF_Model | 0x0110 | ASCII | variable | Recommended
EXIF_Orientation | 0x0112 | SHORT | 1 | Recommended
EXIF_XResolution | 0x011A | RATIONAL | 1 | Mandatory
EXIF_YResolution | 0x011B | RATIONAL | 1 | Mandatory
EXIF_ResolutionUnit | 0x0128 | SHORT | 1 | Mandatory
EXIF_TransferFunction | 0x012D | SHORT | 768 | Optional
EXIF_Software | 0x0131 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_DateTime | 0x0132 | ASCII | 20 | Recommended
EXIF_Artist | 0x013B | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_WhitePoint | 0x013E | RATIONAL | 2 | Optional
EXIF_PrimaryChromaticities | 0x013F | RATIONAL | 6 | Optional
EXIF_YCbCrCoefficients | 0x0211 | RATIONAL | 3 | Optional
EXIF_YCbCrPositioning | 0x0213 | SHORT | 1 | Mandatory
EXIF_ReferenceBlackWhite | 0x0214 | RATIONAL | 6 | Optional
EXIF_Copyright | 0x8298 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_ExposureTime | 0x829A | RATIONAL | 1 | Recommended
EXIF_FNumber | 0x829D | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ExposureProgram | 0x8822 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_SpectralSensitivity | 0x8824 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_ISOSpeedRatings | 0x8827 | SHORT | variable | Optional
EXIF_OECF | 0x8828 | UNDEFINED | variable | Optional
EXIF_SensitivityType | 0x8830 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_StandardOutputSensitivity | 0x8831 | LONG | 1 | Optional
EXIF_RecommendedExposureIndex | 0x8832 | LONG | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ISOSpeed | 0x8833 | LONG | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ISOSpeedLatitudeyyy | 0x8834 | LONG | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ISOSpeedLatitudezzz | 0x8835 | LONG | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ExifVersion | 0x9000 | UNDEFINED | 4 | Mandatory
EXIF_DateTimeOriginal | 0x9003 | ASCII | 20 | Optional
EXIF_DateTimeDigitized | 0x9004 | ASCII | 20 | Optional
EXIF_OffsetTime | 0x9010 | ASCII | 7 | Optional
EXIF_OffsetTimeOriginal | 0x9011 | ASCII | 7 | Optional
EXIF_OffsetTimeDigitized | 0x9012 | ASCII | 7 | Optional
EXIF_ComponentsConfiguration | 0x9101 | UNDEFINED | 4 | Mandatory
EXIF_CompressedBitsPerPixel | 0x9102 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ShutterSpeedValue | 0x9201 | SRATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ApertureValue | 0x9202 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_BrightnessValue | 0x9203 | SRATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ExposureBiasValue | 0x9204 | SRATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_MaxApertureValue | 0x9205 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_SubjectDistance | 0x9206 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_MeteringMode | 0x9207 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_LightSource | 0x9208 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_Flash | 0x9209 | SHORT | 1 | Recommended
EXIF_FocalLength | 0x920A | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_SubjectArea | 0x9214 | SHORT | variable | Optional
EXIF_MakerNote | 0x927C | UNDEFINED | variable | Optional
EXIF_UserComment | 0x9286 | UNDEFINED | variable | Optional
EXIF_SubSecTime | 0x9290 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_SubSecTime_Original | 0x9291 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_SubSecTime_Digitized | 0x9292 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_FlashpixVersion | 0xA000 | UNDEFINED | 4 | Mandatory
EXIF_ColorSpace | 0xA001 | SHORT | 1 | Mandatory
EXIF_PixelXDimension | 0xA002 | LONG | 1 | Mandatory
EXIF_PixelYDimension | 0xA003 | LONG | 1 | Mandatory
EXIF_RelatedSoundFile | 0xA004 | ASCII | 13 | Optional
EXIF_FlashEnergy | 0xA20B | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_SpatialFrequencyResponse | 0xA20C | UNDEFINED | variable | Optional
EXIF_FocalPlaneXResolution | 0xA20E | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_FocalPlaneYResolution | 0xA20F | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_FocalPlaneResolutionUnit | 0xA210 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_SubjectLocation | 0xA214 | SHORT | 2 | Optional
EXIF_ExposureIndex | 0xA215 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_SensingMethod | 0xA217 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_FileSource | 0xA300 | UNDEFINED | 1 | Optional
EXIF_SceneType | 0xA301 | UNDEFINED | 1 | Optional
EXIF_CFAPattern | 0xA302 | UNDEFINED | variable | Optional
EXIF_CustomRendered | 0xA401 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ExposureMode | 0xA402 | SHORT | 1 | Recommended
EXIF_WhiteBalance | 0xA403 | SHORT | 1 | Recommended
EXIF_DigitalZoomRatio | 0xA404 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_FocalLengthIn35mmFilm | 0xA405 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_SceneCaptureType | 0xA406 | SHORT | 1 | Recommended
EXIF_GainControl | 0xA407 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_Contrast | 0xA408 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_Saturation | 0xA409 | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_Sharpness | 0xA40A | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_DeviceSettingDescription | 0xA40B | UNDEFINED | variable | Optional
EXIF_SubjectDistanceRange | 0xA40C | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_ImageUniqueID | 0xA420 | ASCII | 33 | Optional
EXIF_CameraOwnerName | 0xA430 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_BodySerialNumber | 0xA431 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_LensSpecification | 0xA432 | RATIONAL | 4 | Optional
EXIF_LensMake | 0xA433 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_LensModel | 0xA434 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_LensSerialNumber | 0xA435 | ASCII | variable | Optional

GPS tags:

Metadata item name | Hex code | Type | Number of values | Optionality
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
EXIF_GPSVersionID | 0x0000 | BYTE | 4 | Optional
EXIF_GPSLatitudeRef | 0x0001 | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSLatitude | 0x0002 | RATIONAL | 3 | Optional
EXIF_GPSLongitudeRef | 0x0003 | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSLongitude | 0x0004 | RATIONAL | 3 | Optional
EXIF_GPSAltitudeRef | 0x0005 | BYTE | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSAltitude | 0x0006 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSTimeStamp | 0x0007 | RATIONAL | 3 | Optional
EXIF_GPSSatellites | 0x0008 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_GPSStatus | 0x0009 | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSMeasureMode | 0x000A | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDOP | 0x000B | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSSpeedRef | 0x000C | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSSpeed | 0x000D | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSTrackRef | 0x000E | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSTrack | 0x000F | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSImgDirectionRef | 0x0010 | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSImgDirection | 0x0011 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSMapDatum | 0x0012 | ASCII | variable | Optional
EXIF_GPSDestLatitudeRef | 0x0013 | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDestLatitude | 0x0014 | RATIONAL | 3 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDestLongitudeRef | 0x0015 | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDestLongitude | 0x0016 | RATIONAL | 3 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDestBearingRef | 0x0017 | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDestBearing | 0x0018 | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDestDistanceRef | 0x0019 | ASCII | 2 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDestDistance | 0x001A | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSProcessingMethod | 0x001B | UNDEFINED | variable | Optional
EXIF_GPSAreaInformation | 0x001C | UNDEFINED | variable | Optional
EXIF_GPSDateStamp | 0x001D | ASCII | 11 | Optional
EXIF_GPSDifferential | 0x001E | SHORT | 1 | Optional
EXIF_GPSHPositioningError | 0x001F | RATIONAL | 1 | Optional

## See Also

- Independent JPEG Group

- libjpeg-turbo

- GTiff – GeoTIFF File Format

- EXIF v2.31 specification