### 6.5. Image Import and Export

Figure 15.73. Image Import and Export Preferences

This page lets you customize settings related to importing and exporting images.

#### 6.5.1. Activating the Dialog

The preferences dialog can be accessed from the main menu, through Edit → Preferences.

#### 6.5.2. Options

Import Policies

Promote imported images to floating point precision

  When enabled, all imported images have their precision changed to 32-bit floating point.

Dither images when promoting to floating point

  When the previous setting is enabled, this setting allows you to choose whether dithering should be applied when a lower precision image is changed to 32-bit floating point.

Add an alpha channel to imported images

  When enabled, an alpha channel is automatically added to any imported image that doesn't have one yet. This can be useful if you usually require an alpha channel to be present for your workflow.

Color profile policy

  When importing an image that has a color profile attached to it, you can choose here what action needs to be taken. See File Open Behavior in the Color Management preferences.

Metadata rotation policy

  When importing an image that has metadata about the rotation of the image attached to it, you can choose here what action needs to be taken.

  - Ask what to do This is the default. Every time you open an image with rotation metadata, a dialog opens that asks you whether to rotate the image according to the metadata.

  - Discard metadata without rotating When selecting this, rotation metadata will be ignored when opening an image.

  - Rotate the image then discard metadata When selecting this, an image will always be rotated according to the metadata when it is opened. After that is done, the rotation metadata is discarded and replaced by default values for the rotation metadata.

Export Policies

| Note
The following export policies define the default values when exporting an image. Most formats have image export dialogs where, among other things, you can further adjust the relevant setting for that specific format. These per format settings are remembered across restarts. Not all image formats support all of the below settings. They are only relevant for image formats that support the setting. It is good to be aware of the implications of including certain metadata. Metadata can contain sensitive personal information that you may want to review first before deciding to include it or not. Examples are GPS metadata that can show an exact location, or name and address of the creator of the image.

Export the image's color profile by default

  When enabled, the default for exporting images is to include the color profile.

Export the image's comment by default

  When enabled, the default for exporting images is to include the comment.

Export the image's thumbnail by default

  When enabled, the default for exporting images is to include the thumbnail.

Export exif metadata by default when available

  When enabled, the default for exporting images is to include exif metadata.

Export XMP metadata by default when available

  When enabled, the default for exporting images is to include XMP metadata.

Export IPTC metadata by default when available

  When enabled, the default for exporting images is to include IPTC metadata.

Export File Type

Default export file type

  This setting allows you to select what file format should be used by default when exporting an image, without explicitly choosing an extension of a known image file format.

  Note that this is only relevant when exporting a new image created in GIMP. When exporting an image that was previously imported, GIMP uses the extension of that imported image.

Raw Image Importer

Plug-in

  This setting shows a list of known plug-ins that can be used for opening and processing RAW image formats. Most common apps used here are Darktable and RawTherapee. If no plug-in is registered, GIMP will show a placeholder value here.

6.4. Color Management |  | 6.6. Experimental Playground

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