PhotoSanitize writes sanitized images to separate output files and does not overwrite the originals during normal processing. The output location, filename, and format determine how easily you can identify and use the cleaned version afterward.
The default settings are intended to be convenient for ordinary personal use, while Pro and Enterprise provide additional configuration for professional and organizational workflows.
Default output location
By default, PhotoSanitize saves the sanitized image in the same folder as the original and adds _sanitized to its filename.
For example, an image named Garden.jpg normally produces Garden_sanitized.jpg.
Both files remain available. This makes comparison easy, but it is important to choose the correct file when attaching a photograph to an email or uploading it to a website.
The original still contains the information that was present before sanitization.
Sanitized subfolder
PhotoSanitize also provides a Sanitized subfolder beside source location option.
With this setting, the application creates a folder named Sanitized beside the relevant source images and places the processed outputs there.
This is helpful when you want to avoid mixing originals and sanitized copies in the same folder. It can also make it easier to identify the files that are candidates for sharing.
For example, photographs from a family event or a business project can remain in their original directory while the new versions are collected in a dedicated subfolder.
Custom output folders
Pro and Enterprise allow you to select a custom output directory. This is particularly useful for organizations that separate incoming material from prepared or approved images.
A marketing department might keep original photographs in a restricted working folder and direct sanitized copies to a staging directory for publication. A photographer might send sanitized client proofs to a dedicated delivery folder while retaining the originals elsewhere.
When processing a directory tree, Preserve source folder structure during batch processing can retain the applicable relative organization beneath the custom output location.
This makes it easier to keep collections separated by project, customer, or date.
Filename suffixes and conflicts
The default filename suffix is _sanitized. Pro and Enterprise can change it to another valid suffix, such as _clean or _public.
A suffix should be short, recognizable, and compatible with Windows filenames. The filename itself should not be treated as proof that verification succeeded.
If an output filename already exists, PhotoSanitize selects an available name rather than silently replacing the existing file. This protects previous results but can lead to several similarly named outputs when an image is processed repeatedly.
When that happens, use the recorded output path, processing status, and file fingerprint to distinguish the versions.
Output formats
The default output setting is Same format when supported. For many ordinary JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP, GIF, and BMP images, PhotoSanitize can use the source format where the necessary operation and encoder are supported.
HEIC, HEIF, and AVIF normally produce PNG outputs under this setting because same-format encoding is not provided through the standard output configuration.
Pro and Enterprise can explicitly request JPEG, PNG, WebP, TIFF, BMP, or GIF. The requested format must still be compatible with the source image and selected processing options.
Converting between formats can affect compression, transparency, animation, file size, and other characteristics. A JPEG converted to PNG may become much larger, while conversion to a lossy format may change fine details.
Choosing a suitable destination
For occasional sharing, the default filename suffix is usually enough to distinguish the sanitized copy.
For professional work, separate output folders reduce the chance of accidentally distributing an unmodified source. Organizations may also use different locations for outputs awaiting review and those approved for distribution.
Whichever arrangement you choose, confirm the final output path and verification result before transferring files. A new filename or folder location does not by itself establish that sanitization was successful.