Mastering AI Video Editing in Google Photos

Google Photos Gets New Video Editing Features

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 required if you want to try out the weird new Reimagine tool), you can now speed up, slow down, and enhance your clips with a few taps as well as trim them down more easily.

Trim Tool

First up, we have what Google describes as “improved controls” for cutting out extraneous footage at the start and end of your clips — though, to my eyes, there’s not a huge amount that’s different here compared to the previous version of the trim tool.

The handles at each end of the clip are a little bigger and thicker, making them easier to hit with a finger press. You also get a timestamp shown onscreen as you drag those handles around, so overall, the edits are a little easier to apply.

Using the Trim Tool

• Drag the left-hand handle to change where the video starts.
• Drag the right-hand handle to change the video’s end point.
• Drag the white bar between the two handles to move around the clip.
• Tap the play button at any point to check your new footage.
• Choose Save copy to confirm your changes and save a separate clip.

Auto-Enhance Tool

Google Photos now has a new auto-enhance feature you can access, which analyzes your clip and then applies its own choice of color enhancements, while stabilizing the video at the same time.

Using the Auto-Enhance Tool

• Tap Video then Enhance to apply the automatic enhancements.
• Tap the play button to see how the updated footage looks.
• Tap Enhance again to see the difference with and without the tweaks.
• Choose Save copy to save the enhanced video as a separate file.

Speed Tool

The new speed tool in Google Photos gives you more control over the pace of your videos for speeding up and slowing down the action. The effect can be applied to a specific section of your clip or all of it.

Using the Speed Tool

• Tap Video and then Speed to bring up the editor.
• Use the bars on the timeline to indicate where you want the effect to start and stop.
• Choose a playback speed under the timeline: from 1/4 speed to 4x the speed.
• Tap the play button to see how the video now looks.
• Choose Done, then Save copy when you’re happy with the results, to save a separate video file.

Video Presets

Unlike the tools above, which are exclusive to Android, the AI-powered video presets are available in Google Photos for both Android and iOS. Or at least, they will be eventually — though they were announced in September, as of this writing, I haven’t yet seen the presets in the Google Photos apps on either platform.

Using the Video Presets

When they do appear, the Presets button will appear between Video and Crop in the options at the bottom of the interface. Select it, and you’ll see a choice of edits you can apply with a tap: Basic cut, Slow-mo, Zoom, and Track. These will be applied as the Google Photos AI sees fit based on the video content.

Conclusion

Google Photos is continually updating its features to make it easier for users to edit and enhance their videos. The new trim, auto-enhance, and speed tools are a great start, and the AI-powered video presets are sure to be a hit once they’re available.

FAQs

Q: Is the Reimagine tool available on all Android phones?
A: No, the Reimagine tool is only available on the latest Pixel 9 phone.

Q: Can I use the new video editing features on my iOS device?
A: Yes, the AI-powered video presets will be available on both Android and iOS devices, although the other new features are exclusive to Android.

Q: Can I use the trim, auto-enhance, and speed tools on my iPhone?
A: No, these tools are exclusive to Android devices.

Q: Can I apply the video presets to a specific section of my clip?
A: Yes, you can apply the video presets to a specific section of your clip, or to the entire clip.