Google Photos will no more downgrade HDR images into SDR while editing

Google has upgraded Google Photos with the ability to retain HDR metadata while editing HDR images rather than converting them to SDR.

APK

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In the Google Photos app for Android, when you start editing an HDR image using tools like Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser, and Portrait Light, the app first converts the photo into SDR and then performs edits on it. Once the editing is complete and you save the image, the app saves it as an SDR photo, which is a downgrade. Well, that’s not the case anymore.

Google has announced that now, when you use Google Photos to edit HDR images with tools like Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser, and Portrait Light, the app will put out HDR photos, retaining full dynamic range and crucial HDR metadata. The brand says, “This means your edited photos will maintain their contrast and highlights to always look their best.”

Google updates Google Photos with the Ultra HDR tool

Google has also introduced the ‘Ultra HDR’ tool in the Google Photos app. With it, you can “edit how bright your image is.” The brand has renamed the previous ‘HDR’ tool to ‘Tone,’ and lastly, the company says, “We’ve also made upgrades so you can enhance SDR photos to HDR, so your photos pop with brighter highlights, deeper contrast, and stunning clarity on modern HDR-capable displays.”

Currently, there’s no information on whether Google is offering these upgrades with an update to the app or as a server-side change. If it is the former, you can update the app by going to the Play Store, tapping on the account icon, selecting Manage apps and device, and tapping on ‘Update all.’ Note that Google may be offering these upgrades in phases, which means that some will get them before others.

Abid Iqbal Shaik - Writer

First Samsung device: Galaxy S II

I’m a computer science engineer living in Hyderabad, India, who has a keen interest in automobiles and consumer electronics. My journalism career kicked off in 2017 with MySmartPrice where I wrote news, features, buying guides, and explanatory articles about technology among other things, and reviewed many products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, PC components, smartwatches, audio devices, wearables, and smart home products. Since then, I have worked for 91Mobiles, Apple, and Onsitego, before finally landing on SamMobile.

APK Phone Tablet Android Google Google Photos

Google Photos will no more downgrade HDR images into SDR while editing

Google updates Google Photos with the Ultra HDR tool

Abid Iqbal Shaik - Writer

First Samsung device: Galaxy S II

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