Sometimes images found on the internet are shown as mirror images, that is, the image looks perfectly normal except text in the image is shown reversed left to right. For example, the writing on a depicted protestor’s sign is shown reversed, or a soldier’s name tag can’t be read, or his uniform is shown with rank insignia on the wrong shoulder. It can be jarring to see a familiar celebrity face with the hair parted on the wrong side, or with a mole or scar on the opposite cheek.

I know its a common image processing technique to “flip” an image (print the lines in normal fashion but display the samples (columns) backwards. IP software usually provides utility programs to do this. You can get the same effect by printing a photo positive with the negative emulsion up. This used to be a common darkroom error, but photographic imagery isn’t used all that much in our digital era.

My guess is that this is done to evade copyright challenges, to mislead security software employed to detect when someone has stolen your image. But I’m just guessing. I can see how its done, I just don’t see why. Do any of you guys know?