Google, on January 13, 2026, released an update to Veo 3.1’s “Ingredients to Video” feature, which generates video from reference images.
The company stated that the update enhanced consistency for characters, objects, and backgrounds across scenes, and expanded the featureis availability across Google products.
The update added native vertical output for Ingredients to Video in a 9:16 aspect ratio, aimed at mobile-first video formats. Google said the feature now generates portrait video without requiring users to crop or reframe after generation.
Google has also added upscaling options for 1080p and 4K Veo 3.1 outputs, positioning the feature for higher-fidelity editing and production workflows.
The company framed this as an upscaling step, not a statement that Veo natively generates all content at 4K.
Google said the updated Ingredients to Video is launching in the Gemini app and rolling out across other surfaces, including YouTube, Flow, Google Vids, the Gemini API, and Vertex AI.
It also said the feature is coming to YouTube Shorts and the YouTube Create app.
Why This Matters Today
If you publish short-form video, native 9:16 generation changes the workflow. It reduces the need to crop horizontal clips, which can cut off key subjects and lower visual quality.
A vertical-first output also aligns with how creators commonly ship content across Shorts-style feeds.
For teams using reference images to maintain a character or product across multiple clips, the update targets a common failure mode in generative video: drift in faces, wardrobe, props, and scene textures between shots.
Google said the Ingredients to Video changes focus on keeping identity and scene elements more consistent, which matters if you need continuity instead of one-off clips.
The addition of 1080p and 4K upscaling is aimed at downstream use, editing, repackaging, and higher-resolution delivery, where low-resolution video is often a limiting factor.
Even if upscaling is not the same as native 4K generation, it can be the difference between “preview quality” and assets you can plausibly cut into a finished project.
Our Key Takeaways:
- Google updated Veo 3.1 Ingredients to Video with stronger consistency from reference images, native vertical 9:16 output, and 1080p/4K upscaling options.
- The changes target short-form workflows by generating portrait video natively and reducing the need for manual cropping or reframing.
- Google said the updated feature is rolling out across Gemini and other products, including YouTube Shorts, Flow, Google Vids, the Gemini API, and Vertex AI.
You may also want to check out some of our other tech news updates.
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