1st October: If you use any of Google’s services, which I’m sure you do, you’re probably aware of the small avatar that appears next to your name on Google’s homepage and other services. When you email someone, this is also the avatar that appears next to their name. Most people’s profile pictures are likely from when Google+ was still a thing. Google, on the other hand, wants you to modify it, so it’s introduced a new Illustrations tool to allow you to make a custom Gmail profile photo.

The Google Illustration tool is built into the dialogue box that displays when you pick the option to alter your profile photo in the Gmail client, according to a recent report from 9to5Google. It’s next to the options to upload a new photo from your computer, select an existing photo from Google Photos, or select a photo from your camera. The functionality is currently available on Gmail for Android, and you can test it out by hitting the avatar symbol in the app’s upper right corner.

Then, under the Illustrations page, you can choose from hundreds of illustrations to use as your profile photo. This is a useful option for folks who don’t want to divulge their name or make their photos public on the internet. If you’re concerned about your privacy when posting a photo online but don’t want your avatar to be just your initials, you should try out the Google Illustrations tool right immediately.

Your avatar will be used across all of Google’s services, including Gmail, Drive, YouTube, Contacts, and more. If you’re looking for illustrations on a specific topic, you can use keywords to narrow your search. You may also personalize the illustrations by changing the backdrop color to something you like. Google intends to expand the Illustrations tool’s support to other apps and iOS devices in the future months.

Share this on