1. A computer-implemented method comprising: generating, by one or more computers, a virtual file identifier that maps (i) a first file identifier that is associated with unmodified image content to (ii) a second file identifier that is associated with one or more edits to the image content; receiving, from an image viewing application, a request that indicates the virtual file identifier that maps (i) the first file identifier that is associated with the unmodified image content to (ii) the second file identifier that is associated with one or more edits to the image content; and in response to receiving the request that indicates the virtual file identifier that maps (i) the first file identifier that is associated with the unmodified image content to (ii) the second file identifier that is associated with one or more edits to the image content, transmitting, to an image editing application, a notification to instruct the image editing application to synthesize the unmodified image content associated with the first file identifier, and the one or more edits to the image content that are associated with the second file identifier that the virtual file identifier maps to the first file identifier.