Mashable
How To
Snapchat’s latest update brings a number of incredible improvements to the popular photo-sharing app we all know and love.
From convenient shortcuts to fresh devices for creating snap masterpieces, many of the app’s best features are difficult to find. Well, you can end your search now, because we’re covering the ins and outs of navigating Snapchat’s hidden features, which will help convert your snap into a work of art.
Whether you’re a Snapchat rookie or power user, you can step up your snap game by learning how to unlock these tips, tricks and secrets.
1. Activate cool features in your settings.
Very first, make sure you have an up-to-date version of Snapchat downloaded on your device. To download the latest version of the app, visit the Google Play or iTunes store.
Once the app is updated, open it up. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of your feed, and then tap "Manage" under "Extra Services."
To use Snapchat’s bonus features, you must activate them in "Settings."
Picture: Screenshot Snapchat
In this section, you can enable bonus features such as filters, front-facing flash, replay and special text, and also choose the number of best friends you want displayed on your "Send To" screen.
Enable all your settings.
Picture: Screenshot Snapchat
Two. Use special text.
Typing captions on top of snaps is excellent, but what if you want to overlay your snap with larger text and emoji? This is when the special text feature, an alternative caption style, comes in handy.
Tap the letter "T" next to the pencil icon in the top-right corner of your snap draft. The characters you type will now be magnified.
The special text feature will magnify your captions and emoji.
Three. Draw with secret colors.
Doodling on your snap is one of the app’s most popular features. We all know you can pick a color by sliding the rainbow color bar. But what you may not know is that you don’t have to limit yourself to the color palette on the rainbow slider. Check out the next steps to find out how to draw with secret crayon colors.
Go after the directions below to unlock hidden colors.
Pic: Tarn Susumpow
Draw in the color white.
Draw with a white crayon by touching the rainbow color slider and dragging your finger to the top-left corner. Android users already have the white crayon built into their rainbow slider.
Draw in the color black.
Similarly, you can draw with a black crayon by touching the rainbow color slider and dragging your finger to the bottom. Android users already have the black crayon built into their rainbow slider.
Draw in hidden colors.
You’ll notice when you haul your finger from the rainbow slider to the left or to the bottom of the snap, you’ll be able to use a bunch of in-between colors that aren’t available on the palette.
Draw with a semitransparent color (only on Android devices).
If you have an Android device, you’re in luck. Snapchatters using Androids can draw with a see-through color. Press down on the rainbow slider until the total color palette shows up, and then select the see-through color.
The see-through color can only be used on Android devices.
Pic: Isar Chang
Four. Add joy filters.
Snapchat’s latest upgrade permits you to add Instagram-like filters, art and other data labels to your snap. Just swipe your finger left or right to preview each filter. Here’s a rundown of all the filters suggested.
Geolocation
Based on your location, you can overlay art and other labels on your snap. For example, if you’re in Fresh York City’s Flatiron District, you can add art like the one below.
Based on where you’re located, you can overlay labels and art on your snaps.
Pic: Screenshot Snapchat
Use the time filter to display what time you took your snap.
You can overlay your photo or movie with the time it was taken.
Photo: Tarn Susumpow
Temperature
If you want to display what the temperature was when you captured the snap, use this filter. You can tap the temperature to switch it from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
Add the temperature of your location to your snap.
Speed
This filter captures the speed at which you’re moving when you take the snap. However, the feature can be a bit buggy, and doesn’t always work.
You can add a speed filter to your snap.
Photo: Tarn Susumpow
Black and white, saturated and sepia filters
The old version of Snapchat used to have codes for three secret filters. But the latest version of Snapchat makes it effortless to find them, and the codes don’t work anymore. Proceed to swipe your finger left or right to preview these filters.
Preview the different filters by swiping your finger left or right on the screen.
Picture: Tarn Susumpow
Five. Front-facing flash
Want to take a selfie but the lighting is too dark? No worries. Snapchat has a front-facing flash feature that will white out your screen, brightening your photo. Simply turn on the flash by tapping the lightning icon in the top-left corner.
With Snapchat’s front-facing flash, you can take selfies in the dark.
6. Switch rear-facing camera to front-facing camera
Here’s a shortcut for those who love snapping selfies. Instead of tapping the camera icon in the top-right corner of the screen to switch the camera view, just tap the screen twice. It will automatically switch from the rear-facing camera to the front-facing camera, and vice versa.
7. Replay a snap.
The replay feature permits you to replay a snap that was sent to you within the past twenty four hours. Keep in mind, however, that it will only permit you to replay the snap you last viewed. To replay, simply tap on the snap you want to view again, and a notification like the one below will pop up. Tap "Replay."
You can replay the snap that you last viewed. This feature can be used once every twenty four hours.
Photo: Screenshot Snapchat
8. Tap to go through Stories.
Sometimes you may want to fast-forward through certain Stories. Instead of waiting for the next snap to emerge in a Story, you can tap the screen (while pressing down to view the Story), and it will take you to the next snap.
9. Switch the number of ‘best friends’ displayed.
By default, Snapchat displays three friends you most interact with the most on the "Send To" screen. According to Snapchat, these friends are selected automatically by the app’s friendship algorithm.
If you want to switch the number of friends shown, go to your settings (see the very first step on this list). Tap on "# of Best Friends," and you can choose to display three, five or seven friends.
You switch the number of friends displayed on your "Send To" screen.
Pic: Screenshot Snapchat
If you have extra questions about Snapchat, visit the app’s support page.
Photo: Mashable, Isar Chang
BONUS: How to Become A Professional Snapchat Artist
Note: Don’t have any friends on Snapchat yet? Add Mashable! To learn more or go after us there, click here.
9 Snapchat Tips and Tricks You May Not Know About
Mashable
How To
Snapchat’s latest update brings a number of epic improvements to the popular photo-sharing app we all know and love.
From convenient shortcuts to fresh devices for creating snap masterpieces, many of the app’s best features are difficult to find. Well, you can end your search now, because we’re covering the ins and outs of navigating Snapchat’s hidden features, which will help convert your snap into a work of art.
Whether you’re a Snapchat new-comer or power user, you can step up your snap game by learning how to unlock these tips, tricks and secrets.
1. Activate cool features in your settings.
Very first, make sure you have an up-to-date version of Snapchat downloaded on your device. To download the latest version of the app, visit the Google Play or iTunes store.
Once the app is updated, open it up. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of your feed, and then tap "Manage" under "Extra Services."
To use Snapchat’s bonus features, you must activate them in "Settings."
Photo: Screenshot Snapchat
In this section, you can enable bonus features such as filters, front-facing flash, replay and special text, and also choose the number of best friends you want displayed on your "Send To" screen.
Enable all your settings.
Photo: Screenshot Snapchat
Two. Use special text.
Typing captions on top of snaps is fine, but what if you want to overlay your snap with larger text and emoji? This is when the special text feature, an alternative caption style, comes in handy.
Tap the letter "T" next to the pencil icon in the top-right corner of your snap draft. The characters you type will now be magnified.
The special text feature will magnify your captions and emoji.
Three. Draw with secret colors.
Doodling on your snap is one of the app’s most popular features. We all know you can pick a color by sliding the rainbow color bar. But what you may not know is that you don’t have to limit yourself to the color palette on the rainbow slider. Check out the next steps to find out how to draw with secret crayon colors.
Go after the directions below to unlock hidden colors.
Pic: Tarn Susumpow
Draw in the color white.
Draw with a white crayon by touching the rainbow color slider and dragging your finger to the top-left corner. Android users already have the white crayon built into their rainbow slider.
Draw in the color black.
Similarly, you can draw with a black crayon by touching the rainbow color slider and dragging your finger to the bottom. Android users already have the black crayon built into their rainbow slider.
Draw in hidden colors.
You’ll notice when you haul your finger from the rainbow slider to the left or to the bottom of the snap, you’ll be able to use a bunch of in-between colors that aren’t available on the palette.
Draw with a translucent color (only on Android devices).
If you have an Android device, you’re in luck. Snapchatters using Androids can draw with a see-through color. Press down on the rainbow slider until the utter color palette emerges, and then select the see-through color.
The see-through color can only be used on Android devices.
Photo: Isar Chang
Four. Add joy filters.
Snapchat’s latest upgrade permits you to add Instagram-like filters, art and other data labels to your snap. Just swipe your finger left or right to preview each filter. Here’s a rundown of all the filters suggested.
Geolocation
Based on your location, you can overlay art and other labels on your snap. For example, if you’re in Fresh York City’s Flatiron District, you can add art like the one below.
Based on where you’re located, you can overlay labels and art on your snaps.
Pic: Screenshot Snapchat
Use the time filter to display what time you took your snap.
You can overlay your photo or movie with the time it was taken.
Pic: Tarn Susumpow
Temperature
If you want to display what the temperature was when you captured the snap, use this filter. You can tap the temperature to switch it from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
Add the temperature of your location to your snap.
Speed
This filter captures the speed at which you’re moving when you take the snap. However, the feature can be a bit buggy, and doesn’t always work.
You can add a speed filter to your snap.
Pic: Tarn Susumpow
Black and white, saturated and sepia filters
The old version of Snapchat used to have codes for three secret filters. But the latest version of Snapchat makes it effortless to find them, and the codes don’t work anymore. Proceed to swipe your finger left or right to preview these filters.
Preview the different filters by swiping your finger left or right on the screen.
Picture: Tarn Susumpow
Five. Front-facing flash
Want to take a selfie but the lighting is too dark? No worries. Snapchat has a front-facing flash feature that will white out your screen, brightening your photo. Simply turn on the flash by tapping the lightning icon in the top-left corner.
With Snapchat’s front-facing flash, you can take selfies in the dark.
6. Switch rear-facing camera to front-facing camera
Here’s a shortcut for those who love snapping selfies. Instead of tapping the camera icon in the top-right corner of the screen to switch the camera view, just tap the screen twice. It will automatically switch from the rear-facing camera to the front-facing camera, and vice versa.
7. Replay a snap.
The replay feature permits you to replay a snap that was sent to you within the past twenty four hours. Keep in mind, however, that it will only permit you to replay the snap you last viewed. To replay, simply tap on the snap you want to view again, and a notification like the one below will pop up. Tap "Replay."
You can replay the snap that you last viewed. This feature can be used once every twenty four hours.
Picture: Screenshot Snapchat
8. Tap to go through Stories.
Sometimes you may want to fast-forward through certain Stories. Instead of waiting for the next snap to emerge in a Story, you can tap the screen (while pressing down to view the Story), and it will take you to the next snap.
9. Switch the number of ‘best friends’ displayed.
By default, Snapchat displays three friends you most interact with the most on the "Send To" screen. According to Snapchat, these friends are selected automatically by the app’s friendship algorithm.
If you want to switch the number of friends shown, go to your settings (see the very first step on this list). Tap on "# of Best Friends," and you can choose to display three, five or seven friends.
You switch the number of friends displayed on your "Send To" screen.
Picture: Screenshot Snapchat
If you have extra questions about Snapchat, visit the app’s support page.
Picture: Mashable, Isar Chang
BONUS: How to Become A Professional Snapchat Artist
Note: Don’t have any friends on Snapchat yet? Add Mashable! To learn more or go after us there, click here.