## Overview

By default, Compresto strips metadata from files during compression to achieve smaller file sizes. However, you can choose to preserve various types of metadata when needed.

## Available Options

### Retain Image Metadata (EXIF, IPTC)

Preserves camera and photo information embedded in your images. **EXIF data includes:**

- Camera make and model
- Date and time the photo was taken
- Exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO)
- GPS location (if available)
- Lens information

**IPTC data includes:**

- Copyright information
- Author/creator details
- Keywords and captions
- Location descriptions

Enabling this option may increase output file size.

### Preserve Color Profile (ICC)

Maintains the original color space of your images. This is important for:

- Professional photography workflows
- Print production
- Color-accurate displays
- Images with specific color gamuts (Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB, Display P3)

Preserving color profiles may slightly increase file size but ensures colors display correctly across different devices.

### Retain Creation Date

Keeps the original file creation date on the compressed output. Without this option, compressed files will have the current date as their creation date. Useful for:

- Maintaining photo library organization
- Preserving chronological order in file managers
- Archival purposes

## How to Configure

1. Open Compresto
2. Go to **Settings** > **Advanced**
3. Toggle the metadata options you want to preserve:
   - **Retain image metadata (EXIF, IPTC)**
   - **Preserve color profile (ICC)**
   - **Retain creation date**

## When to Use

| Scenario               | Recommended Settings  |
|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| Maximum compression    | All options off       |
| Photography archive    | All options on        |
| Social media sharing    | All options off (platforms strip metadata anyway) |
| Print production       | Preserve color profile on |
| Organized photo library | Retain creation date on |