Google Photos is set to receive some notable upgrades that will enhance its editing capabilities and user experience. The popular photo storage and sharing service is introducing two key features: Ultra HDR image editing and the ability to flip photos.
Ultra HDR Editing Coming Soon
Google Photos version 7.0 is expected to bring a new Ultra HDR adjustment option to its editing suite. This feature aims to better utilize the gain map data present in Ultra HDR images, potentially allowing users to make more effective edits to high dynamic range photos without losing quality.
Ultra HDR is a relatively new standard that adds a small metadata tag (about 1KB in size) to standard dynamic range images, defining areas with increased contrast. Until now, editing Ultra HDR images while preserving their enhanced quality has been challenging, often requiring expensive software like Adobe Lightroom.
The new Ultra HDR slider in Google Photos' Adjust panel is still in development, with its exact functionality yet to be revealed. This addition comes as Android devices with performance class 15 status begin to support Ultra HDR capture and display natively.
Photo Flipping Now Available
In a separate but equally useful update, Google Photos has finally added a basic yet much-needed feature: the ability to flip or mirror images directly within the app. This simple addition addresses a common pain point for users, particularly those who take selfies on iPhones, where the front camera automatically inverts images.
The flipping feature allows users to easily correct image orientation or create symmetrical compositions without the need to download photos to their devices or use third-party apps. This update streamlines the editing process and gives users more control over their images directly within Google Photos.
AI-Powered Ask Photos Feature in Testing
While not yet widely available, Google is also testing an exciting AI-powered feature called Ask Photos. This experimental tool leverages Google's Gemini AI to allow users to ask questions about their photos, making it easier to find specific information or images within their vast collections.
For example, users could ask, What is my license plate number? and the AI would locate and provide the information from relevant photos in their library. This feature is currently available to select US users through Google Labs, with interested parties able to join a waitlist for early access.
As Google continues to evolve its Photos app, these updates demonstrate the company's commitment to improving both basic functionality and advanced editing capabilities, catering to a wide range of user needs and preferences.