How to Flip/ Mirror an Image on Google Docs

Flipping or mirroring an image is a matter of a few steps if you use Google Docs for content formation.

Images are a great source of information, and some are even mightier than written words. It is essential to use such images in a compelling style to deliver a greater sense of the shared message than otherwise possible.

Many documentation tools have credible features for formatting the writeups and inserting tables, pictures, etc. However, content creators like me have eventually shifted to Google Docs from our local setup to access our documents anywhere online.

Google is known for simplifying processes. They have added all the functionalities of a documentation tool with a few clicks of the menu option. You can even upload pictures in the writeups and flip them in specific movements if required.

We’ll find out the easy steps to flip/ mirror an image on Google Docs, but let’s first understand why it is an essential feature of the tool⁉️.

What is the Significance of Flipping Pictures?

The above image shows four hands pointing the index finger in four directions. Here, the first image is the original copy, while the other three are flipped versions, mirrored either horizontally or vertically.

Every image showcasing persons, nature, objects, or designs has particular importance. A well-edited picture, when used in an effective manner, holds the capacity to deliver a greater sense of the shared message than otherwise possible.

Flipping or mirroring an image is a typical style of defining the significance of the visuals. There are scenarios when the original image can appear more relevant and make a better impact if you showcase it in a mirrored format.

Basically, flipping or mirroring an image is the condition of reversing it either horizontally or vertically. In this way, a flipped image reappears as its reflection in a mirror, which may display the picture’s visuals in a right-to-left⬅️➡️ or top-to-down proportion. In fact, the technical term for vertical image flipping is flopping the image.

Ambigrams are popular in photographic designs when a word or figure appears meaningful when mirrored vertically or horizontally. The word “NOON” is the best example of the rotational symmetry of ambigrams. Often, calligraphers design words to appear the same when flipped.

Palindromes are also a part of it, as these are words that read the same in vertical reflection🔃. The word “MOM” is the same when reversed right-to-left but changes to “WOW” when reversed top-to-bottom. And you can see that the meaning and essence of the word change completely.

In a similar way, the word “HOW” becomes “WOH” when flipped horizontally and “HOM” or “MOH” when flipped vertically.

One of the major applications of the flipping Image feature is in printing. Here, the original block is used in reverse form to generate the prints in the desired state. Thus, the images can have two different perspectives for a creator.

Flip/ Mirror an Image on Google Docs

The tutorial below discusses the procedure to access Google Docs on your system and the steps to reach the image-flipping option after uploading an image through specific modes. You may also flip the photo later, provided you have followed the required steps while uploading it.

The process is simple, even for a non-techy user, although I have elaborated the steps in this article for better understanding to a novice.

Points to Remember While Using Google Docs

Since Google is an online tool, you must ensure to have consistent internet service while using it. Another necessity is to have a Google Account ID, as the service is only available for verified Google users. If you do not have a Google ID, then go to the Gmail section and sign up for a new account.

Another query that users often raise is about the Image Rotation function. While using content creation and photo editing software, the term “rotation” confuses a lot of users. Often, such tools use the term simultaneously for turning the picture.

Few software assigns this tab to turn the picture to 90 degrees right or left. Google Docs additionally provides an image-flipping feature on this option.

Here are the steps to flip/ mirror the Image on Google Docs.

🔹Step 1. Open Google Chrome or any other browser on your computer💻 system.

🔹Step 2. Open Gmail and login with your Gmail or Google Account ID if you are not already sign-in.

🔹Step 3. Switch to a “New Tab,” or simply open your Gmail and click on the Google Apps button given on top of the page in the right corner, next to the profile icon.

🔹Step 4. This section lists shortcuts to many Google Apps. You may have to scroll down⏬ for the “Docs” application and open it.

🔹Step 5. Click on the thumbnail with the “Blank” caption to start a new document📃. However, you can freely choose other templates of Resume, Letter, etc., and the feature works the same way in every file.

🔹Step 6. Now go to the top, and click on the “Insert” tab to check the menu options.

🔹Step 7. Do not get confused with the “Image” option, which is given at the top of the “Insert” tab list. It is suitable for uploading an image from the computer, Drive, Camera📸, etc. It does give image editing options, but the flipping feature is not available for these images.

🔹Step 8. Instead, go to the Insert tab, choose the “Drawing”📝 option given below the image, and hit the “New” button.

🔹Step 9. You will get a new Drawing window on the Doc screen. Click on the Image🖼️ icon given on the top next to the “Format Options.”

🔹Step 10. A new section opens for uploading an image. You can either drag⬆️ the image directly or upload it by hitting the “choose an image to upload” button to browse from your PC’s hard drive.

Otherwise, you can hit the “By URL,” “Google Drive,” or other given options to fetch the picture of your choice.

🔹Step 11. Wait for a few seconds to get it uploaded. Now hit the “Actions” button given as the top left menu option.

🔹Step 12. Go down the list to find the “Rotate” option, and click on it.

🔹Step 13. You can rotate the image clockwise or anticlockwise to 90 degrees or select one of the last two options to “Flip Vertically” 🔃and “Flip Horizontally.”🔁

🔹Step 14. Finally, hit the blue button on top to save and close the drawing window.

In any case, if you wish to rotate the image the other way, just double-click🖱️ on it to get to the Drawing window again. Click on the photo once on the drawing window, and follow the same steps in the Actions menu to flip the picture again.

My Take: Flipping the Image on Google Docs

Google Docs is one of the reliable online platforms for finalizing the content that is to be published or shared in meetings or presentations. It has engrossed the quickest possible method for stylizing pictures to get an enriching experience.

It is essential to be aware of the practical features of this tool, as you may need to work on it to demonstrate the content. I always use other functions like crop, paint, text, border, etc., along with flip/ mirror images to get the best understandable output in my content.

Next, you may also read about how to do subscripts in Google Docs.