You can print a photo’s capture date—and, with some printer or software workflows, its capture time—if the file retains usable Exif metadata and the printing tool supports an imprint option. First check whether the date is already visible in the image: a camera-baked stamp is part of the picture, while an Exif timestamp is separate data that compatible software can add during printing.
Choose the right kind of timestamp
A visible camera stamp and an Exif capture timestamp are not the same thing.
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- Camera-baked stamp: The camera writes date characters into the image pixels when the photo is taken. It appears wherever the image is viewed, not just on a print. Canon says this stamp cannot be deleted from the image data after it has been recorded because the date is written into the image (Canon Support, “Inserting the Date into Images (Date Stamp),” July 23, 2024).
- Exif capture data: The camera can store the capture date and time as metadata without displaying it over the image. A compatible printer or photo app may read that data and add a mark to the print.
- Manual text overlay: You can add text in an editor if automatic imprinting is unavailable, but the entered date is only as reliable as the person supplying it. It does not verify when the photo was taken.
Before printing, inspect the image and its metadata if possible. If the date is already visible in the pixels, turn off any printer-side date imprint to avoid printing it twice.
Print directly from a compatible photo printer
Direct-print menus vary by model. The following manufacturer instructions illustrate why you should check the exact printer manual rather than assume one menu path applies to every device.
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Epson PictureMate: date and time options
The cited Epson PictureMate guide documents separate date and time settings. Its workflow is to open More Options, choose Date Stamp, select a date format or None, then choose Time Stamp and select 12-hour, 24-hour, or None. Confirm the selections and print. In that guide, the setting stays active until it is reset or the printer is powered off (Epson PictureMate User’s Guide).
Canon SELPHY CP1000: date option
Canon’s CP1000 instructions document a date imprint for Exif-standard JPEG images, not a time-of-day imprint. Select the date setting in the print settings and check that the Date icon is on before printing. Some page layouts do not allow date imprint. Canon also notes that the printed date is the one assigned by the camera when the photo was taken, so it cannot be changed from the printer (Canon SELPHY CP1000 support).
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Print from desktop photo software
Sony’s PlayMemories Home instructions for Windows describe a Print date taken option that uses Exif data, with advanced settings for date position and color (Sony: Printing images with PlayMemories Home). This is specific to that application and platform; verify that the software is available for your system and that it still supports your files and printer.
Canon’s older support guidance also describes bundled software and DPOF print settings for sending date-print instructions to a photo developer (Canon Support, “Inserting the Date into Images (Date Stamp)”). Treat this as a legacy workflow: confirm that your camera, software, and chosen print service still support it before relying on it.
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What to do when automatic imprinting is unavailable
Use a photo editor to add text manually if your printer or app has no date option. Sony’s support guidance notes this approach. Keep an unedited original and save the stamped version as a separate copy if you want to preserve the source image. A manually entered date should not be presented as verified capture information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare the available workflows
| Method | Where the date or time is applied | What it needs | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera stamp at capture | Written into the image pixels when the photo is taken | A camera Date Stamp feature | Canon says the recorded stamp cannot be deleted from the image data |
| Printer-side imprint | Added to the print by a supported printer setting | A printer that supports the desired imprint and, where applicable, retained Exif data | In Epson’s documented workflow, the setting affects printing rather than changing the original digital image |
| Photo software | Added during the software print workflow | An app with a date-taken option and usable Exif data; support depends on the app and platform | Depends on the app and whether you save an edited image |
| Manual editor overlay | Added as text to an edited image | An image editor and a person to enter the text | Preserve the original by saving a separate edited copy |
For a combined date and time, the cited Epson PictureMate guide documents both fields. The cited Canon CP1000 procedure documents a date only. Neither example establishes support across all printers in either product family, so check the exact model’s manual and supported layouts.
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Check these details before printing
- Look for an existing visible stamp. If the date is already in the image, disable a second imprint.
- Confirm the file has capture metadata. Printer or software imprinting may rely on Exif data; exporting or editing a file can affect what metadata remains.
- Check the exact model and layout. Feature names, menu paths, accepted formats, and layout restrictions vary.
- Check the camera clock. A printed capture date reflects the camera’s recorded information; it is only as accurate as the camera clock and metadata at capture.
- Decide whether you need date, time, or both. Manufacturer examples differ, and a date feature does not imply a time imprint.
- Verify any print-service workflow. A DPOF route described in older manufacturer guidance does not establish that a particular lab currently offers date imprinting.
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