Handle orientation, color, copyright, and location data deliberately.
Read metadata before transforming
Orientation and embedded color profiles affect how an image appears. Normalize orientation before sizing or cropping, and test color conversion against representative assets. Dimensions measured before orientation correction can lead to the wrong derivative shape.
Keep private fields private
Camera metadata may include location, device, and capture details that a user did not intend to publish. Define a publication policy: retain only fields needed for display or rights management, and strip the rest from public derivatives. The original may need a different retention rule under the product’s own privacy policy.
Make the policy testable
Use sample files with orientation, ICC profiles, GPS coordinates, and transparency. Verify both the rendered pixels and metadata of the downloaded derivative. A successful encoder exit code is not proof that color or privacy handling was correct.
A concrete acceptance test
Upload samples with rotated orientation, an ICC profile, and GPS data. Download the public derivatives and verify their pixels, color, dimensions, and removed private metadata. Run this test with a realistic asset and record the observed state, output URL, and failure reason.
Implementation check
- Normalize orientation before measuring or cropping.
- Inspect public derivatives for location metadata.
- Test color profiles against visible reference images.
Related guides
Primary reference: Official documentation.