Important Google Photos Change Will Impact Millions Of Users

Hot on the heels of the recent Pixel launch, Google Photos is rolling out some big changes, and this time it’s more than just a few tweaks to the user interface.

MORE FROM FORBESFujifilm Instax Square SQ1 Vs Instax Square SQ6: What’s The Difference?By Paul Monckton

As predicted in a previous leak, Google has developed a new photo editor bringing significant changes to the way we will process our images in Google Photos. The changes, announced in an official blog post, bring a carousel of bigger, clearer icons along with more precise sliders for more accurate adjustments.

To guide you along the way, the new editor uses machine learning to provide editing suggestions tailored to each individual photo.

When opening a photo for editing, the new editor, currently available only on Android, will present you with suggested image enhancements which you can try out quickly with one tap. 

Otherwise, manual adjustments are now accessed via a text-based carousel of options along the bottom of the screen, each of which can be selected to bring up a range of appropriate editing functions denoted by large, clear icons with text descriptions.

The new photo editor also houses Google’s new Portrait Light function, which enables Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 owners to change the position and intensity of lighting in photos after they have been taken. It’s designed to improve lighting on people’s faces, but Google’s own example clearly shows the lighting changing on other parts of the image too.

The feature works on new or existing photos, whether or not they were shot in portrait mode. 

Google has promised availability of this feature on more Pixel devices soon, however there’s no word yet on when the new editor will come to iOS.

Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram

MORE FROM FORBESGoogle’s Pixel Smartphones Have Serious New ProblemsBy Paul Monckton