The short answer
Why use Swirl?
Orientation and perspective problems are distracting even when the photo itself is good. A dedicated transform keeps the correction visible and easy to undo.
Swirl focuses on applying a swirl transform and checking the stretched edges before export. The browser remaps pixels into a new geometry. Stronger transforms need more interpolation, so the outer edges deserve a close look.
The selected file stays in this browser tab and is released when you leave the page. Strong distortion can stretch or soften edge pixels. Leave a little room for a final crop after the geometry looks right.
What Swirl does
Open the source photo
Drop, choose, or paste a supported file into Swirl. Applying a swirl transform and checking the stretched edges before export. The source stays on your device; we work on a copy.
Remap the geometry
Swirl is for applying a swirl transform and checking the stretched edges before export. The preview is the place to decide if the setting went too far. The original file is not overwritten.
Useful controls
Main controls: Angle, strength, center, radius, or inset values depending on the transform. Working limit: 50 MB and 50 megapixels per image. Watch the preview at full size before you save. A current desktop browser usually has more memory than a phone.
Download a copy
Export is a flattened png with the transform applied. The download is a new file. Keep the original until you have opened the copy once.
Where Swirl fits
These are ordinary jobs where the focused controls save time. They also show where a full editor or a manual review may still be the better choice.
Scanned pages
Straighten a photographed page before OCR or PDF export.
Creative distortion
Test Swirl without setting up a layered desktop document.
Orientation fixes
Correct a sideways or mirrored image before using it elsewhere.
Start to finish
How to use Swirl
- 01Choose, drop, or paste a supported file.
- 02Adjust the swirl controls and check the preview at full size.
- 03Download the finished copy and open it once before using it elsewhere.
What to expect from Swirl
This table covers the parts that matter before you begin: what goes in, which controls do the work, what comes out, and where the browser draws a hard line.
| Check | What it means here |
|---|---|
| Supported input | JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, SVG and browser-supported AVIF images |
| Main controls | Angle, strength, center, radius, or inset values depending on the transform |
| Output | A flattened PNG with the transform applied |
| Working limit | 50 MB and 50 megapixels per image |
| Privacy | Files and entered values stay in this tab. Filenames, pixels, metadata, OCR text, QR contents, locations, and passwords are not sent to analytics. |
Before you export
- Correct orientation before making a tight crop.
- Keep important text away from heavily stretched edges.
- Use small adjustments first; geometry errors grow quickly.
- Compare straight architectural lines against the canvas edge.
Frequently asked questions
If you cannot find what you are looking for, write us a message and we will get back to you.
What should I check before saving with Swirl?
Does my file get uploaded?
Can I use Swirl on a phone?
Will Swirl overwrite my original file?
Why might the Swirl result look different in another app?
Is Swirl free to use?
How does Swirl work?
What can I put into Swirl?
How do I save the result from Swirl?
Why did Swirl fail or look wrong?
Will Swirl keep a copy of my work?
Related tools
More in Transform & Distort.
Continue the workflow
These tools handle common next steps after swirl.