How to create Snapchat Lenses and Filters?
Have you ever wondered how people make those cool Snapchat lenses like face masks, rainbow sparkles, or custom party? Good news: you don’t need to be a tech genius or graphic designer to create your own Snapchat lenses or filters. With a few simple tools and a sprinkle of creativity, anyone can make magic on Snapchat!
In this beginner-friendly guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to create both Snapchat lenses and filters—even if it’s your very first time.
🧐 Wait, What’s the Difference Between a Filter and a Lens?
Before we dive in, let’s break it down real quick:
- Filters are static overlays (think frames, stickers, and text) that appear after you snap a pic or record a video.
- Lenses are interactive AR (augmented reality) effects that respond to your face, body, or environment in real-time.
Both are super fun to create—but they’re made with different tools. Let’s start with the easier one.
🎉 How to Create a Snapchat Lenses (Perfect for Events & Parties)
Creating a custom Snapchat filter is a great way to spice up any event—birthdays, weddings, baby showers, or business promos.
✅ Here’s How to Do It (in the Snapchat Lens studio Desktop):
- Open the Snapchat app and tap your Bitmoji (top left).
- Tap ⚙️ Settings > Filters & Lenses > Get Started > Filter.
- Choose a theme or start from scratch.
- Add your text, emojis, stickers, or event logo.
- Set the date, time, and location (aka geofence).
- Pay and submit (pricing depends on duration and area covered).
💻 Want more space to work? Head to create.snapchat.com to build your filter from your computer!
🛠️ How to Create a Snapchat Lenses (AR Filters That Move & Interact)
If you’ve seen a dancing hotdog, 3D sunglasses, or face distortions on Snapchat—that’s a lens! And yes, you can totally create one too using a free tool called Lens Studio.
🔧 Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Snapchat Lens:
- Download Lens Studio at lensstudio.snapchat.com.
- Open the app and choose a template to get started. (Pro tip: start with “Face Mask” or “2D Object.”)
- Customize it with:
- Your own images or logos
- Simple animations or effects
- Face tracking or world tracking
- Use the Preview feature to test your lens live.
- Once it’s ready, publish it to Snapchat and share your Snapcode.
No coding needed. Just creativity!
💡 Easy Lens Ideas to Try First
Not sure what to make? Try one of these simple ideas:
- 🐶 Add dog ears and a nose that track your face
- 🌈 Rainbow trail when you open your mouth
- ✨ Sparkles that follow your head
- 👓 Custom sunglasses with your logo
- 🥳 Party confetti with floating text
All of these can be made using Lens Studio templates.
📚 Where to Learn More
Snapchat makes it super easy to learn with free tutorials, how-to videos, and community projects. Check these out:
👉 Lens Studio Tutorials
👉 Snapchat Creator Community
You’ll find step-by-step videos and downloadable assets to help you practice.
👩🎨 Final Tips for First-Time Creators
- Start small – Don’t stress about making something complicated right away.
- Use templates – They’re perfect for beginners and can be customized any way you like.
- Test often – Preview on your phone before publishing.
- Have fun with it – These tools are designed for creativity!
Creating your own Snapchat filter or lens is a fun, creative way to express yourself or elevate an event. Whether you’re building a lens to make your friends laugh or designing a branded filter for your business, Snapchat gives you all the tools you need to bring your vision to life—no coding required.
Ready to start creating? 🎨✨