Face retouching tools previously limited to Google's Camera app now arrive directly in Photos for Android users, eliminating the need for third-party editing software.
Google announced new touch-up tools for its Photos image editor on Monday, bringing professional-grade facial adjustments to the billion-plus users who rely on the app daily.
The update marks the first time these editing capabilities have been available outside Google's Camera app, where they were previously restricted to capture-time adjustments.
Users can now select individual faces in photos and apply seven different enhancements: heal blemishes, smooth skin texture, brighten under-eye areas, intensify iris color, whiten teeth, define eyebrows, or enhance lips. Each tool includes an intensity slider for precise control over the effect strength.
The AI-powered system supports up to six faces per photo and can apply edits to individuals in group shots without affecting adjacent people. This granular control addresses a common limitation in basic photo editors where effects bleed across subjects.
Rollout began gradually on April 20 and requires Android 9.0 or newer with at least 4GB of RAM.
Google emphasized these are designed for "subtle enhancements" rather than dramatic transformations, a distinction that comes as scrutiny of retouching tools' psychological impacts.
By integrating these capabilities directly into Photos, Google positions its app as a editing solution that competes with standalone retouching applications like Facetune and Snapseed. The move keeps users within Google's ecosystem rather than exporting images to third-party software for touch-ups.
Previously available only during initial capture through Google Camera's built-in beautification features, the new tools allow retroactive editing of existing photos stored in users' libraries.
