There's no doubt that it's possible to take some amazing images with some of the best camera phones, but the rising power of AI and generative editing have made so much more possible. And to that end, Google just unveiled its new Create tab for Google Photos where you'll find numerous tools that can turn your photos into animations, compile them into interesting collages and even turn them into 3D animated GIFs.
The Create tab should make it easier than ever to quickly find and even combine these features to create new and exciting images. It's starting to roll out in the U.S. today (September 4). For instance, you could turn the image of your favorite pet into a cartoon and then turn that into a short GIF.
Let's break down all of the features revealed in the recent blog post to see what features we have access to and what they can do.
Photo to Video turns your images into a music video
The first addition is Google's Photo to Video feature, which has been enhanced with Google's Veo 3 video generation model. All you need to do is select the image you wish to turn into a video via the Create tab. From there, you'll be able to choose from two prompts: Simple Movement or Surprise me.
Once you select a prompt, Google Photos will quickly convert the image into a short video that you can view and share. It is worth noting that Google Photos users will only have access to a limited number of generations a day, while Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers will be able to generate more.
Remix and Collage lets you change your images and composition
The Create tab offers more than just the ability to turn your photos into a video. You'll also find features like Remix. Select this option, then choose the image that you want to remix.
Once that's done, you'll have access to several different styles. For instance, you could turn your photos into a comic or anime, even into a 3D animation of the original.
Alternatively, if you want to view several images in one, you can select the Collage feature through the Create tab. Collage allows you to select multiple photos and combine them. You can even edit the photos directly from the collage editor, allowing you to quickly up the brightness or select from several features.
Cinematic photos and animations
Google Photos’ Create tab can do more than just turn your images into videos. It also has the option to turn them into 3D images, similar to the spatial photos feature Apple is adding in this year's iOS 26 update.
To do this, you can make use of the Cinematic Photos option, which turns your images into vibrant, moving 3D animations. You've likely seen some of these photos turn up in your auto-generated memories, but now you can create them yourself with ease.
It’s not just single images either, as you can also turn multiple still shots into an animated GIF thanks to the Animation option. All you need to do is select the option, and then the photos that you wish to include. Once done, Google Photos will combine these into a GIF.
Highlight videos lets you create montages of your memories
Finally, the Google Photos Create tab can help you search through your photo library via terms, locations or people. If you can't think of any or are unsure what you're looking for, Google Photos will offer you several suggestions to help you get started.
Once you find the search terms you want, Google Photos will search through your photos and videos to find any that match, compile them together and add music to create a video for you.
Google Photos outlook
Google Photos has always been one of the best photo apps, and the new Create tab only improves upon an already great system. Hopefully, we see more options and features appear in the tab as time goes o,n as these are a great start for those looking to make their memories take on new forms.
Let us know which of these you're most excited to try out and what you're planning on creating first.
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