Re-encode image pixels without source metadata

Before you begin

• Python 3.12 or newer
• Pillow installed in the same Python environment

Set up your example

1. Save the complete code as image-strip-metadata.py in a working folder.
2. Save the provided sample files in that same folder; run commands from that folder.
3. Install Pillow: python -m pip install Pillow
4. Generate the original fixtures once: python "make_samples.py". Choose an empty folder so the fixture files do not exist.

Sample files in this download:

• make_samples.py

Download the ZIP, extract it, and open a terminal inside the extracted folder. The source file is image-strip-metadata.py.

Run the script

python "image-strip-metadata.py" --input "sample.png" --output "pixels-only.png"

If your system uses python3 instead of python, use that command for Python examples. Keep paths containing spaces in quotes. Required inputs and optional settings are described in the code and setup steps.

What to expect

The complete script

#!/usr/bin/env python3
'Re-encode image pixels without source metadata'
import argparse
import json
from pathlib import Path

def write_json(path, value):
    data = json.dumps(value, indent=2, ensure_ascii=False, allow_nan=False) + "\n"
    with Path(path).open("x", encoding="utf-8", newline="") as handle:
        handle.write(data)

import math

try:
    from PIL import Image, ImageOps, ImageEnhance, ImageFilter, ImageDraw, ImageFont, ImageChops
except ImportError:
    raise SystemExit("Install Pillow first: python -m pip install Pillow")
MAX_PIXELS=20_000_000
def check_size(size):
    if min(size)<1 or size[0]*size[1]>MAX_PIXELS:
        raise ValueError("Image dimensions must be positive and at most 20 million pixels.")
def read_image(path):
    with Image.open(path) as original:
        check_size(original.size)
        return ImageOps.exif_transpose(original).convert("RGBA")
def save_image(path,image,format="PNG"):
    check_size(image.size)
    with Path(path).open("xb") as handle:
        image.save(handle,format=format)

def main():
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Re-encode image pixels without source metadata')
    parser.add_argument("--input",required=True,help="Local source image")
    parser.add_argument("--output",required=True,help="New output file or directory")
    args = parser.parse_args()
    image=read_image(args.input)
    clean=Image.frombytes(image.mode,image.size,image.tobytes())
    save_image(args.output,clean)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    try:
        main()
    except (OSError, ValueError, KeyError, TypeError, ArithmeticError, IndexError, LookupError) as exc:
        raise SystemExit(str(exc))

Open source as plain text · Download source and sample files

How it works

1. Pillow reads the local image; the source is left unchanged and existing destinations are refused.
2. Building a new image from pixel bytes omits EXIF, comments, and source info dictionaries; pixel content itself can still reveal information.
3. The output contains the same visible fixture shapes without copied source metadata.

Make it your own

--input

Use a source photo copy to produce an oriented PNG derivative.

Adapt the processing

Edit main to explicitly attach a chosen color profile when preserving color management is required.

Change one setting at a time, run it again on sample data, and compare the output. The customization guide walks through this process.

If something goes wrong

Reference & next steps

• Pillow Image reference ↗
• Pillow ImageOps ↗

These official references explain the underlying tools. The Scriptage example and guide are original instructional content. See verification notes for what has been checked and the limits of those checks.

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