starred/photoprism

Fork 0

mirror of https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism.git synced 2026-03-02 22:57:18 -05:00

UX: swap File Orientation 90 and 270 icons #2445

New issue

Open

opened 2026-02-20 01:11:34 -05:00 by deekerman · 8 comments

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:34 -05:00

Owner

Originally created by @Kelvin-Dixon on GitHub (Nov 29, 2025).

Confirmation

I checked this request against the roadmap and existing issues

What Problem Does This Solve and Why Is It Valuable?

When we Edit files to fix the Orientation of the file the current 90/270 icons should be swapped.
Currently the icon is a persons head - Assume the Picture being edited contains a person standing
If the persons heads is at the top this works for 0 degrees
If the persons heads is at the bottom this works for 180 degrees

But:
if the person in the photo has their head to the Right of the image this needs to be rotated 270 which the current icon shows the head pointing to the Left (opposite direction)
if the person in the photo has their head to the Left of the image this needs to be rotated 90 which the current icon shows the head pointing to the Right (opposite direction)

What Solution Would You Like?

Suggestion - swap the icons for 90 and 270 such that when viewing a file to fix, we can observe the image, and match the icon to the photo resulting in correct rotation

What Alternatives Have You Considered?

Current process works well for 0 and 180 photos, just the 90 and 270 are reversed

Additional Context

Originally created by @Kelvin-Dixon on GitHub (Nov 29, 2025). ### Confirmation - [x] I checked this request against the roadmap and existing issues ### What Problem Does This Solve and Why Is It Valuable? When we Edit files to fix the Orientation of the file the current 90/270 icons should be swapped. Currently the icon is a persons head - Assume the Picture being edited contains a person standing If the persons heads is at the top this works for 0 degrees If the persons heads is at the bottom this works for 180 degrees But: if the person in the photo has their head to the Right of the image this needs to be rotated 270 which the current icon shows the head pointing to the Left (opposite direction) if the person in the photo has their head to the Left of the image this needs to be rotated 90 which the current icon shows the head pointing to the Right (opposite direction) ### What Solution Would You Like? Suggestion - swap the icons for 90 and 270 such that when viewing a file to fix, we can observe the image, and match the icon to the photo resulting in correct rotation ### What Alternatives Have You Considered? Current process works well for 0 and 180 photos, just the 90 and 270 are reversed ### Additional Context <img width="465" height="190" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9c4d39be-eaf1-46b2-8c77-628066cb6f18" />

deekerman added the

idea

label

2026-02-20 01:11:34 -05:00

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:36 -05:00

Author

Owner

@lastzero commented on GitHub (Nov 29, 2025):

@Kelvin-Dixon Try with this picture of Gwyneth Paltrow that we have on our public demo: https://demo.photoprism.app/library/browse?q=Paltrow

By default, it is displayed as it is saved, without adjusted orientation, i.e. rotated by 0 degrees:

Below, the Exif orientation was manually changed to rotate the image by 270 degrees:

@lastzero commented on GitHub (Nov 29, 2025): @Kelvin-Dixon Try with this picture of Gwyneth Paltrow that we have on our public demo: <https://demo.photoprism.app/library/browse?q=Paltrow> #### By default, it is displayed as it is saved, without adjusted orientation, i.e. rotated by 0 degrees: <img width="480" height="980" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/02548b18-6296-41f5-98bc-e1556b3ec0fe" /> #### Below, the Exif orientation was manually changed to rotate the image by 270 degrees: <img width="480" height="980" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/127605ba-377d-49e7-8d91-76e92e40c01a" />

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:36 -05:00

Author

Owner

@Kelvin-Dixon commented on GitHub (Nov 30, 2025):

Yes, that rotates an image from 0° through to 270°, and the head icon follows the same orientation.

I’m importing thousands of images from different sources, and many of them have an incorrect “zero” rotation. To get the image upright — with the head at the top - I need to manually choose 90°, 180°, or 270° to restore the correct orientation.

This happens when the source image’s rotation doesn’t match its actual upright orientation.

I would suggest that most users expect photos to show the subject’s head at the top, rather than worrying about the embedded rotation value - which is why I’m proposing a change.

For example: this chair image imports with a rotation of 0°, but it’s actually sideways. To correct it, I must rotate it by 270° (or -90°) so the top of the chair points upward.
In the current interface, the only way to fix it is to select the head icon pointing left - which looks wrong compared to the displayed image.

@Kelvin-Dixon commented on GitHub (Nov 30, 2025): Yes, that rotates an image from 0° through to 270°, and the head icon follows the same orientation. I’m importing thousands of images from different sources, and many of them have an incorrect “zero” rotation. To get the image upright — with the head at the top - I need to manually choose 90°, 180°, or 270° to restore the correct orientation. This happens when the source image’s rotation doesn’t match its actual upright orientation. I would suggest that most users expect photos to show the subject’s head at the top, rather than worrying about the embedded rotation value - which is why I’m proposing a change. For example: this chair image imports with a rotation of 0°, but it’s actually sideways. To correct it, I must rotate it by 270° (or -90°) so the top of the chair points upward. In the current interface, the only way to fix it is to select the head icon pointing left - which looks wrong compared to the displayed image. ![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b415541d-1806-4402-a9a9-103c01ff0d28)

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:36 -05:00

Author

Owner

@lastzero commented on GitHub (Nov 30, 2025):

If PhotoPrism could reliably determine the actual upright orientation in all problematic cases (broken or missing EXIF data, mixed stacks, scans, artistic shots, etc.), we could automatically fix the image, and you wouldn't need to think about rotation at all. This is a much harder problem than simply rotating icons based on the current EXIF data.

@lastzero commented on GitHub (Nov 30, 2025): If PhotoPrism could reliably determine the actual upright orientation in all problematic cases (broken or missing EXIF data, mixed stacks, scans, artistic shots, etc.), we could automatically fix the image, and you wouldn't need to think about rotation at all. This is a much harder problem than simply rotating icons based on the current EXIF data.

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:37 -05:00

Author

Owner

@JohnathonMohr commented on GitHub (Dec 3, 2025):

If I may briefly weigh in, I think this basically comes down to "current state" vs. "end state" in the icon demonstration. Currently, the icon demonstrates the "end state" of the image, assuming the head started in the upright position. And what I think @Kelvin-Dixon is proposing is to instead have the icon demonstrate the "current state" (with the assumption that the desired end state is to be upright).

This suggestion would ease the mental task of figuring out how much rotation is needed - it would simply be a matter of selecting the button that demonstrates how the image is currently rotated. PhotoPrism doesn't need to know what the current state is - the user presses the button that represents that state, and then it's rotated accordingly.

@JohnathonMohr commented on GitHub (Dec 3, 2025): If I may briefly weigh in, I think this basically comes down to "current state" vs. "end state" in the icon demonstration. Currently, the icon demonstrates the "end state" of the image, assuming the head started in the upright position. And what I think @Kelvin-Dixon is proposing is to instead have the icon demonstrate the "current state" (with the assumption that the desired end state is to be upright). This suggestion would ease the mental task of figuring out how much rotation is needed - it would simply be a matter of selecting the button that demonstrates how the image is currently rotated. PhotoPrism doesn't need to know what the current state is - the user presses the button that represents that state, and then it's rotated accordingly.

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:37 -05:00

Author

Owner

@lastzero commented on GitHub (Dec 3, 2025):

All we know (and can change/set) is the Exif orientation value. Technically, there are no additional states, such as a current, previous, or end state. However, it is possible to show +90 and -90 degree rotate buttons ("rotate left" and "rotate right") for users who prefer relative actions:

https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/issues/3643

That way, they don't have to understand absolute Exif orientation and how it affects the current image, i.e., which setting to choose to display it correctly.

@lastzero commented on GitHub (Dec 3, 2025): All we know (and can change/set) is the Exif orientation value. Technically, there are no additional states, such as a current, previous, or end state. However, it is possible to show +90 and -90 degree rotate buttons ("rotate left" and "rotate right") for users who prefer relative actions: - https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/issues/3643 That way, they don't have to understand absolute Exif orientation and how it affects the current image, i.e., which setting to choose to display it correctly.

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:37 -05:00

Author

Owner

@Kelvin-Dixon commented on GitHub (Dec 3, 2025):

JohnathonMohr understands my point.
In the demo lastzero provided, the initial photo of Gwyneth Paltrow was the right way up.

Then selecting Orientation to 270, the image was then rotated with the head pointing to the left (matching the current icons) and is of not much use (who wants photos stored on their side?)

What I'm suggesting is that we all want our photos with the top pointing up.
By switching the 90 and 270 icons, we can match the look of the current photo and due to observed rotation, this will correct the image to be upright

@Kelvin-Dixon commented on GitHub (Dec 3, 2025): JohnathonMohr understands my point. In the demo lastzero provided, the initial photo of Gwyneth Paltrow was the right way up. Then selecting Orientation to 270, the image was then rotated with the head pointing to the left (matching the current icons) and is of not much use (who wants photos stored on their side?) What I'm suggesting is that we all want our photos with the top pointing up. By switching the 90 and 270 icons, we can match the look of the current photo and due to observed rotation, this will correct the image to be upright

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:37 -05:00

Author

Owner

@graciousgrey commented on GitHub (Dec 7, 2025):

I understand your point, but changing the icons might then confuse other users who expect the icons to show the orientation change needed to display the image correctly. Probably using +90 and -90 degree rotate buttons instead would be least confusing.

@graciousgrey commented on GitHub (Dec 7, 2025): I understand your point, but changing the icons might then confuse other users who expect the icons to show the orientation change needed to display the image correctly. Probably using +90 and -90 degree rotate buttons instead would be least confusing.

deekerman commented

2026-02-20 01:11:37 -05:00

Author

Owner

@Kelvin-Dixon commented on GitHub (Dec 7, 2025):

This is exactly what I'm saying
" the icons to show the orientation change needed to display the image
correctly"
They don't. Left and Right are flipped.

The icons currently show the orientation of the image that you want it
to be, ie the final state, but only if the original is perfectly rotated
initially. See the example given by lastzero - this shows that by wanting a
correct photo turned to the left, the head would follow.

Apart from importing and fixing the rotation of photos, this would rarely be
used by most users to change an upward photo to another direction. Who
wants a photo sideways

If you take the example of the chair I provided, you can see the image is
pointing to the right. To fix the rotation to point the top of the chair to the
upward direction, you have to select the 270-degree option which has the
top of the icon to the left. The chair now looks correctly rotated on
screen, but the picture and the icon in the orientation don't match, and
most people wouldn't care as long as the image displays on screen correctly

Also for a left and right rotation, the function would have to be repeatable
and not just set a fixed size. The final icon in orientation would still
not match the rotation of the image as the image would be in the upright
position, but the icon would be to the side or upside down.

I saw another user had suggested a thumbnail of the image to solve
rotation, but that would be a fair amount of overhead compared to swapping
the left and right icons.

Currently upside-down photos imported (where the up is in the down
direction) do work by showing the top, and when that's clicked, it corrects
the top of the photo to up, and still displays the icon showing the head
downwards.

@Kelvin-Dixon commented on GitHub (Dec 7, 2025): This is exactly what I'm saying " the icons to show the orientation change needed to display the image correctly" They don't. Left and Right are flipped. The icons currently show the orientation of the image that you want it to be, ie the final state, but only if the original is perfectly rotated initially. See the example given by lastzero - this shows that by wanting a correct photo turned to the left, the head would follow. Apart from importing and fixing the rotation of photos, this would rarely be used by most users to change an upward photo to another direction. Who wants a photo sideways If you take the example of the chair I provided, you can see the image is pointing to the right. To fix the rotation to point the top of the chair to the upward direction, you have to select the 270-degree option which has the top of the icon to the left. The chair now looks correctly rotated on screen, but the picture and the icon in the orientation don't match, and most people wouldn't care as long as the image displays on screen correctly Also for a left and right rotation, the function would have to be repeatable and not just set a fixed size. The final icon in orientation would still not match the rotation of the image as the image would be in the upright position, but the icon would be to the side or upside down. I saw another user had suggested a thumbnail of the image to solve rotation, but that would be a fair amount of overhead compared to swapping the left and right icons. Currently upside-down photos imported (where the up is in the down direction) do work by showing the top, and when that's clicked, it corrects the top of the photo to up, and still displays the icon showing the head downwards.