Google Photos’ Collage Editor Might Stop Feeling Half-Baked Soon

Google is testing two new, actually useful upgrades for Google Photos. A future update could bring a more capable collage maker, along with a new option to hide date labels in the photo library.

Google Photos’ Collage Editor may soon more customization options

Google Photos is working on upgrades to its built-in Collage Editor, making it more flexible and less annoying to use. Right now, the collage tool lets you mash multiple photos into a single image. But some of you might agree that it feels pretty barebones compared to what third-party apps offer.

According to Android Authority, Google is testing these changes in the latest test build (version 7.62.0.865122296) of the app. The collage editor is getting a cleaning layout, with separate tabs for Templates and Borders instead of one long, scrolling list. Once these updates roll out, you’ll also get more control over how your collages look, including options to tweak frame thickness, corner curves, and colors.

These new border settings give users the ability to change how collages look without restarting from scratch. This will make Google Photos more of a one-stop photo editing app.

Since Google is still testing this feature behind the scenes, the final version may look different when it rolls out to users. However, it shows Google is prioritizing more powerful creative tools.

Hide date labels for a cleaner gallery look

Google is also testing a new toggle in Google Photos that lets you hide date labels in the main photos grid. Right now, Google Photos shows the capture date above each group of photos in the timeline. With the new toggle, you can get rid of those date labels for a more immersive, less cluttered look.

According to Android Authority, when date labels are hidden, the app also hides the batch-selection checkmark that normally appears next to each date. However, users can still select all photos from a given date by tapping the date pill that appears at the top while scrolling. This change is purely visual. It will not affect how photos are organized, but it makes the gallery look more clean.

Most importantly, neither feature is live for most users yet. As with a lot of stuff spotted in early builds, Google could still tweak it or delay the rollout. That said, Google Photos is slowly getting more customizable, more creative, and easier on the eyes. What do you think?