oogle Photos is reportedly introducing a new functionality that allows users to transform regular images into Ultra HDR photos. According to a report, this editing feature can be found in the latest version of the Google Photos app for Android, enhancing photos by incorporating additional image data. This enhancement is said to lead to images displayed on HDR-compatible screens featuring more vivid colors, brighter highlights, and deeper shadows. Telegram user @greyishere discovered this feature and it was reported by Mishaal Rahman from Android Authority. To access this feature, users need to update the app to version 7.24.0.747539053. An ‘Ultra HDR’ option can be found in the Adjust section of the app's built-in photo editor, taking the place of the previous ‘HDR Effect’ setting.

This new feature aims to provide users with advanced editing capabilities beyond what is possible with Standard Dynamic Range images, allowing for more intricate adjustments even after the photos have been taken. Images edited in Ultra HDR show enhanced brightness in highlights and additional depth in shadows while maintaining detail on HDR-compatible displays. Importantly, these images can also be viewed on non-HDR screens without any issues, ensuring widespread usability. The report highlights that Ultra HDR images in Google Photos are comparatively smaller in file size than the original images, thanks to the utilization of a compact gain map that contains luminosity data and incorporates masks for optimal viewing on both SDR and HDR screens.

It is worth noting that this feature was first reported to be under development in September 2023, but it had not been widely available at that time, leading some users to make adjustments to activate it. The Ultra HDR tool is now said to be rolling out globally to all users. However, because it is a server-side update, Google must enable it for each user, which may mean that it won't appear immediately in the Google Photos app following an update to the latest version.