Google Photos continues to get new and improved features on a regular basis, and one of the most recent Android updates has focused on video editing. Even if you don't have the latest Pixel 9 phone (which is necessary if you want to try the strange new Reimagine tool), you can now speed up, slow down and enhance your clips with a few taps, as well as trim them. lower them more easily.
You can also expect what google calls “ai-powered video presets” in the Android and iOS versions of Google Photos. After the app's algorithm analyzes your clips, you have a variety of effects (crops, zooms, slow motion) that you can apply with a tap. The application takes the role of director and chooses where and how these settings should be applied.
When the changes hit your phone, you'll also notice that the interface is a little cleaner, with larger icons and text that make it more obvious what you're doing. The idea is that it's easier than ever to quickly apply some edits before sharing your clips, without having to open a separate editor on your phone or computer.
trimming tool
Firstly, we have what Google describes as “improved controls” for trimming extraneous images at the beginning and end of clips; although, in my opinion, there is not much difference here compared to the previous version of the snipping tool. .
The handles on each end of the clip are a little larger and thicker, making them easier to press with your fingers. A timestamp is also displayed on the screen as you drag those handles, so overall the edits are a little easier to apply.
The crop tool appears automatically as soon as you edit a video and you can return to it by tapping the Video button.
- Drag the handle on the left to change where the video starts.
- Drag the handle on the right to change the end point of the video.
- Drag the white bar between the two handles to move around the clip.
- Tap the play button at any time to view your new footage.
- Choose save copy to commit your changes and save a separate clip.
Automatic improvement tool
Google Photos now has a new auto-enhance feature you can access, which analyzes your clip and then applies your own choice of color enhancements, while stabilizing the video at the same time.
- Tap Video so Improve to apply automatic improvements.
- Tap the play button to see what the updated footage looks like.
- Tap Improve again to see the difference with and without the adjustments.
- Choose save copy to save the enhanced video as a separate file.
If you prefer to apply video stabilization without color enhancements, simply tap Stabilize in it Video tools panel in place.
speed tool
The new speed tool in Google Photos gives you more control over the pace of your videos to speed up and slow down the action. The effect can be applied to a specific section of your clip or to the entire clip.
- Tap Video and then Speed to open the editor.
- Use the bars on the timeline to indicate where you want the effect to start and end.
- Choose a playback speed below the timeline: from 1/4 speed to 4 times speed.
- Tap the play button to see what the video looks like now.
- Choose Madeso save copy When you are satisfied with the results, save a separate video file.
It's not the most advanced video editing effect you'll ever see, but considering it only requires a couple of taps on your phone's screen, you can get impressive results.
Video Presets
Unlike the tools above, which are exclusive to Android, ai-powered video presets are available in Google Photos for both Android and iOS. Or at least, they eventually will be; Although they were announced in September, as of this writing I have yet to see the presets in the Google Photos apps on either platform.
When they appear, the Presets The button will appear between Video and Crop in the options at the bottom of the interface. Select it and you'll see a selection of edits that you can apply with a tap: Basic cut, slow motion, Zoomand Clue. These will be applied as deemed appropriate by Google Photos ai based on the content of the video.
The example Google gives is a skateboarding video, with the action cropped to a key jump, which is also slowed down. Color enhancements are applied at the same time just in case. As before, you can preview the changes and then tap save copy to accept the changes and save a new video file, leaving the original intact.
