Google Photos is currently testing a new video editor that incorporates a sophisticated set of options for adding text to videos, with features that show a strong resemblance to those long available on Instagram. Evidence of these new capabilities was discovered within version 7.49 of the Google Photos application for the Android operating system. The development is noted as a peculiar instance of Google drawing inspiration from a Meta-owned platform, which is a reversal of the more typical industry pattern where Instagram and other Meta applications are known for emulating features from competing publishers.
The functionality being trialed is part of a completely new video editor and offers users much more granular control when placing text over their video content. With these new tools, users would gain the ability to modify several key text attributes, including the font style, the color of the text, and its alignment on the screen. This represents a significant improvement over the current text-adding option available to the public, which has been described as crude. The existing tool is restricted to just a single, non-changeable font type and completely lacks any options for text alignment.
In the test version, many of the newly available fonts bear a close resemblance to the choices offered within Instagram’s Reels and Stories, though they feature subtle design differences and have been given different names. The updated text editor also brings a substantial expansion in color choices compared to what is currently available. While the existing feature limits users to a selection of only seven basic colors, the updated menu presents dozens more color options, including many subtle shifts between various shades. A color blotter tool for sampling colors directly from the video and automatic color suggestions are not yet part of the feature set. Additionally, the new editor introduces the ability to add a highlight effect to the text, which serves as a background element.
As noted in the source material, all of these newly discovered features are still in an early trial phase and have not been made widely available to the public. Google has not yet announced a timeline for when these video editing enhancements might be rolled out for a broader user base to try.
