Snapchat is a popular social network and messaging app for iOS and Android, and you can add various effects to your photos and videos through the app. To get an effect on Snapchat, you can use the lenses feature (eg face effect), apply a filter, try the face-swapping feature, add text, decorate your post with stickers or emojis, or try the drawing feature. Experiment with different options, have fun, and see what effects you can create.
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Part 1 of 7: Using the Lenses (Face Effect) Feature
Step 1. Understand how the Lenses feature works
One of the most popular selections of effects is the rainbow vomit animation. Since its launch, Snapchat has continued to develop and roll out other options regularly, such as face-swapping, various animal face animations, character transformations, face changes, birthday animations ("Birthday Party"), and more.
- Lenses are special effects that are applied in real time using face detection so you can immediately see the changes the effects make on the device screen. Since Lenses effects are usually interactive, you may need to match facial expressions with certain movements to produce certain effects (eg opening your mouth to keep the “rainbow vomit” flowing). There are 10 free Lenses effects that you can use every day, and they will continue to change. If you have purchased certain Lenses effects when shown as options, those effects will be available to you permanently (will not experience a rotation).
- Lenses are used before you take or record a post, while filters are added after you take it. You can use both for the same post.
Step 2. Get to know the feature limitations for the mobile device and the hardware used
The Lenses feature doesn't always work on most Android smartphones, and only works for some of the latest versions of iPhone (though there have been reports of inconsistency in the availability of the feature on newer iPhone versions). If you don't have a device with the latest version or type, there's a chance that you won't be able to use the feature. In fact, if you can access it, there's a good chance it won't work properly.
- The Lenses feature is not supported by the first generation iPhone 4 and iPad. However, some users who have devices that (actually) support the feature also report that the Lenses feature can't be used on their devices.
- For Android devices, Lenses requires Android version 4, 3 or later. Even in the latest updates, some users report that the feature still doesn't work.
Step 3. Update Snapchat app
You will need to make sure that you are using the latest version of Snapchat in order to access this feature. You can update it through the App Store or Google Play Store.
Read the article on how to update Snapchat for more information
Step 4. Switch to Snapchat selfie mode
Lenses work by recognizing faces and altering them with effects. You can use it through the front camera or the rear camera, but it will be easier to test it with the front camera. When the app is opened, you will be taken directly to the main camera. There are two ways to access the front camera:
- Tap the circle icon surrounded by two directions in the upper right corner of the screen. The icon allows you to access the front camera of the device.
- Just double-tap the screen to switch to another camera.
Step 5. Keep the phone away so you can see the whole face
Lenses can be used effectively when you can see the entire face in a frame or screen.
In addition, make sure the room lighting is sufficient. Otherwise, the facial recognition process may be hampered
Step 6. Press and hold your face shown on the screen until the geometric shape or outline is finished
After a few moments, your face will be scanned and a selection of Lenses effects will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Make sure your entire face is displayed on the screen, and that you are holding the camera firmly (not wobbly). You may need to press and hold the screen for a few seconds or try it several times until the feature is activated. If you can see only part of the geometric shapes covering your face, it may be due to a lack of lighting
Step 7. Select the Lenses effect you want to use
Swipe the screen left and right to see the available effect options. Snapchat changes the Lenses selection every day so there will always be a new selection of effects every day.
- Some of the popular choices that you might see include animations of “vomiting rainbow”, screaming, zombies, “in love”, crying.
- The animation or “Birthday Party” effect is activated on your birthday (if you have enabled the “Birthday Party effect” option previously in the settings). You can also access these effects on a friend's birthday. Just see if there's a birthday cake icon denoting a birthday next to the username, and tap the cake icon to access the Lenses effect.
- Due to the rotation of options, the Lenses effect you want may not be available when you want to use it. Check back in a day or two to see if the effects are back.
Step 8. Follow the instructions for your selected Lenses effect option
Many choices of Lenses effects that display short commands so that the effects can be displayed properly. For example, to activate the “rainbow vomit” animation, you are asked to open your mouth.
Step 9. Take a photo or record a video (snap)
When you're ready, you can press the shutter button at the bottom of the screen (in the Lenses feature, it's replaced by the image of the selected effect), or press and hold it to record a video (up to 10 seconds long). The selected Lenses effect will then be recorded in the video.
- For photos, in the lower left corner of the screen you can see the number 3 icon in a circle. Touch the icon to specify the duration of the photo display (maximum 10 seconds).
- Android devices must have the Android operating system version 5.0 or later in order to record videos with the Lenses effect. iPhone 4, 4S, and iPad 2 don't support this feature. Even when the devices used are compatible or supported, there are still some reports indicating that the Lenses feature cannot be used by some users.
- Try adding additional effects (text, images, emoji and stickers). All other effects can still be applied to posts that previously used the Lenses feature (as described in the following methods).
Step 10. Submit your photo or video
Once the post is created, you can send it to the desired Snapchat contact, upload it to your Story (viewable for 24 hours), or simply save it without having to upload it, as you can with other posts.
- The second icon from the left (arrows and lines) displayed at the bottom of the screen allows you to save photos/videos without uploading them.
- The third icon from the left (box and plus sign) displayed at the bottom of the screen allows you to submit photos/videos to your Story for viewing by users who have permission to view them within 24 hours.
- Touch the “Send To” button in the lower right corner of the screen to select the user you want to send the photo/video to. You can also upload posts to private Stories.
- After selecting the recipient of the message, tap the blue arrow in the lower right corner of the screen to send the photo/video.
Part 2 of 7: Using Filters
Step 1. Understand how filters work
Snapchat filters are added after the photo/video is taken, and can easily add an extra touch to the photo/video. All you have to do is swipe left or right on the screen to access the filters, or read the full details below.
Step 2. Make sure your Snapchat is up to date
To access even more filters, make sure you're using the latest version of Snapchat. If you haven't updated your app, an update may provide more filter options. You can update apps through the Google Play Store or iPhone App Store.
Read the article on how to update Snapchat for more information
Step 3. Enable filters
In the camera window, swipe down on the screen and tap the ️ icon in the upper right corner of the screen to open the settings menu (“Settings”).
- Scroll down and tap the “Manage Preferences” option in the “Additional Services” section.
- Slide the “Filters” slider to the active position. Once shifted, the color of the slider will change to green.
Step 4. Enable location services for Snapchat
You will need to report your location to Snapchat if you want to use any filters. Some filters need to access your location in order to be used, such as city or temperature filters.
- iOS – Open the settings app. Scroll down and select “Privacy”. After that, touch the “Location Services” option. Slide the “Location Services” slider to the active position if the slider color has not turned green. Swipe back up the screen and select “Snapchat”. After that, select “While Using the App”.
- Android – Open the settings menu. Select “Location” and drag the “Location” slider at the top of the menu.
Step 5. Take a photo or record a video
Start making a post by going to the main camera window first. Touch the big circle at the bottom of the screen to take a photo, or hold down the button to record a video for (maximum) 10 seconds. For photos, click the number five icon in a circle in the lower left corner to determine the length of time the photo will appear before the photo disappears (maximum 10 seconds). For videos, if you want to mute the sound, tap the audio button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 6. Add filters to photos or videos
Swipe the photo left or right to add a different filter. Geospecific filters are not available if location services are not enabled. Swipe left or right to see available filters.
Step 7. Add geofilter
These filters are available based on your location.
- City-based filter – This filter usually lists several versions that represent the city you live in (usually marked with the city/region name).
- Community-based filters – These filters contain artworks that are accepted by Snapchat and submitted by anyone to represent their location (you can also submit your own). However, you are not allowed to submit brand logos.
- On-demand filters – Usually, companies or paying users can customize their own filters which generally shouldn't be uploaded as geographic locations. In this case, the brand logo can be uploaded.
Step 8. Try out video-only filters
This set of filters can change the appearance of the video and its sound.
- Rewind - This filter plays the video in reverse (back to front), and is indicated by a three arrow icon facing left. Video sound will be played in reverse.
- Fast Forward - This filter is indicated by a rabbit icon (without a line). Its function is to speed up the speed of video and sound (but not as fast as the Faster Fast Forward filter).
- Faster Fast Forward - This filter is indicated by a rabbit icon and a line above and below it. Its function is to play videos twice as fast as Fast Forward. The sound of the video will be played very quickly.
- Slow Motion - This filter is marked with a slug icon and slows down the video and sound speed.
Step 9. Try data filters
This set of filters displays the data obtained when the photo is taken to add a different perspective.
- Battery Life - This filter relates to the battery power of your device. The filter will display a full green smiley face when the battery is fully charged, or red and almost empty when the battery is very low.
- Time or Date - This filter adds the time the photo/video was taken. Touch the displayed time to change its format to date. Touch again to display the date design options.
- Temperature - This filter adds the temperature in your city or area. Touch the displayed temperature to change the unit from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
- Speed - This filter adds to the speed at which you move when a photo or video is taken. If you are not moving, the speed shown is 0 KM/H or 0 MPH (0 km/h or m/h). Touch a number to change the speed unit.
Step 10. Try a color filter
This set of filters can change the color touch of your photo or video.
- Black & White - This filter changes the color of a photo or video to black and white.
- Vintage or Saturated - This filter makes the colors of a photo or video appear more saturated, like an “old” photo.
- Sepia - This filter changes the color of a photo or video to a brownish yellow.
- Bright - This filter makes a photo or video appear brighter.
Step 11. Try adding more than one filter
To add more than one filter, swipe the screen to access the desired filter. Press and hold the photo with one finger, then use the other finger to scroll through the screen.
You can add (maximum) 3 filters for photos (geofilter, data, color) and (maximum) 5 filters for video (geofilter, data, color, rewind, and one of the three speed filters)
Part 3 of 7: Using Face-Swapping Filters
Step 1. Activate the Lenses feature to search for face-swap filter options
Snapchat's Lenses feature offers two face swapping options: you can swap faces with other friends whose faces are displayed on the screen, or swap faces from photos stored on your device.
To activate the Lenses feature, press and hold on your face which is shown in the Snapchat camera window. After a few moments, a selection of Lenses effects will appear at the bottom of the screen
Step 2. Select the yellow face swap filter to swap faces with the friend next to you
This Lenses effect can be found towards the end of the effect list, and is indicated by the icon of two smiling faces.
Step 3. Adjust your face and your friend's face to the face outline on the screen
If you choose this face swap effect, you can see the outline of two smiling faces displayed on the screen. Match yours and your friends' faces with a smiley skeleton, then Snapchat will swap your faces for both of you.
Your face will be shown on your friend's face, and vice versa
Step 4. Select the purple face swap filter to swap faces with photos stored on the device
This Lenses effect can be found near the end of the effect list and is indicated by a single smiley face icon and the camera button. When selected, Snapchat will scan the photos on the device for photos with swappable faces.
Step 5. Touch the face you want to swap
Snapchat will scan and look for photos that feature faces. You can't choose the picture yourself, only the face will be detected by Snapchat.
This feature can attach the face shown in one of the photos to your body on the screen. It's like creating your own Lenses effect in real time
Part 4 of 7: Adding Text
Step 1. Add text to photos or videos
Touch the photo or video. Type in a message, then touch “Done”, the “Enter” key, or the screen. After that, the text will automatically be added to the center of the screen.
Step 2. Add text effect
Touch the “T” icon displayed in the upper right corner of the screen to activate the text effect. With this effect, you can increase the size of the text, center the text on the left, and remove the caption bar.
- Touch the “T” icon a second time to align the text in the center.
- Touch the “T” icon a third time to return the text to its original appearance.
Step 3. Drag, resize and rotate the added text
Touch and drag the text to move it. Pinch the text to reduce its size, or zoom the text to increase its size. Rotate two of your fingers at the same time on the text to rotate it to the desired tilt angle.
Step 4. Change the text or its color
Touch the added text. After that, the color and keyboard picker window will be displayed. Touch the color picker to change the text color. When done, touch “Done”, “Enter” key, or the screen.
If you want to replace a letter or word, select the desired letter or word, then touch the color picker to change the color of the letter or text to the desired color
Part 5 of 7: Adding Stickers, Emoji and Bitmoji
Step 1. Add a sticker, emoji, or bitmoji to a photo or video
Touch the sticker button at the top of the screen (marked with a note icon with folded edges, next to the “T” icon). Swipe the sticker list left and right to view the different sticker categories. Swipe down to see sticker options. Touch the desired emoji to add it to the photo, then drag it to the desired position with your finger. You can add as many stickers as you want to the photo.
Pinch the sticker to reduce the size, or zoom to increase the size. You can also rotate them by placing two fingers on each end of the sticker and rotating them simultaneously
Step 2. Paste the sticker on the object in the video post
When you press and hold the sticker on the created video, the video will pause so you can drag the sticker to the object displayed on the screen. Once released, the sticker will "hold" the object so it can follow the movement of the object on the screen.
Step 3. Try creating your own filter using stickers or emojis
Choose a sticker. Zoom in on the sticker until the shape changes, then focus on the sides or corners of the emoji and sticker. The bright, translucent sides or corners of a sticker can be used as a homemade color filter for a photo or video.
Step 4. Make a sticker
Touch the scissors icon displayed at the top of the screen, then use your finger to outline any object in the video (eg a person's face). Now, you've created a sticker that you can move to any position using your finger.
- The created sticker will be displayed at the top of the “Stikcers” menu when you touch the notepad icon.
- You can remove a sticker from an image by pressing, holding, and dragging it towards the notepad icon. When the sticker approaches the icon, the notepad icon will change to a trash can icon.
Part 6 of 7: Using Drawing Features
Step 1. Make an image on the photo or video taken
Tap the crayon icon at the far right of the icon list in the upper-right corner of the screen. Choose a color from the color picker, then touch the screen to start drawing. When you're done, touch the crayon button again.
If you don't like the drawing you've created, tap the “Undo” button (marked with a left-facing curving icon) to the left of the crayon icon
Step 2. Look for hidden colors
While black and white is provided directly for Android devices, the iOS version of Snapchat has a rainbow slider that doesn't display either color. To get white, slide your finger on the rainbow slider to the top left corner. To get black, slide your finger on the rainbow slider to the bottom center side. To show gray, slide your finger on the rainbow slider to the bottom left corner. To find hidden colors (eg bright pink and burgundy), slide your finger on the rainbow slider around the appropriate hue.
The “transparent” color is only available for the Android version of Snapchat. To use it, press and hold the screen until the full color palette is displayed. After that, select the transparent color shown in the palette
Part 7 of 7: Using Old Versions of Snapchat
Step 1. Take a photo
Follow these steps if you're using an older version of Snapchat and don't want to update to the newer versions.
Step 2. Add a sepia effect to the photo
Touch the photo to open a text box, then type Sepia….
Don't forget to type the three dots
Step 3. Add a black and white color filter to the photo
Touch the photo to open the text box, then type b&w….
Step 4. Add a negative filter to the photo
Touch the photo to open a text box, then type Negative….
Tips
- To add a friend via a Snapcode photo, crop the image so that only your friend's Snapcode is shown. After that, open the Snapchat application and enter the "Add Friends" menu. Add a friend via Snapcode, and select a photo or image that contains your friend's code. To add a friend directly on Snapchat, open the app and point the camera at your friend's Snapcode. After that, hold down the code and add friends.
- To add two filters, take a photo first and select one filter. After that, hold the screen on the filter, then swipe the screen to select another filter.
- In order for the added emoji to follow the movement of the video object, simply take the video and select the desired emoji. After that, hold the emoji on the desired object, then release.
- To add music, open a music app (eg Spotify). Choose a song, open Snapchat, and record a video.
- To change the color of the text, type something and select the word or letter whose color you want to change.
- To get the secret colors: (iOS) Take a photo, then access the color palette. Slide your finger towards the top left corner for white and the bottom left corner for black. (Android) Take a photo and hold the displayed color palette. After that, you can get a choice of transparent colors.
- To take a screenshot in secret, activate airplane mode, then touch the post to open it. Touch again to view it, and take a screenshot of the post. This way, the user who sent you the post will not get a notification regarding the screenshot.
- For button-free recording: (iOS) Go to system settings, and select “Accessibility” “Assistive Touch” “Create New Gesture”. Hold your finger on the screen and name the gesture as “Snapchat”. Now, open the Snapchat app and tap on the square icon with a circle in it, look for the “Custom” option and select “Snapchat”. Slide the circle with the dot onto the shutter/video recorder button, then release.
- To enable travel mode: Enter the settings menu (“Settings”) and scroll down to the “Manage Preferences” option in the “Additional Services” section. After that, activate the “Travel Mode” option. This option can help you reduce your data plan usage.
