About Image Flip / Mirror

Flip an image horizontally, vertically, or both. Part of the DevTools Surf developer suite. Browse more tools in the Images collection.

Use Cases

• Selfie photographers correcting mirror-reversed portraits
• Designers creating symmetrical pattern tiles from one half
• Developers flipping sprites for left/right game animations
• Print designers mirroring layouts for iron-on transfer art

Tips

• Flip selfies horizontally to match mirror perception
• Combine both axes for a 180-degree rotation effect
• Use vertical flip to correct upside-down phone captures

Fun Facts

• The mirror-image 'ambulance' lettering on emergency vehicles dates to the 1930s, designed so drivers see it correctly in their rearview mirrors.
• Da Vinci wrote his famous notebooks in mirror script — left-handed writing that reads normally only when reflected — across over 7,000 pages.
• CSS transform: scaleX(-1) became the standard web approach for flipping elements, replacing the older IE-only filter: FlipH from the early 2000s.

FAQ

Does flipping change EXIF orientation?

The EXIF orientation flag is cleared to 1 (normal) and the actual pixel data is flipped. This guarantees consistent display across every viewer.

What's the difference between horizontal and vertical flip?

Horizontal flip mirrors left-right (faces look the same rotated); vertical flips top-bottom (upside down). 'Both' does both — equivalent to 180° rotate.

Is there a rotate function?

Use Image Rotator for arbitrary angles. Flip is limited to the two axis mirrors; rotation is a separate tool.

Can I batch-flip?

This tool is single-image. For bulk operations, use the Bulk Image Converter with a flip option, or ImageMagick's -flip.