n8n EXIF Reader Node

A custom n8n node to extract EXIF metadata from images.

Features

• Extract EXIF data from images in binary format or via URL
• Structured JSON output with organized metadata categories
• Support for GPS coordinates (with decimal conversion)
• Camera and lens information extraction
• Exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO)
• Timestamp handling with ISO 8601 conversion
• Configurable output options

Installation

npm install n8n-nodes-exif-reader

Usage

Input Sources

The node supports two input methods:

1. Binary Data: Read image data from a binary property in the input data
2. URL: Download image directly from a URL

Configuration Options

• Input Source: Choose between binary data or URL input
• Binary Property: Name of the binary property containing image data (for binary input)
• Image URL: URL of the image to process (for URL input)
• Output Property: Name of the property where EXIF data will be stored (default: "exif")
• Include GPS Data: Whether to include GPS coordinates if available
• Include Image Size: Whether to include image dimensions
• Convert Timestamps: Whether to convert EXIF timestamps to ISO 8601 format

Output Structure

The node outputs structured JSON with the following categories:

{
  "exif": {
    "fileInfo": {
      "fileName": "IMG_1234.jpg",
      "fileSizeBytes": 2048576,
      "fileSizeFormatted": "2 MB"
    },
    "imageSize": {
      "width": 3024,
      "height": 4032
    },
    "camera": {
      "make": "Apple",
      "model": "iPhone 12 Pro",
      "software": "14.4"
    },
    "lens": {
      "model": "iPhone 12 Pro back triple camera 5.1mm f/1.6",
      "focalLength": "5.1mm"
    },
    "exposure": {
      "shutterSpeed": "1/120",
      "aperture": "f/1.6",
      "iso": 64,
      "mode": "Auto",
      "flash": "Did not fire"
    },
    "gps": {
      "latitude": 37.7749,
      "longitude": -122.4194,
      "latitudeDecimal": 37.7749,
      "longitudeDecimal": -122.4194
    },
    "timestamp": {
      "original": 1640995200,
      "iso": "2022-01-01T12:00:00.000Z",
      "formatted": "1/1/2022, 12:00:00 PM"
    },
    "raw": {
      // Complete raw EXIF data
    }
  }
}

Use Cases

• Photo Management: Organize photos by camera, date, or location
• Workflow Automation: Trigger different flows based on image metadata
• Data Analysis: Extract and analyze photography patterns
• Content Processing: Enhance media workflows with metadata-driven decisions
• Location Services: Use GPS data from images for mapping applications

Error Handling

The node includes comprehensive error handling:

• Validates input data availability
• Handles network errors for URL downloads
• Gracefully handles images without EXIF data
• Supports "Continue on Fail" mode for batch processing

Development

To work on this node locally:

1. Clone the repository
2. Run npm install
3. Build with npm run build
4. Test with npm run lint

License

MIT