Google Magic Editor: A new dimension has come to photo editing

In fact, Google has been using artificial intelligence for a long time. For example, advanced tools such as Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur that have been in Google Photos since its launch in 2015 are an example. However, Magic Editor, announced at the I/O 2023 developer conference, brings a different dimension to photo editing.

Photo editing becomes child’s play

Thanks to Google Magic Editor, complex edits can be made with artificial intelligence without professional editing skills. Google summarizes the Magic Editor in its statement as follows; “Using a combination of artificial intelligence techniques, including generative AI, it helps you make edits to specific parts of an image, such as the subject, sky or background, so you have more control over the final look and feel of your photo.”

The difference between an ordinary photo and a perfect shot is getting the framing right. Thanks to the Magic Editor, it will be possible to reposition the main subject to the best point of the photo. Google shared a few very ambitious demos for this. One of them is a photo taken in front of the waterfall.

In the shared example, the strap of the bag that the subject is wearing is removed with the Magic Editor and the subject is repositioned to give a better composition with the waterfall. While doing this, the background is automatically filled by artificial intelligence. The result appears as if you went back to that moment and took the photo correctly this time.

In another photo, a child holding balls with the Magic Editor is positioned in the middle of the photo. Bringing the boy sitting on the bench in the middle means filling in the left side of the picture, and according to the demo, the Magic Editor does it almost perfectly. I say near perfect because there are errors in both examples. Examples of these are the wrinkles left by the bag strap and the wrong shading under the bench in the second photo.

In the meantime, don’t try to open Photos and try the Magic Editor feature. Google says this feature will come towards the end of the year. The company also states that the feature will be available as early access on certain Pixel phones. Certain Pixel phones may be the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.