The process of flipping an image simply means mirroring the image; that is, changing the original image as if it is shown before a mirror. Generally, the flipping process can be done in two ways. One is horizontally and the other is vertical. The horizontal flipping causes the image to flip the left and right sides to each other. When it comes to vertical flipping, the top and bottom parts of the image are reversed.
Google Docs provides several options to facilitate the flipping procedure. It can be done both manually and automatically. Also, by following several simple steps, any images can be even rotated by the user. The following section discusses how the images present in Google Docs can be flipped as and when required.
Method 1. Automatic Flipping
There is no specialized tool available in Google Docs to flip an image. And thus, the Drawing tool is generally used to facilitate the action. Here in the first method, the image is automatically flipped without the user intervention using the Drawing tool.
Step 1. Open the Google Docs application on your device.
Step 2. Choose the document in which the action has to be carried out. You could either choose a new document by clicking on the blank document or any of the available document templates.
Or else, click open the one which already has an image.
Step 3. (Optional) Upload the image.
Upload an image, either from the device or from the browser. If you already have the image in the document, skip this step.
Step 4. Cut the image.
To carry out the flipping procedure, the uploaded image has to be cut and pasted into the Drawing window. So, cut the image either by clicking CTRL+X or simply by right-clicking on the image and selecting the Cut option.
Step 5. Click on the Insert tab at the top menu bar.
Step 6. Click on the Drawings option from the drop-down menu that appears.
Step 7. From the options that appear, click on the New option.
Step 8. A Drawings window opens up.
Step 9. Paste the image into the Drawings window.
Step 10. Click on the Actions option at the top left corner of the window.
Step 11. From the menu that appears, click on the Rotate option.
Step 12. From the options that appear, both ‘flip horizontally’ and ‘flip vertically’ will be present. The user can choose whichever one they want.
Step 13. When pressed Flip Horizontally, the image is flipped immediately.
Step 14. When pressed Flip Vertically, the image is reversed from top to bottom.
Step 15. Once the necessary changes and flipping are done, click on the Save and Close option of the Drawings window.
Step 16. The image will be flipped as your wish now.
The Drawing window can also be opened by right-clicking on the image and choosing the Edit option. But one of the issues faced by this shortcut is that it need not work all the time. So, in case the shortcut does not function properly, follow the longer, but effective steps mentioned above.
Method 2. Flipping by Rotating
Another method to flip an image in Google Docs is by manually rotating it. While rotating, the user can position the image however he or she wants and thus, this method gives more control to the user. But it is generally observed that this method works the best if the intention is to flip the image sideways or horizontally.
Step 1. Open the Google Docs application on the device.
Step 2. Choose either a blank document or a document that already has an image in it.
Step 3. Upload an image if it is a blank document, or else open the document with the image already in it.
Step 4. Right-click on the image to reveal the available options. From the options, click on the Edit option. Or else, you can click on the Insert tab and follow the rest of the procedures mentioned in the above section to open a Drawings window.
Step 5. A Drawing window is immediately opened with the image in it. If you were following the longer route, make sure to cut and paste the image onto the Drawings window.
Step 6. Click on the image and the anchor points are revealed.
Step 7. Hold on to the circular anchor point and rotate the image in whichever way you want. To facilitate a vertical flip, the image has to be rotated by 180 degrees. Click Save and Close when the desired flipping is achieved.
The image is successfully flipped.
