Photo credit: www.androidauthority.com
Google Photos has begun the gradual rollout of a new editing feature called “Ultra HDR,” allowing users to transform standard photos into enhanced Ultra HDR images after they have been taken. This functionality is reportedly being introduced in version 7.24.0.747539053 for select users through a server-side update.
For some time, Google Photos has been developing this Ultra HDR editing capability. While hints of the feature were discovered in the app as early as last September, the tool was non-functional at that time, leaving many curious about its potential application. It is now understood to be connected to the Ultra HDR file format that Google unveiled alongside Android 14.
The Ultra HDR format enables users to capture images with a broader spectrum of light and color, resulting in more vivid and lifelike photographs. This enhancement is particularly impressive on devices equipped with high dynamic range (HDR) displays. One of the notable aspects of Ultra HDR is its backward compatibility, allowing images to be displayed properly on older, non-HDR devices. This is achieved by embedding both standard dynamic range (SDR) and HDR images within a single file.
With the latest update, Google Photos seems to be enabling users to convert regular photos into Ultra HDR images post-capture. Users have begun to report the appearance of this feature.
According to a tip from Telegram user @greyishere, the Ultra HDR option has been confirmed by contributor Assemble Debug of Android Authority to be present in version 7.24.0.747539053 of the Google Photos app. Many users may already have this version on their Android devices; however, the new feature might not be immediately available as it depends on Google’s activation from their end.
Once activated, users will find the Ultra HDR option within the “Adjust” section of the photo editing tools. This functionality will succeed the existing “HDR Effect” setting and will also incorporate a slider to adjust the intensity of the Ultra HDR effect.
Visual comparisons between standard images and those enhanced with the Ultra HDR effect vividly illustrate the differences. The enhanced image will be marked as “Ultra HDR,” and interestingly, its file size will be smaller due to the use of a gain map that efficiently encodes luminosity information. This allows devices to produce brighter and more colorful images without requiring the same amount of storage as a full-resolution image.
For those interested in exploring this further, a GitHub page showcases images that highlight the distinctions between Ultra HDR converted images and standard photos. The visual differences should be readily apparent on devices with HDR displays as well as on platforms that support the Ultra HDR format.
The introduction of Ultra HDR as an editing option in Google Photos represents a significant advancement for photography enthusiasts and casual users alike. It allows for everyday photos to be upgraded to a more visually appealing standard, ensuring they look striking on compatible displays without the necessity for specialized hardware or configuration.
Source
www.androidauthority.com