How to Turn Your Selfies Into Stickers
Android / iOS: Google has officially released version 7.5 of its Gboard virtual keyboard, and with it comes an all-new feature that lets you create personalized stickers based on your face that can be used in text messages and any application that supports stickers.
Gboard Minis may seem like a familiar feature to those who have played with Bitmoji or Google Allo Selfie Stickers, but Minis differs from them in that it uses machine learning to create a large collection of emoji stickers based on the selfie you take. Some may also see similarities to Apple’s upcoming Memoji feature in iOS 12, but Gboard Minis are different in that they are not only 2D, but Memoji are 3D, they can also be created on any device that supports Gboard 7.5 (including iOS) in while Memoji are only available to iPhone X or newer users.
Now that you have a basic picture of what this new Gbaord feature does, here’s how to download a digitized mini version of yourself to your phone to share via texts and other apps.
1. Download Gboard.
The first step is to download the latest version of Gboard. You can double check that you have the latest version of Gboard (or download the app for the first time) by going to the app page in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store .
2. Install Gboard as your virtual keyboard.
After installing Gboard 7.5, make sure you have installed Gboard as your virtual keyboard (if Gboard is already your primary system keyboard, skip to the next step). To enable Gboard as your primary virtual keyboard on Android, open your device’s system preferences and go to Settings> System> Languages & Input. Tap Virtual Keyboard, then Manage Keyboards and turn on Gboard. IOS users: Open Settings, then go to General> Keyboard and click Keyboards. Drag Gboard to the top of the list and click Done.
3. Select your application.
Then open an application such as Messages, which allows you to access the keyboard. Tap the Emoji icon to the left of the space bar to open the Emoji menu. Tap the square face emoji sticker in the middle to open another set of icons. Now click the Mini icon at the far left of the row and select New.
4. Take a selfie.
Gboard will open your device’s front camera and ask you to take a selfie. Be sure to align your head with the lines on the screen before taking a photo of your mug to ensure the best possible results.
5. Customize your Mini.
After you take your selfie, the Gboard app will use machine learning and a database of illustrations to create your new miniature twin. The application creates two sets of stickers in Mini Bold and Sweet versions, each containing about 100 unique stickers. Once all these fancy algorithms have been worked out, you will have the opportunity to customize the Mini to your liking. You can change everything from skin, hair and eye color to hairstyles, accessories, and more.
6. Send with rejection
Now that you’ve put the finishing touches on your Mini, you can send them to your friends. You can access them in the Gboard Emoji menu by pressing the Emoji key and then stickers. In the sticker menu, you should see a new icon for your digital image shining for you. Click on it and scroll to find and send your favorites.