Photographers knew a long time ago that the best way to make people look good in photos is by using secondary flash devices that are not attached to the camera. The photographer then positions these flash devices with various factors in mind, such as the angle of the subject’s face, as well as other light sources.
Google designed Portrait Light with this concept in mind. Portrait Light is a feature on Google’s Pixel phones “that can be used to enhance portraits by adding an external light source not present at the time the photo was taken.”
The engineers explain they achieved this feat using two algorithms. The first, which they call automatic directional light placement, places synthetic light into the scene as a professional photographer would. The second algorithm is called synthetic post-capture relighting. It allows for repositioning the light after the fact in a realistic and natural-looking way.
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The software is available in newer Pixel phones. Older camera users can try the new software on the Google Photos online service, while it's built into newer phones. Users can either accept the automatic enhancement provided by their phone or change it manually.
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(Image Credit: Google/ TechXplore)