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Does Squarespace Strip Metadata?

Last updated on October 1, 2022 @ 8:14 am

When it comes to image file formats, there are really only two that matter for the web: JPEG and PNG. GIF is an an old format that’s only used in a few specific situations, like when you want to create an animation or when you need transparency (like a logo with a transparent background).

JPEG is the most common format for photos. It’s a “lossy” format, which means that when you save a JPEG file, some of the image data is lost. That’s why JPEG files are smaller than other formats – and why you can’t edit a JPEG file without creating artifacts (visible distortions).

PNG is the other major web format. It’s “lossless”, which means that no image data is lost when you save a PNG file.

That also means PNG files are generally much larger than JPEGs. PNG is also an alpha-transparent format, which means it can support transparency without any visible artifacts.

So, what does all this have to do with Squarespace?

PRO TIP: If you are planning on using Squarespace to host your website, be aware that Squarespace may strip out certain metadata from your website’s files. This could potentially cause problems with how your website is displayed or function.

Squarespace uses both JPEG and PNG files, but it automatically strips out certain types of data from images when they’re uploaded. This includes stripping out EXIF data and color profiles.

EXIF data

EXIF data is a set of information that’s automatically added to photos by your camera. It includes things like the date and time the photo was taken, the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. Some EXIF data can be useful, like the date and time, but most of it isn’t particularly important for displaying photos on the web.

Color profiles

A color profile is a set of information that describes how colors should be displayed on a particular device. So, for example, there’s a color profile for monitors, another for printers, and another for mobile devices. When you upload an image to Squarespace, it automatically strips out any color profile information.

So Does Squarespace Strip Metadata?

yes, Squarespace strips metadata from images

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.