TL; DR
- Google Illustrations launches today and enables users to choose from hundreds of small pieces of art for their Google profile.
- The images can also be modified so that they can be viewed in different color options.
- The feature launches today for Gmail for Android users and will be expanded to other Google services in the coming months.
For years, Google has allowed users of its online services to upload a photo as a profile picture. Today that is starting to change as the company is now introducing a new option called Google Illustrations. Instead of a photo, users can now choose from one of the hundreds of small pieces of art that can now serve as a profile picture.
Continue reading: How to set up a new Google account on your Android device
Google says this option isn’t just for aesthetics. For some users, it may also be safer to use one of Google’s own art images as an online avatar. Google even gives users some small customizable options that allow them to change the color of the objects and even the background of those images.
The new Google Illustrations are initially available to users of the Gmail Android app starting today. You should see the new art pictures when you select Add Profile Picture from your Google Account. The new feature will be rolled out to other Google services that display the avatar for Android and web users in the coming months. Efforts are also being made to extend the functionality to Google’s iOS users. Additionally, Google plans to add more of these illustrations in the future.
Are you going to replace your photo in Gmail with one of the new Google Illustrations? Let us know in our latest poll.