Google Photos Now Lets You Convert Standard Photos to Ultra HDR
Ultra HDR is a cool image format. Like traditional HDR, this format packs more image data into each media file, resulting in brighter highlights, darker shadows, and more vibrant colors. However, Ultra HDR files also contain a standard dynamic range (SDR) version of the image. This way, you can share Ultra HDR files with friends who don’t have HDR-compatible displays and the image will display normally.
But there’s a difference between being able to display an Ultra HDR image on a non-HDR display and converting an SDR image to HDR (or Ultra HDR, for that matter). Traditionally, the latter has been more of a challenge and not something that has been offered to consumers in easy ways. If you wanted your images to have high dynamic range, you needed to shoot in HDR from the start.
By the way, Google Photos changes these rules. Android Authority has reported that Google is now rolling out an option in its stock photos app to allow users to upgrade their SDR images to Ultra HDR. Here’s how it works.
How to Convert Ultra HDR Images in Google Photos
Before you can try out a new option, two things must happen. First, you need to be using Google Photos version 7.24.0.747539053 or later. Secondly, Google needs to update your app to include this feature. This is called a server-side update because the feature is not necessarily contained in a specific version of the software. If you are using the correct version, Google may update your app on their end to include an option that you can use. In other words, if your Google Photos app is fully updated but you still don’t see the new option, wait a little while for the update to roll out.
Once the feature appears in your version of Google Photos, open the image, then click Edit to launch the editor. Here, scroll left to the tools at the bottom of the screen, then tap Customize . In this menu you will find a new “Ultra HDR” option, replacing the “HDR Effect” option that was previously available in the editor.
In Android Authority’s testing, the image is clearly labeled as “Ultra HDR,” which you can find next to the photo’s resolution and size information. Speaking of file size, Ultra HDR images may end up smaller than the original image you were working with because the gain map (in simple terms, the HDR image data) is smaller than the original photo. If you want to retain all of the image information, it may be a good idea to save the original photo after applying the effect, even if it requires some memory.