How do you use Snapchat Lenses?

Snapchat lenses allow users to add fun effects and filters to their snaps and stories. Lenses can transform your face, add virtual objects to a scene, and more. Using lenses is easy and fun once you know how!

What are Snapchat Lenses?

Snapchat lenses are augmented reality effects and filters that you can apply to your snaps or while using your camera in the app. There are hundreds of different lenses available, from basic color filters to lenses that add 3D objects like flowers, animals, or foods around you.

Some of the most popular Snapchat lenses include:

• Face filters – These add things like dog ears, crowns, or facial hair to your face.
• World lenses – These add 3D objects into your surroundings, like neon lights, buildings, or plants.
• Geofilters – These display graphics and text related to your location.

Snapchat partners with brands and media companies to create sponsored lenses tied to promotions or events. There are also lenses created by Snapchat users that go viral, like the baby face and freckles filters.

How to Find Lenses

There are a few ways to find and browse lenses on Snapchat:

Lens Carousel

When you are in camera mode, tap the screen once. This will bring up the lens carousel at the bottom of the display. Swipe left or right through the carousel to preview the different lenses.

Lens Explorer

Tap the magnifying glass icon in the lens carousel to open up the Lens Explorer. This will let you browse all available lenses and search for specific ones.

Favorites

Tap the smiley face icon in the lens carousel to access your favorite lenses. These are lenses you have previously favorited for quick access.

Sponsored Lenses

Sponsored lenses may appear in the lens carousel with a sponsored tag. Tap to try out branded lenses.

Snap Codes

You can unlock some lenses by scanning special Snapcodes. Find Snapcodes in Snapchat ads, on product packaging, or posted online and in social media.

How to Use Lenses

Using Snapchat lenses is easy! Just follow these steps:

1. Open the Snapchat camera.
2. Tap the screen once to bring up the lens carousel.
3. Browse lenses by swiping left or right through the carousel.
4. Tap the lens you want to apply.
5. Line your face up in the camera view so the lens can recognize your facial features.
6. See the lens effect applied to your face! Move your face and head around to interact with the lens.
7. Tap the circular shutter button to take a snap with the lens, or hold it down to take video.

Some tips for using lenses:

• Get close to the camera and ensure your full face is visible for facial tracking lenses.
• Move around for animated lenses and explore how different motions look.
• Tap the lens to change options or swap which effect is on the front and back camera.
• Favorite great lenses by tapping the favoriting icon so they are easy to find later.
• Unlock more lenses by scanning Snapcodes you find online or on products.

Sharing Snaps with Lenses

After taking snaps with a lens, you can share them just like regular Snapchat photos and videos:

• Send to friends – Select friends to send your snap to from the send screen.
• Add to Story – Add the snap to your public or private Story.
• Save – Download snaps taken with lenses to your Camera Roll.
• Create Chat sticker – Turn a snap into a sticker to use in Chat.

Lens Studio

Snapchat also offers a desktop app called Lens Studio that lets you create your own AR lenses for Snapchat. You can make everything from simple 2D filters to complex 3D world lenses. To get started making custom lenses:

1. Download Lens Studio for free from the Snapchat website.
2. Watch tutorial videos to learn the basics of the app.
3. Experiment with templates for face filters, world lenses, and more.
4. Customize colors, objects, facial tracking and more.
5. Submit your finished lens to Snapchat for approval.
6. Share your approved lens with friends or submit for it to go live on Snapchat.

Tips for Using Lenses

Here are some tips for getting the most out of Snapchat’s huge library of AR lenses:

• Browse the Lens Explorer to discover new gems.
• Try out lenses you see friends using in their stories.
• Favorite the lenses you love so they are easy to find again later.
• Explore sponsored lenses for fun brand interactions.
• Scan Snapcodes on products, ads, and websites to unlock special lenses.
• Take lots of selfies and videos with lenses to build your collection.
• Change up your look with lenses for holidays, events, seasons, and more.
• Use World Lenses to transform the area around you into something magical.
• Save your best lens snaps to your Camera Roll or Story to preserve the memories.
• Try making your own lenses in Lens Studio if you want a creative challenge.

Fun Ways to Use Lenses

Need some inspiration for ways to use Snapchat’s huge lens library? Try out these fun ideas:

• Animal face filters for cute and silly selfies.
• Full makeover lenses before a night out.
• Having a digital dinner with the food lenses.
• Going on virtual vacations with destination lenses.
• Adding festive overlays for holidays and events.
• Trying on crazy hair colors and styles.
• Complementing your OOTD with outfit lenses.
• Pranking friends and family with the silliest lenses.
• Creating funny stories by trying lenses with friends.
• Leveling up selfies with 3D objects like flowers or jewels.

Conclusion

Snapchat lenses are an awesome way to take Snapchat to the next level. With a huge variety of lenses available, you can transform your look in endlessly creative ways. Finding and using lenses is super easy once you get the hang of the Snapchat app. So unlock your inner artist and start snapping with these fun AR effects!