flip

Flip images along the horizontal axis (mirror left-right), vertical axis (mirror top-bottom), or both axes simultaneously. Perfect for creating mirror effects, correcting orientations, and creative transformations.

Usage

Terminal

$ mediaproc image flip <input> [options]

Basic Syntax

Terminal

$ mediaproc image flip photo.jpg

✓ Flipped horizontally

$ mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --vertical

$ mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --both

$ mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --horizontal

Options

Option	Alias	Type	Default	Description
`--horizontal`		`boolean`	`false`	Flip horizontally (mirror left-right)
`--vertical`		`boolean`	`false`	Flip vertically (mirror top-bottom)
`--both`		`boolean`	`false`	Flip both horizontally and vertically
`--output`	`-o`	`string`	`flipped-[input]`	Output file path
`--quality`	`-q`	`number`	`90`	Output quality (1-100)
`--dry-run`		`boolean`	`false`	Preview operation without saving
`--verbose`	`-v`	`boolean`	`false`	Show detailed processing information

Flip Behavior

No option specified: Defaults to horizontal flip
--horizontal: Flips left-right (mirror effect)
--vertical: Flips top-bottom (upside down)
--both: Combines horizontal and vertical (180° rotation equivalent)

Examples

1. Basic Horizontal Flip

# Default horizontal flip
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg

# Explicit horizontal flip
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --horizontal

# Mirror selfie correction
mediaproc image flip selfie.jpg --horizontal -o corrected-selfie.jpg

2. Vertical Flip

# Flip upside down
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --vertical

# Correct inverted image
mediaproc image flip upside-down.jpg --vertical -o right-side-up.jpg

# Create reflection effect
mediaproc image flip landscape.jpg --vertical -o reflection.jpg

3. Both Directions (180° Rotation)

# Flip both axes (equivalent to 180° rotation)
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --both

# Correct completely inverted image
mediaproc image flip inverted.jpg --both -o corrected.jpg

# Create artistic effect
mediaproc image flip design.jpg --both -o transformed.jpg

4. Selfie and Mirror Corrections

# Fix front-camera mirror effect
mediaproc image flip front-camera.jpg --horizontal -o corrected.jpg

# Correct text in mirror photos
mediaproc image flip mirror-text.jpg --horizontal -o readable-text.jpg

# Fix reversed logo
mediaproc image flip logo.jpg --horizontal -o proper-logo.jpg

5. Create Mirror Effects

# Create kaleidoscope base
mediaproc image flip pattern.jpg --horizontal -o mirrored.jpg

# Symmetrical design
mediaproc image flip half-design.jpg --horizontal -o symmetric.jpg

# Mirror landscape for composition
mediaproc image flip landscape.jpg --horizontal -o mirror-landscape.jpg

6. Water Reflection Simulation

# Create vertical reflection (for water effect)
mediaproc image flip landscape.jpg --vertical -o reflection-base.jpg

# Later composite with original for water reflection
# Original on top, flipped version on bottom with transparency

7. Batch Processing

# Flip all selfies in a directory
for img in selfies/*.jpg; do
  mediaproc image flip "$img" --horizontal -o "corrected-$(basename "$img")"
done

# Create mirrored versions
for img in *.jpg; do
  mediaproc image flip "$img" --horizontal -o "mirrored-$(basename "$img")"
done

# Flip all images vertically
for img in *.png; do
  mediaproc image flip "$img" --vertical -o "flipped-$(basename "$img")"
done

8. Correct Scanned Documents

# Fix upside-down scan
mediaproc image flip scan.jpg --vertical -o corrected-scan.jpg

# Fix mirror-scanned document
mediaproc image flip document.jpg --horizontal -o readable-document.jpg

# Fix completely inverted scan
mediaproc image flip scan.jpg --both -o fixed-scan.jpg

# Flip for platform-specific requirements
mediaproc image flip story.jpg --horizontal -o platform-story.jpg

# Create before/after comparison
mediaproc image flip before.jpg --horizontal -o after-comparison.jpg

# Mirror effect for creative posts
mediaproc image flip creative.jpg --both -o artistic-post.jpg

10. Photography Corrections

# Fix reversed image from camera
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --horizontal -o corrected.jpg

# Correct upside-down photo
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --vertical -o right-way.jpg

# Fix completely wrong orientation
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --both -o fixed.jpg

11. Quality Control

# Maximum quality flip
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --horizontal -q 100 -o high-quality.jpg

# Web-optimized flip
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --vertical -q 80 -o web-optimized.jpg

# Balanced quality
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --both -q 90 -o balanced.jpg

12. Preview Before Processing

# Preview horizontal flip
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --horizontal --dry-run

# Preview vertical flip with details
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --vertical --dry-run --verbose

# Preview both directions flip
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --both --dry-run --verbose

13. Artistic Transformations

# Create symmetrical art
mediaproc image flip abstract.jpg --horizontal -o symmetric-art.jpg

# Mirror pattern creation
mediaproc image flip texture.jpg --horizontal -o mirrored-texture.jpg

# Kaleidoscope effect base
mediaproc image flip pattern.jpg --both -o kaleidoscope-base.jpg

14. Text and Graphics

# Flip mirrored text to readable
mediaproc image flip mirrored-text.jpg --horizontal -o readable.jpg

# Correct reversed graphics
mediaproc image flip graphic.png --horizontal -o corrected-graphic.png

# Flip logo orientation
mediaproc image flip logo.svg --horizontal -o flipped-logo.svg

15. Combining with Other Operations

# Flip then rotate
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --horizontal -o temp.jpg
mediaproc image rotate temp.jpg -a 90 -o final.jpg
rm temp.jpg

# Flip then crop
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --vertical -o temp.jpg
mediaproc image crop temp.jpg -w 800 -h 600 -o final.jpg
rm temp.jpg

# Resize then flip
mediaproc image resize photo.jpg -w 1000 -h 800 -o temp.jpg
mediaproc image flip temp.jpg --horizontal -o final.jpg
rm temp.jpg

Use Cases

1. Selfie and Front Camera Corrections

Mirror Effect Fix: Front cameras often mirror images, flip to correct
Social Media: Prepare selfies for posting with proper orientation
Profile Pictures: Ensure text/logos appear correctly
Video Thumbnails: Fix mirrored video frame captures

2. Photography Workflow

Orientation Correction: Fix images taken with camera held incorrectly
Batch Processing: Correct multiple images with wrong orientation
RAW Processing: Flip images after import if needed
Archive Organization: Standardize image orientations

3. Graphic Design and Art

Symmetrical Designs: Create mirror effects for patterns
Kaleidoscope Effects: Base transformations for complex patterns
Texture Creation: Generate mirrored textures
Logo Variations: Create flipped versions for different contexts

4. Document Processing

Scan Corrections: Fix upside-down or mirrored scans
Text Readability: Correct reversed text in images
PDF Preparation: Ensure all pages have correct orientation
Archive Digitization: Standardize document orientations

5. Web Development

Responsive Design: Create mirrored versions for RTL layouts
Icon Sets: Generate directional variations
UI Elements: Create flipped versions for different contexts
Background Patterns: Mirror patterns for seamless tiling

6. E-commerce and Product Photography

Product Angles: Show products from different perspectives
Model Shots: Correct camera mirror effects
Catalog Consistency: Ensure all products face same direction
Before/After: Create comparison images

Platform Requirements: Adjust orientation for specific platforms
Story Creation: Fix selfie orientations for stories
Meme Creation: Flip images for comedic effect
Brand Content: Ensure logos/text appear correctly

Technical Details

Processing Method

The flip command uses Sharp's flip() and flop() methods:

flip(): Flips vertically (mirrors top-bottom)
flop(): Flips horizontally (mirrors left-right)
Both: Applies both flip() and flop() in sequence
Fast operation (pixel position remapping only)
No quality loss (no resampling)

Flip Mathematics

Horizontal Flip (Flop):
For image of width W:
  new_x = W - 1 - x
  new_y = y

Vertical Flip (Flip):
For image of height H:
  new_x = x
  new_y = H - 1 - y

Both:
  new_x = W - 1 - x
  new_y = H - 1 - y

Coordinate Transformation

Original Image (4×3):

(0,0) (1,0) (2,0) (3,0)
(0,1) (1,1) (2,1) (3,1)
(0,2) (1,2) (2,2) (3,2)

After Horizontal Flip:

(3,0) (2,0) (1,0) (0,0)
(3,1) (2,1) (1,1) (0,1)
(3,2) (2,2) (1,2) (0,2)

After Vertical Flip:

(0,2) (1,2) (2,2) (3,2)
(0,1) (1,1) (2,1) (3,1)
(0,0) (1,0) (2,0) (3,0)

After Both:

(3,2) (2,2) (1,2) (0,2)
(3,1) (2,1) (1,1) (0,1)
(3,0) (2,0) (1,0) (0,0)

Performance Considerations

Very Fast: Simple coordinate remapping
Memory Efficient: In-place transformation when possible
No Quality Loss: Direct pixel copy, no interpolation
Format Agnostic: Works with all image formats
Metadata Preserved: EXIF data maintained (except orientation tag)

Rotation vs Flip

Operation	Result	Use Case
Horizontal Flip	Mirror left-right	Selfie correction, symmetry
Vertical Flip	Mirror top-bottom	Upside-down correction, reflections
Both	180° equivalent	Complete inversion
Rotate 180°	Same as flip both	Orientation fix
Rotate 90°	Different result	Portrait/landscape change

EXIF Orientation

Flip operations update EXIF orientation tag
Ensures proper display in all viewers
Maintains other EXIF metadata
Compatible with auto-orient operations

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Fix Front Camera Selfie

# Most common use case
mediaproc image flip selfie.jpg --horizontal -o corrected.jpg

Pattern 2: Create Water Reflection

# Flip vertically for reflection base
mediaproc image flip landscape.jpg --vertical -o reflection.jpg
# Then composite with original for full effect

Pattern 3: Correct Upside Down

# Fix completely inverted image
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --both -o corrected.jpg

Pattern 4: Mirror Pattern

# Create symmetrical design
mediaproc image flip pattern.jpg --horizontal -o symmetric.jpg

Pattern 5: Batch Selfie Correction

# Fix all front-camera photos
for img in selfies/*.jpg; do
  mediaproc image flip "$img" --horizontal -o "fixed/$(basename "$img")"
done

Troubleshooting

Issue: No Visible Change

Problem: Image appears unchanged after flipping

Solutions:

# Check if image is symmetrical
# Symmetrical images won't show obvious changes

# Try different flip direction
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --vertical -o test-vertical.jpg
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --horizontal -o test-horizontal.jpg

# Use --dry-run to verify operation
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --horizontal --dry-run --verbose

Issue: Unexpected Result

Problem: Flip produces unexpected orientation

Solutions:

# Horizontal flip mirrors left-right
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --horizontal  # ✓ Mirror effect

# Vertical flip mirrors top-bottom
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --vertical    # ✓ Upside down

# For 180° rotation, use --both
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --both        # ✓ Complete inversion

# If you need 90° rotation, use rotate command instead
mediaproc image rotate input.jpg -a 90

Issue: Text Appears Backwards

Problem: After flip, text is reversed

Solutions:

# This is expected behavior for horizontal flip
# Flip again to restore
mediaproc image flip mirrored.jpg --horizontal -o restored.jpg

# Or use rotation instead of flip for orientation fix
mediaproc image rotate input.jpg -a 180

Issue: Metadata Issues

Problem: EXIF data not preserved correctly

Solutions:

# Flip operations preserve most EXIF data
# But update orientation tag appropriately

# To preserve all metadata exactly:
# 1. Extract metadata before flip
mediaproc image metadata input.jpg > metadata.json

# 2. Flip image
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --horizontal -o flipped.jpg

# 3. Reapply metadata if needed
# (Most metadata is automatically preserved)

Issue: Quality Degradation

Problem: Output appears lower quality than input

Solutions:

# Increase quality setting
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --horizontal -q 100 -o output.jpg

# Flip is lossless operation, so quality loss is from:
# 1. Output format compression (JPEG)
# 2. Quality setting too low

# Use PNG for truly lossless
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --horizontal -o output.png

# Or maximum JPEG quality
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --horizontal -q 100 -o output.jpg

Issue: Both vs Rotate 180°

Problem: Confusion between flip both and rotate 180°

Solutions:

# Both produce same visual result
mediaproc image flip input.jpg --both -o flipped.jpg
mediaproc image rotate input.jpg -a 180 -o rotated.jpg
# Results are identical

# Use flip for:
# - Faster processing
# - When thinking in terms of mirroring

# Use rotate for:
# - Consistent rotation workflow
# - When also doing 90° rotations

Best Practices

Understand the Direction
- Horizontal = left-right mirror (flop)
- Vertical = top-bottom mirror (flip)
- Both = complete inversion (flip + flop)
Selfie Corrections
- Always use horizontal flip for front camera photos
- Check if text/logos need to face specific direction
- Preview before batch processing
Preserve Originals
- Keep unflipped originals
- Use descriptive output names
- Create flipped copies, don't overwrite
Quality Considerations
- Use quality 90-100 for important images
- PNG for lossless flipping
- JPEG for web-optimized output
Batch Operations
- Test with one image first
- Use consistent naming convention
- Verify results before processing thousands
Combine with Auto-Orient
- Use auto-orient first to fix EXIF issues
- Then flip if needed for specific requirements
- Ensures correct starting orientation
Document Workflow
- Note which images need flipping and why
- Maintain consistent flip direction
- Use scripts for repeatable processes

Integration Examples

With Other Image Commands

# Auto-orient then flip
mediaproc image auto-orient photo.jpg -o oriented.jpg
mediaproc image flip oriented.jpg --horizontal -o final.jpg

# Flip then rotate
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --horizontal -o temp.jpg
mediaproc image rotate temp.jpg -a 45 -o final.jpg

# Resize then flip
mediaproc image resize photo.jpg -w 1000 -o temp.jpg
mediaproc image flip temp.jpg --vertical -o final.jpg

# Flip then crop
mediaproc image flip photo.jpg --horizontal -o temp.jpg
mediaproc image crop temp.jpg -w 800 -h 600 -o final.jpg

In Scripts

#!/bin/bash
# Fix all selfies in a directory

for img in selfies/*.jpg; do
  filename=$(basename "$img" .jpg)

  # Fix mirror effect from front camera
  mediaproc image flip "$img" --horizontal -o "corrected/${filename}.jpg"

  # Also create thumbnail
  mediaproc image resize "corrected/${filename}.jpg" -w 400 -h 400 --fit cover -o "thumbs/${filename}.jpg"
done

Creating Mirror Compositions

#!/bin/bash
# Create symmetrical composition

# 1. Flip original horizontally
mediaproc image flip original.jpg --horizontal -o mirrored.jpg

# 2. Combine side-by-side using composite
mediaproc image composite original.jpg --overlay mirrored.jpg --gravity east -o symmetric.jpg