01 · Reality check
What Gemini actually does well here
Good at
- Local edits: changing one part of an image while leaving the rest
- Style transfer, using a second image as the reference
- Background and wardrobe swaps
- Relighting, and changing the camera angle or focus
- Resizing without cropping, and keeping a character consistent across images
Not the right tool for
- Upscaling: Google documents no upscale tool in the Gemini app
- Restoring old or damaged photos, which is also not a documented feature
- Users under 18, who can generate images but not edit them
- High-resolution output on the free tier, which caps downloads at 1K
- Precise, pixel-level control that a real editor gives you
02 · The method
Step by step
- 1
Upload and describe the change
Attach the photo and say what should change in plain language. You can also upload several images and ask for something new built from them.
- 2
Be specific about what must not change
Name the parts to leave alone. Because the model regenerates the image, saying what to preserve matters as much as saying what to alter.
- 3
Use a reference image for style
Style transfer works from a second uploaded image, which is far more reliable than describing an aesthetic in words.
- 4
Iterate rather than restart
Refine by describing the difference from the current result. Starting over from the original prompt loses the progress you made.
- 5
Try Redo with Pro if you have a plan
Paid plans expose Nano Banana Pro through the three-dot menu, which is worth using on an image you have nearly got right.
- 6
Check the resolution before you rely on it
Free downloads are capped at 1K. If you need the image for print or a large screen, the 2K download on a Google AI plan is the relevant difference.
03 · Use this now
Copy-paste prompt for a photo edit
Here is my photo. Make exactly this change: [describe the change precisely]. Keep everything else identical, especially [name the parts that must not change]. Match the existing lighting direction, shadows, colour temperature and grain so the edit is not obvious. Do not add any people, text, objects or watermarks I have not asked for. If you cannot make this change without altering the rest of the image, tell me instead of guessing. After the edit, list what you changed so I know what to check.
04 · Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Expecting an upscale or photo-restore feature. Google documents neither in the Gemini app.
- Assuming under-18 accounts can edit. Generating is 13+, but editing is 18+.
- Downloading on the free tier and finding 1K is not enough for print.
- Not naming what should stay the same, so the model changes more than you wanted.
- Confusing the Gemini app with Google Photos features, which have their own separate requirements.
05 · Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can Gemini edit photos for free?
Yes. Google documents image generation and editing as available on the free tier, running on Nano Banana 2. What the free tier limits is download resolution, capped at 1K versus 2K on a Google AI plan, and access to the Nano Banana Pro redo option, which is for paid plans.
Can Gemini restore an old photo or upscale an image?
Google documents neither as a Gemini app feature, so we do not claim they work. You can upload an old photo and describe improvements, but the result is a regenerated image rather than a true restoration. Zoom Enhance, the closest thing to upscaling in Google's products, is a Google Photos feature limited to certain Pixel phones, not a Gemini app feature.
Why can't I edit images in Gemini?
The most likely reason is the age gate. Google states that editing images is not available to users under 18, even though generating images is available from 13. Separately, the Google Photos connector is limited to 18+, US only, personal accounts, and is not available in some US regions.
What is Nano Banana 2?
It is the model behind Gemini's image generation and editing. There are variants: Nano Banana 2 Lite when you are on the Flash-Lite model, Nano Banana 2 on Flash or Pro, and Nano Banana Pro, which paid plans can invoke through the Redo with Pro option in the three-dot menu.
Can Gemini edit photos in Google Photos?
Google Photos has its own Gemini-powered editing, called Help me edit, which is separate from the Gemini app and has its own requirements: 18+, personal accounts only, Face Groups turned on, and it is not available in all regions. Ask Photos, the conversational version, is mobile only and not on the web.