Google has just unveiled a game-changing update for Google Photos that puts the power in users’ hands. In an exciting development shared on the unofficial Google Photos Telegram group, select users now have the ability to create Cinematic photos whenever they want.
What does Cinematic Photos do?
This feature, first introduced in 2020 and updated in 2022, adds a stunning 3D-like zoom effect to your photos, making the subject truly stand out from the background. Until now, it was solely Google’s decision which photos received this effect.
Cinematic Photos gets an upgrade
The enhanced version of the feature enables users to transform any photo in their library into a Cinematic photo, saved as a captivating video clip alongside the original image. This upgrade is a game-changer for engagement, as Google Photos rarely applies the effect, and when it does, it’s often not on the desired photos.
With this latest update, the Cinematic photos feature becomes an invaluable tool rather than a mere curiosity, offering users exciting creative possibilities. Now you can purposefully capture moments with Cinematic photos in mind, creating a visual narrative by seamlessly integrating them into longer video sequences.
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Moreover, these “new” Cinematic photos maintain their original crop and aspect ratio, unlike the tightly cropped versions of the past. They are presented in stunning up to 4K resolution, a significant improvement from the previous 1080p quality.
How to create a Cinematic Photo
Creating your own Cinematic photo is a breeze. To check if the feature is enabled on your Google Photos account, follow these steps:
- Open the app.
- Navigate to the Library tab.
- Tap the Utilities button.
- Look for the option to create a Cinematic photo under the Create New section.
- Once you’ve selected a photo, use the slider to adjust the animation duration.
- Tap Save, and voila!
It’s worth noting that the first time you use the feature, a separate 30MB download is initiated. This suggests that some of the processing now takes place on your device rather than Google’s servers. Consequently, the speed of generating Cinematic photos may vary depending on your device’s processing power. One minor quirk is that the new Cinematic photos are tagged with the creation date, not the date the original photo was taken, which means they won’t appear together in your Google Photos timeline.
Availability
As of now, only a select group of Google One subscribers using Pixel devices (Pixel 5 and newer) with at least Android 12 have access to the feature. However, we anticipate a wider roll-out in the near future, and there’s hope for expanding beyond Pixel smartphones, although performance may pose limitations in certain cases.
Get ready to unleash your creativity with Google Photos’ latest upgrade and take control of creating breathtaking Cinematic photos. Don’t miss out on this revolutionary feature!
